Hyperlocal Tokyo

**[Madonnna]** I visited this place for the first time on a Sunday evening at the end of September 2024. The basement and first floor are non-smoking, while the second floor is designated for smoking. It was quite crowded, so I was seated on the second floor. It was near the air conditioner, which made it extremely cold. Given the chilly environment, I opted for the following: * **Set Service:** Tea (hot) + Hot Dog for 700 yen (tax included) The hot dog had a strange addition of cucumber, and the taste was quite ordinary. It was enough to satisfy my hunger, so I was content with it. The tea was also standard. They also serve meals, so I might try those next time.

This is a long-established coffee shop in Ueno, founded in 1968. It was packed, but I was lucky to find a seat. There are seats on the basement, first, and second floors, with smoking allowed on the second floor. It's unusual to find a coffee shop that also serves beef bowls and steak. Of course, they have the usual curry and spaghetti Napolitan. It's worth noting that while the restrooms in these kinds of coffee shops are often old, this one was surprisingly clean.

A classic cafe... or rather, a traditional Japanese coffee shop. This area of Ueno is dotted with many old-fashioned coffee shops. The exterior has a strong sense of history, but the interior feels like it's been renovated. It's a bit of a shame. The menu is typical of a Japanese coffee shop. There are seats on the first and second floors, and the second floor is a smoking area.

**Highlights** ① **Generous and Simple Ketchup Omurice** ② **Retro-style Pure Coffee Shop Established in 1968** **Budget** ~¥1,000 per person (lunch) *Cash only* **Recommended Usage** Solo, with friends/acquaintances/colleagues **Menu** "Omurice (¥900)" *Soup included* **Summary** Ueno, a downtown area preserving the atmosphere of Showa era, still boasts numerous pure coffee shops. "Madonna" is one such establishment. Located near the back of Ueno Marui, this shop was founded in 1968 and is a long-standing pure coffee shop with over 50 years of history. I visited on a weekend at 11:00 am, shortly after opening. Despite being before opening hours, there was a line of about 3 groups. The shop has three floors: the first floor, the second floor, and the basement. The second floor is a smoking area, and the shop is smoke-free otherwise. I only ordered the omurice this time, but the food menu is quite extensive for a pure coffee shop. It includes classic coffee shop dishes like Napolitan and curry rice, as well as a variety of set meals like ginger pork and beef bowl, making it a great option when you're struggling to choose a lunch spot.

This is what you'd call a classic Japanese coffee shop, or 'jun-kissa,' with smoking allowed on the second floor. There are about five two-seater tables, two four-seater tables, and around eight counter seats. Even on a Sunday afternoon, it was pretty close to full. The prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is nice, and the fact that you can smoke at your table is a big plus in this day and age. However, the level of hospitality from the staff varies quite a bit. Some of them were a bit curt, which brought the rating down a little. Still, it's a rare find these days, a coffee shop where you can smoke, so I hope places like this continue to exist.