Hyperlocal Tokyo

I was surprised to find such a beautiful, calm, and spacious cafe in Tokyo Station! I visited in the morning, and there were plenty of seats available. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, with people working and having meetings in groups. It felt like the perfect place for business people. The cake selection was also extensive, and they seem to offer bread and cakes from the same bakery. 🎂 I'll definitely come back again when I'm using the Shinkansen or on weekends!

The atmosphere is unlike what you'd expect near Tokyo Station, it was a relaxing and comfortable space. The view is also great. The cake was delicious 😋. On this day, due to the effects of a typhoon, the Tokaido Shinkansen and some JR lines were suspended.

Burdigala is a bakery that has been selected as one of the "100 Best Bakeries." They have a bakery inside Tokyo Station, and their cafe is located on the 5th floor of Tokyo Daimaru. The cafe has a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The windows have large sofa seats, and the seating is spacious, allowing you to relax and enjoy your time. Today's Plate - ¥1,760 The deli items seem to change with the seasons. Today's plate included a salmon and pike conger terrine, and a mortadella sandwich with camembert cheese. The plate was filled with plenty of vegetables, which was a welcome sight. The salmon and pike conger terrine was like a sophisticated appetizer you'd find at a high-end restaurant. And the mortadella sandwich! It was a sandwich with camembert cheese and ham. It was a revelation, and the mortadella ham was incredibly delicious. It was a new and exciting deli item. Burdigala is primarily a bakery, so the plate came with two types of bread. Honestly, the deli was so good that the bread felt a bit out of place. I wish the bread had been warmed. Even without warming, the Danish pastry was a bit dry and crumbly. The other bread, a berry baguette with walnuts, was also dry and crumbly. I couldn't help but wonder if this was really a bakery that made it onto the "100 Best Bakeries" list. With this deli lineup, I think one of the bread options should have been a plain baguette or a loaf of bread. Both breads were sweet, which didn't go well with the deli at all. The bread was disappointing, but the deli was truly delicious. It's a bit pricey, but considering the location, service, and quality of the deli, it's understandable. The cafe is spacious, so it's easy to go with children or strollers.

I was looking for a cafe in this department store that served shortcake, and I found this one. The shortcake and drink set cost 1700 yen! It ended up being more expensive than a meal, but I guess it's unavoidable given the location. I was glad to be seated by the window. The view from outside was of people and cars going by from above. The shortcake was disappointing, with dry sponge and a cream that made me feel a bit sick. The coffee was on the acidic side. I managed to finish the cake, but the person next to me left some of theirs.

It's a cafe where even women traveling alone can feel comfortable. I've always been curious about the multi-level restrooms located in the back of the cafe. I chose the Croque Monsieur from the lunch set. Looking out the window, I could see the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station and the highway bus terminal from a high vantage point. I savored the moment, cutting into the piping hot Croque Monsieur and watching the ham emerge. The coffee, the meal, and the view created a tranquil space where time seemed to stand still. I definitely want to visit again, next time for a cake break.