Unlike Nagoya and Osaka where morning sets at cafés are a big thing, Tokyo is sorely lacking in decent breakfast options (or coffee, for that matter) anytime before 10 in the morning. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite spots where you can get the best early breakfast in Tokyo.
Slow Jet Coffee, open from 7am
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Slow Jet’s head office is in Osaka because this place knows how to deliver a great morning meal — and at a reasonable price, no less. The shop’s morning-only Waffle Morning Set comes at a mere ¥650 and includes bacon, a fried egg, salad, and, of course, a waffle with a side serving of maple syrup. Coffee aficionados will be pleased to find an excellent selection of both hand drip brews and espresso on the menu.
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Mixture Bakery & Café, open from 7:30am
This cozy café tucked away on Shimokitazawa’s Ichibangai shopping street is a popular place for people to start their day. Their morning set is a pretty standard plate of a variety of bread types, salad, a boiled egg and a drink, starting at ¥500. While you’re there, grab a sandwich to take with you for lunch — they’re pretty generous with the fillings. Drop by throughout the day (times vary) for freshly baked bread, straight from the oven.
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Suzu Cafe Roppongi, open from 6:30am
With one of the earliest openings in the list, Suzu Cafe is the perfect place to ease into a long day or get over a long night out on the town. The café serves up a robust all-you-can-eat buffet with both Japanese and Western dishes and includes a drink bar with fresh juice, tea and its own original blend of coffee. Note that although the café is open from morning until 11pm, it does close for an hour between 10am and 11am, so make sure you get in as early as possible to make the most of this chic eatery’s massive selection.
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World Breakfast Allday, open from 7:30am
World Breakfast Allday’s concept is a simple one: to offer breakfasts from around the world, all day. Every two months, the restaurant, with locations in Gaienmae and Harajuku, chooses a breakfast theme from somewhere in the world and gives its guests the chance to indulge in a traditional morning meal they would otherwise never experience — or for others, a taste of home. Regular menu items consist of American (pancakes), English (full English), and Swiss breakfasts (muesli), and are always available.
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This article was originally published in September 2017
