Lo Spazio

Imagine a stereotypical neighborhood Italian bar transposed to the suburbs of Tokyo, and you might get something like Lo Spazio. It's one of those rare places where you can prop up the counter while sipping your espresso (or grappa, if it's got to that point in the evening), and even the slightly shabby decor is of a piece with the kind of places you might expect to find in a small town in continental Europe. Owner Haruhiro Nozaki honed his technique in Italy, and runs a barista school and seminars, while the shop manager is a trained sommelier. Lo Spazio ship their Alberto Verani beans direct from northern Italy, a point that's advertised on the menu and mugs, as well as with the prominently positioned fridge containing bags of the prized coffee (yours for just under ¥5,000 per kilo). The espressos are hard to fault, and while we could've done without the cartoon puppy etched in chocolate powder on the foam of our cappuccino, the drink itself is spot-on, starting smooth but packing a nice, lingering bitterness. The food menu puts the emphasis on hearty, casual grub, including agreeably al dente pasta and risotto, while the recent store renovation saw Neapolitan pizzas added to the mix as well.