Meu Nota

Well worth seeking out, this intimate vegan café in Koenji serves a varied menu of meat-free grub at a decidedly leisurely pace. Meu Nota occupies a second-floor perch opposite a branch of the Seiyu supermarket chain, but it's easy to forget the outside world once you've settled in amongst the antique furniture and dark wood floorboards. Even traditional vegetarian staples are given an interesting twist – as with the black bean hummus (pictured below) – while you can also try nifty inventions like the mock taramasalata, actually potato salad with added amaranth. It's not just tapas, either: there's also plenty of heartier fodder on offer, including salads, pastas and a killer vegetarian taco rice. If you're planning on going at the weekend, note that they often hold concerts in the evenings, for which you'll need to pay an additional charge.

black bean hummus