Good People & Good Coffee

Out of the many deserving coffee shops that have recently opened in Tokyo, if we had to use our trembling, caffeine-addled fingers to place the crown on just one it would be this hipster haven near Higashiyama Park. The relaxed enclave that it’s carved out of the creative atmosphere of the Rainbow Soko warehouse is decorated like a garage, with an assortment of tools on the wall and lumber hanging casually from storage units attached to the ceiling. Seating comes in the form of worn old furniture strewn around the room and three stools placed at the counter. As well as being one of the few places in Tokyo you can get a flat white (a double shot of espresso with steamed milk, priced here at ¥450) they offer their own original blends, roasted every Tuesday. Currently there are two: Johnny B Goode, rich tasting with a hint of caramel, and Tomando, a slightly fruity brew named after a song by Cuban musician and coffee lover Perez Prado.