Pure Café

Set in the heart of flashy Aoyama, Pure Café melds its health-conscious, near-vegan principles into the glass-fronted Aveda spa and shop complex. The menu offers a mix of East and West snacks, and is almost entirely vegan. Pure Café’s early opening hours make it just the place for a healthy breakfast. We dropped in for the set breakfast deal at a stated ¥680 (that’s excluding the 8% tax, which brings it to ¥734). There’s a choice of half a dozen variations, including soup, salad and a bagel with vegan cheese; soup and bread with a choice of dips; granola; or banana bread with tofu cream. We tried a cinnamon-scented muffin with tofu cream, which was freshly-baked and filling; the tofu cream was remarkably light. This plate came with a small glass of orange juice, which – the only disappointment – was mostly ice, and not freshly pressed. The short list of breads and cakes is notable for being fully vegan, and includes an appealing ‘cheesecake’. The soy milk latte was delicious, but at ¥600, this nearly doubles the total of an otherwise budget breakfast. Pure Café's a surprisingly cosy and rustic little spot, with dishes that are only a fraction of the cost of the expensive products and treatments offered on the same premises.