Visited Cafe Hassui on 21AUG2018 after our walk along the bamboo grove. From the bamboo grove there’s a trail down to the river and you’ll end up just behind the Suiran compound (the hotel which houses Cafe Hassui). I made a booking online (through a 3rd party reservation website) 2 days prior to be seated by the river, for the afternoon tea set. The staff welcomed us, took us to our table and explained the afternoon tea set to us. It was extremely humid that day and there was no breeze, we moved back inside to air conditioning comfort. I’m slightly lactose intolerant and they accommodated by switching out the items containing cream. It was our 10 year anniversary and the Cafe made us a special dessert which was extremely thoughtful of them. I read in other reviews that some people were not impressed with the food so let me be very clear in terms of what to expect since tastes vary and some people have a preference towards the heavier flavours: Every piece of food on the afternoon menu was a bite size wonder - not mind blowing like a piece of perfectly stewed saucy pork belly, but balanced and delicate in taste and texture - to be enjoyed in quiet close company. And very Insta-worthy.

We had an incident after we left and had to call the Cafe for assistance. Cafe Hassui went above and beyond the existing high standard of Japanese hospitality to accommodate for us long outside of their operating hours. Simply incredible service.

We have every intention to visit Cafe Hassui again late autumn as the location of the Cafe will be incredible to snuggle up with a big woolly jumper, a hot cup of cocoa, and enjoy the red leaves scenery with the trickling sound of the river.