Café Le Violon — Restaurant in Tokyo

Coming here as a classical musician was a life-changing experience. I much preferred this spot to the other very famous meikyoku kissa in Shibuya, which--while historic, and admittedly impressive--felt a little impersonal. Le Violon has everything on offer elsewhere, but better: more character and authenticity, more warmth and charm, a staggering collection of records, and a complex, consummate audio system designed by the owner himself, whom I was very lucky to meet. This is a place truly by and for people who love this music, and it moved me so profoundly to witness. If I lived in Tokyo I'd be there every day--for the music, for the ambience, for the deeply kind proprietors, for the history, and (I should mention) for the excellent and very...

大学生時代(20年程前)から通っていま す。お店の雰囲気は昔のままです。来店時は、いつもの席でゆっくり過ごしています。お客さんの入りが少ない曜日は、私がリクエストをしなくても、マスターから、私が所有しているオリジナル盤のレコードを、かけてくれる有り難いお店です。お店は基本、共有の場所なので、私も来店して頂ける他のお客さんに、スピーカーから良い音で鳴る音楽を、楽しんで頂きたいと思って、レコードを持参しています。イヤホンやヘッドホンで聴く事が当たり前の時代ですが、録音されたコンサートホールやスタジオの空間の響きが味わえる音楽を、マスター自身が、一から手作りした、本格的なオーディオで、じっくり静かに聴く事ができる、私にとっては大切な場所です。(時々、オーディオの調子が悪い時がありますが、アンプ•スピーカーは全て自作なので、お許し(ご愛嬌)下さい。)

※店内はおしゃべりは、控えた方がいいので気をつけて下さい。

※飲み物☕️を注文(レコード鑑賞タイム12:00〜17:00※一部ライブコンサートで16:00終了有。)で、その日のお店の出入り自由•飲食物の持込自由なところは、昔から変わっていません。(あくまでも、常識の範囲内でお願いいたします。)

※お盆明けや年末年始にオーディオの調整の為、休日になる事があります。直接お問い合わせ下さい。

I've been going here since my University student days (about 20 years ago). The atmosphere of the store remains the same. When I come to the store, I relax in my usual seat. On days of the week when there are few customers, I am grateful that the store plays the first edition records that I own one after another from the master without me having to make a request. Since the store is basically a shared space, I bring my records with me so that other customers who come to the store can enjoy the good quality music that comes out of the speakers. We live in an era where listening with earphones or headphones is the norm, but this is an important place for me because I can listen to music slowly and quietly, where I can enjoy the echoes of the concert hall or studio where it was recorded.

*Please refrain from talking inside the store, so...

This atmosphere is amazing. All the seating faces a wall of old speakers blasting classical music. A great place to sit and ponder life or read.

The population is likely to be a handful of old men sipping their coffee while silently listening to the records play. Not a great place to have a conversation, the goal is to enjoy the music.

The coffee was weak, so I would recommend the tea. Cash only, no wifi. The little old lady running the place is adorable and...