Coffee L'ambre — Restaurant in Tokyo

This cafe has apparently been open since 1947 and I definitely understand why it's still a favorite among locals ☕️

If you aren't paying attention, you just might walk right past the cafe while strolling around Shinjuku. Once you enter the cafe you may think it's rather small but looks can be deceiving. On the left side, you'll find stairs that lead to the basement floor that has a capacity of 200 people 🤯 Although there was a line when I arrived it moved rather quickly and I was able to get a table in less than 15 mins.

The interior of the cafe is the main reason people come here and I have to say it certainly lives up to the hype. For a moment, I was able to get a glimpse of what life was possibly like back in the Showa era. Everything inside from the comfy red seats to the retro chandeliers are a sharp contrast to the modern brutalist cafes that seem to be on the rise in Tokyo these days. A much welcomed change of pace!

As for the food and drinks, I highly recommend you stick with the set menu items. Ordering items not included in the set will prove to be quite expensive and you'll most likely find yourself spending 2000-2500 yen per person. However, if you order the set it'll only be 1400-1500 per person 💴

I ordered the shortcake and hot coffee set. The shortcake was lovely and was not too sweet. I also like how fresh it tasted and you can sense a difference in quality from the ones you can buy at the convenience store! The coffee was good and not too bitter. I think even those who don't enjoy black coffee will be able to drink this just fine! Though it does come with a side of milk and sugar so don't worry 😊

I've seen some reviews saying that the staff can be rude but I had a pleasant time with them during my visit! They were very honest and informed me that I would actually end up paying a lot more if I didn't order the set 😅

TLDR: The perfect cafe to experience Showa era vibes with decent coffee...

Great coffee shop to take a break and relax. Vibe is very unique and has an old aesthetic to it.

Staff are super nice, very helpful, and friendly. They made us feel very welcome and comfortable as we got seated quickly as well.

The coffee shop is in the basement down the stairs on the left, the upper floor looks closed when you enter.

The coffee was good but very very strong and slightly bitter, however this suits strongly the very sweet desserts. Ask about portions and items you are not sure of before ordering as me and my partner accidentally over ordered.

Things we ordered: Coffee Wiener, coffee jelly, chocolate cake, and apple pie.

The chocolate cake was not the best, however the apple pie and coffee jelly I highly recommend.

My mistake was I assumed the coffee jelly came in a drink however it came as a big jelly with a vanilla ice cream scope and creamer...

Large retro coffee shop with a standard menu of various drinks and small meals. The cake set seems like a good deal (1,200 yen) but I just ended up getting a Vienna coffee only. Seating was a bit uncomfortable (low chairs) so it’s difficult to feel relaxed while eating and you end up hunching over to eat and drink which makes it hard enjoy staying for longer than 20-30 minutes. Long wait especially on weekends and the waiting line will go up the stairs. No need to put your name down on anything just wait in line. It took me about 15 minutes to wait from the top of the stairs...