Ueshima Coffee — Restaurant in Tokyo

When it's raining, has been raining for days and Ueno park is brilliant with autumn leaves in the bright street light, bordered with the dark branches of autumn trees, when you're in the downtown part of Tokyo and faded sandstone and slow changing traffic lights feel like your only company, when you're sitting on level one at Ueshima coffee shop presiding over it all - that's when you stop and think 'Well isn't this a memorable scenel?" We first came across Ueshima - or Precious Coffee Moments as is the franchise name - one night while navigating our way through the rain by foot, from Ueno station to old Katsutaro below. Something like the nearby National Museum of Tokyo but on a smaller scale, this place was like a beacon, a golden beacon and that image will be forever painted in my memory, Kees Van Dongen style, all brilliant blue and shimmery. Here then was a magical place to sit, to get out of the rain, perchance to dream, even to have a coffee - all the things one might do on a relaxing vacation. In that moment some serious adulting happened, even though we were with kids. We found a table upstairs and peaked out the window at the lights of red and gold plus the mirrory black reflecting off the tarmac after days of rain below us. There's a black and white photo of a jazz musician on the wall - Junior Mance to be precise - and said same hip and happening musical style tooting lazily in the background just to create the ideal ambience. My only criticism, one that's amply compensated by all the other good things mentioned above, and I know it's impolite but I haven't come across a good cup of coffee in Japan so far, and there it is. Still the sandwich was tasty, being filled with yummy tasting ingredients and besides why does it matter when there's autumn trees, hep scenes and melodic piano keys tinkling cool jazz standards in the background?...

上野恩賜公園内にあるカフェは、ただでさえ平日でも混雑しています。そのため、公園から若干距離がありますが、それでもこのカフェの利用を考える客も少なくなく、結果的に休日は列が出来る程混雑します。幸い平日の混雑具合はそれほどでもありませんが、桜が満開の季節等では、平日でも休日並みに混雑します。 1階と2階の2階構造のカフェですが、2階にも客席があるとは外観からでは分かりづらく、1階にある席とオープンテラスの席だけで構成される小さなカフェと勘違いしてしまうかもしれません。2階の席と合わせると席数は充分にあり、昇降手段は階段だけでなくエレベーターも利用できるため、車椅子等の障碍を持つ方でも気軽に利用できます。但し、上野恩賜公園の散策や美術館・博物館帰りの一休憩目的で利用する客がほとんどであるため、客の回転はあまりよくありません。 スタッフの接客は概ね丁寧で良好です。給仕される料理やドリンクの質や量は、他の上島珈琲店と遜色ありません。

The cafes in Ueno Onshi Park are crowded even on weekdays. Therefore, even though this cafe is some distance from the park, not a few customers still consider using it, and as a result, this cafe becomes so crowded that lines form on weekends and holidays. Fortunately, it's not so crowded on weekdays, but when big events are holding such as the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it's as crowded as on holidays even on weekdays. The cafe has two floors, the first and second, but it's a little bit hard to find from the outside that there is seating on the second floor, so you might mistake it for a small cafe consisting only of seats on the first floor and seats on the open terrace. The seats are enough, including seats on the second floor, and is accessible not only by stairs but also by elevator, making it easy for people with disabilities, such as wheelchairs, to use the restaurant. However, the turnover of customers is not very high, as most of them are there to take a break after strolling in Ueno Onshi Park or visiting museums. Staff service is generally courteous and good. The quality and quantity of dishes and drinks served are comparable to other Ueshima...

Just step across the street from bustling Ueno Park and you will find this pleasant escape. A Lovely setting, along with a new-to-me "Nel Drip" coffee method (which is on display at the counter) that produced a smooth and delicious cuppa that complemented my smooth and creamy cheesecake (with a NON-edible deco). There's a variety of seating options as well: outdoor Along the sidewalk, inside along the windows in the entry AND a large area upstairs. Plus, there are outlets that can be utilized. All in all, a...