8 Totally Instagram Worthy Cafes In Tokyo

Welcome to the country that 'eats with its eyes.' It has plenty of places to please your 'gram.

Tokyo is every foodie’s No.1 fantasy. Now, I don’t say this lightly because not only is Tokyo’s food the best in the world (don’t quote me on this but I’m 99.99 percent sure it’s true) but if you’re anything like me and you enjoy Instagramming your meals with hashtags like #foodporn #instasweets and #getinmybelly, you can do so eye-roll free. You see, in Japan, it is said that people eat with their eyes, too, so naturally, the food here is almost always stunningly well presented. And when it comes to sweets, you’ll find yourself thinking omg-this-is-too-cute-to-eat more often than in any other city you’ve been to.

Whether you’re looking to up your Instagram game or simply fill your onaka (tummy) with mouth-watering morsels of pure ecstasy, check out this list of Tokyo’s ultimate sweet-tooth eateries that are also perfect to keep your social media alive and kickin’.

1. Salon Bake&Tea

A post shared by @rika_7am on Jun 21, 2018 at 7:06am PDT

Located near Shinjuku station, Salon Bake&Tea is most Instagram-famous for their too-pretty-to-eat seasonal fruit parfaits. Served in a tall glass, each high-quality parfait layer, including the likes of fresh strawberry sauce and pistachio cream, is skillfully handmade by professional pastry chefs and lovingly assembled for the sole pleasure of yours and my taste buds (and Instagram feeds). Also noteworthy: Salon Bake&Tea’s oh-so-pretty salads (you know, to wash down the parfait if need-be).

Where: NEWoMan 3F, 4-1-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

A post shared by Rie masuda/takada (@ricola0305) on Jun 7, 2018 at 4:34pm PDT

2. Comcrepe

A post shared by Kirsty ManTing (@kirstytastyroad) on Apr 6, 2018 at 7:18am PDT

This one isn’t only making your mouth water over Instagram, but I’ve seen several photos and videos of these next-level crème brûlée crêpes (or should I say crêpe brûlées) from Harajuku’s Comcrepe all over Facebook as well. The famous Toyama Prefecture delicacy has arrived in Tokyo and both Japanese and tourists are going gaga for it. Comcrepe’s best-seller original crêpe brûlée is essentially a sweet flour crepe filled with rich creamy custard finished with a scorched caramelized top. Yumm-o, I say.

Where: (Harajuku Store) One Takeshita Place 1-A, 1-8-25 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. (Jiyugaoka Store) 5-42-3 Okuzawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

3. Melting In The Mouth

A post shared by MeltingInTheMouth™ Japan (@mitm_tokyo) on May 1, 2018 at 1:03am PDT

No, it is not make-believe. It really is an actual ice cream. And yes, it is SO melting in the mouth. Located in Shibuya, this crazy popular ice cream store sells toy-resembling ice-cream using organic milk. With a philosophy embracing simplicity, Melting in the Mouth’s ice cream is the perfect amount of subtle-sweet. In addition to their perfectly swirled vanilla ice-cream cones, the store also sells desserts like tiramisu, loaded hot dogs, donuts and hot and cold drinks. Last but not least, they have a secret menu for Instagram followers only! So go on, follow now!

Where: MK Bldg 1F, 5-17-10 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

4. Gram Café & Pancakes

A post shared by おまる部長 / たっちゃんずパンケーキ部 (@omarubucho) on Jan 7, 2018 at 9:58pm PST

More like a soufflé than a pancake, Harajuku’s Gram Café is world-famous for these totes instagrammable babies. So here’s the deal: Gram Café serves 60 pancakes a day, three times a day. I’ll do the math for you: that’s 20 pancakes per sitting which are at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. However, the pancakes need to be reserved one hour prior, meaning, if you want to eat at 11 a.m. reservations start at 10 a.m. BUT, obviously you’re not the only one who wants to eat here, (I mean hundreds of others also want these pancakes desperately) so you might have to line-up up to two hours prior (worst case scenario). You get it: these pancakes are popular for a reason. So, if you can bear the wait, you’ll agree no other pancakes stack up to these (pun intended).

Where: 2F, Urban Cube Kudanminhami, 3-7-10, Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Find info on other stores across Japan here.

5. Totti Candy Factory

A post shared by TOTTI CANDY FACTORY (@totticandyfactory) on Aug 18, 2016 at 3:09am PDT

Probably the most Instagrammed spot on the list, Harajuku’s Totti Candy Factory is nothing like your ordinary carnival staple. Nah, not even close. For a start, the store’s Cotton Candy is gigantic (we’re talking 45cm and you know when it comes to Instagram — size matters!) it’s three-tiered and comes in a variety of pretty pastel colors and sweet fragrant flavors. Surprisingly, it’s not too bad on the calories either: 160 calories for the large rainbow special. Totti Candy Factory also has a newly opened spin-off branch called Long! Longer! Longest!, which concentrates on, well, long foods — like a gigantic soft ice cream, crazy potato sticks, and churros.

The real question is, have you actually visited Harajuku if you haven’t Instagrammed Totti Candy’s goodies? PS: If you’re treating yourself to Totti Candy this summer, be sure to snap that insta pic real quick as naturally, the candy shrinks in size when it melts.

Where: (Totti Candy Factory) 1-16-5 Jingumae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo RYU apartment 2F. (Long! Longer! Longest!) Cute Cube Harajuku 1F, 1–7–1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

6. Daily Chico

A post shared by 🍦Ice Cream (@icecream) on Dec 5, 2016 at 10:38pm PST

Speaking of big… Nakano Broadway’s long-established Daily Chico serves ginormous rainbow soft serve with a whopping eight layers (strawberry, matcha, coffee, ramune (soda), lemon, grape, chocolate and vanilla) the size of your torso and head! The best news? This absurdly tall ice-cream will only set you back ¥550 (another ¥100 if you want it in a cup, but who would do that anyway?!). Plus, Nakano is an area that’s worth spending the whole day at, so give it a go!

Where: B1F Nakano Broadway, 5-52-15 Nakano-ku, Tokyo

7. Dominique Ansel Bakery Japan

 

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A post shared by @lv.food21 on Jul 14, 2019 at 7:19am PDT

Seen the oh-so-trending watermelon soft-serve served in an actual watermelon slice circulating social media? Well, look no further for this heavenly kingdom is where to source them. Everything that Dominique Ansel does is Insta-friendly and the Omotesando store, with series of Japan-only treats and an interior that’s pretty much an open photo booth, is no exception.

Test your Insta-skills by taking a photo of a staff burning Frozen S’mores while another pours milk into a Cookie Shot; get that perfect cut-in-half Cronut shot, or use your Boomerang feature to get a shot of the Tokyo-only Gacha Gacha treats…whatever you do here will surely get you a few extra likes on social media.

Where: 5-7-14 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

8. Dumbo Donuts And Cafe

A post shared by DUMBO Doughnuts and Coffee (@dumbodc) on May 9, 2018 at 8:36pm PDT

What started as a simple NYC-style donut shop has turned into the ultimate #cafestagram gathering spot in Azabu Juban with people getting more and more creative as they queue to get their freshly done donuts. These finger-licking-good donuts are handmade, crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside (without being too sweet), but the main thing is that they’re extra large. In fact, so large that you can place them on your drink and take a few shots of your creation. The store has more than 10 kinds of amazingly good looking donuts, so there’s plenty of opportunities to come up with various artworks for your Instagram!

Where: 2-17-6, Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Got a great photo taken at any of these cafes? Share it with us for a chance to be featured on our social media channels #savvytokyo