Fuglen: A Small Piece of Scandinavia in Tokyo

Enjoy vintage Scandinavian interior design while drinking premium coffee in Fuglen, a popular gem near Shibuya where Tokyo’s Scandinavians go to cure homesickness and others go to surround themselves with a little piece of vintage heaven. 
Fuglen Tokyo is a cafe by day, turns into a bar at night, and also serves as a year-round design shop engaging in design events all over the world.

The original Fuglen can be found in Oslo, Norway, and since its opening a couple years ago, the Tokyo location has earned itself a loyal following. Its name meaning “bird” in Norwegian, the small cafe and bar is jam-packed at night but also well visited during the day. With a large group of regulars belonging to creative communities, Fuglen is one of Tokyo’s truly original cafes.

Food and Drinks

Located near Yoyogi Park, the cafe has a great reputation amongst coffee lovers and design lovers alike, and also serves some great cocktails. For food, Fuglen offers a variety of Norwegian specialities, such as the famous brown cheese on toast, Norwegian waffles, and a variety of cakes. It even hosts seafood events from time to time. With its focus on superb coffee and barista art, the cafe was an immediate hit with Tokyo’s coffee connoisseurs, and it even offers barista classes to those who are interested.

Norwegian Icons

The first thing you see when approaching Fuglen is its white stone walls and round red bird logo. Upon entering, its relaxed and cosy atmosphere is all due to the retro, understated pieces of Scandinavian furniture. If you happen to be sitting on a chair you like, or to see a lamp you wish you had at home, make sure you voice your thoughts to the staff, as everything at Fuglen Tokyo is actually for sale, a concept that it shares with its sister cafe in Oslo. Focusing predominantly on discovering and selling design items from the 1950s and 1960s, Fuglen’s interior and showcase pieces are carefully chosen for the public to enjoy. Fuglen aims to showcase special items that have had a unique story, often with a link to the Japanese influence on Scandinavian design. It has also been actively involved with the design exchange project Norwegian Icons, aiming to bring attention to Norwegian design especially in Tokyo and New York.

Activities

Whether you’re in the mood for a great coffee or just need place to work, Fuglen is an exciting alternative to the chain coffee shops. If you find yourself in the neighborhood on a Sunday, you may stumble on Fuglen’s outdoor events that often include vintage clothing sales, interior design exhibitions, or Norwegian traditional food events. Why not try the popular Norwegian waffles that often are served outside on Sundays? Focusing on maintaining an active and strong Japanese-Norwegian relationship, Fuglen’s staff members often switch working cities from time to time, so anytime you are up for a chat with Norwegians, Fuglen is the place to go.

The Deets

Address: 1-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-3481-0884

Open: Mon–Tue 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wed 8 a.m.–12 a.m.; Thu 8 a.m.–1 a.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–2 a.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–2 a.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–12 a.m.