Ever heard about the unmissable place in Shinjuku for kissaten lovers: Coffee Seibu?
In Shinjuku, only 3 minutes walking from the Shinjuku train station and the Lumine Est, the entrance of this coffee may be easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there. Just venture to climb the stairs, tempted by the “shokuhin-sanpuru” (food samples made of plastic and displayed in front of restaurants in Japan), and trust me, you’ll not be disappointed.

Coffee Seibu (珈琲西武)
Since 1964 (Showa 39)
Smoking and non-smoking
WI-FI and power outlets 
Lively to really bustling
Recommendation: parfaits, curry
Japanese & english menu 
Perfect for couples, with friends or alone
We love: huge choice of desserts, customer care/service
Special points: Interior (especially the ceiling)
Drink prices: 600-900 yen

Closest train station: Shinjuku Station and Shinjuku Sanchome station

Overview

• Seibu is one of the most famous kissaten in Shinjuku. On 2 floors (one smoking, one smoking-free), the place offers a large choice of pancakes, parfait, cakes etc…
• The interior is breathtaking! Didn’t really change much since the opening in 1964 and the ceiling is really famous! From the other side of the street you can actually see throughout the huge windows the beautiful stained glass ceiling. At night it’s mesmerizing.
• The 2nd floor (smoking) has very nice red velvet seats and is quite big. The light coming from the stained glass ceiling gives a nice nostalgic vibe to the place and makes it very comfortable and cozy.
• The 3rd floor (non-smooking) also has a stunning stained glass ceiling but the atmosphere feels classy and chic.
• Seibu is very famous for their parfait ice cream. For less than 1000 yen you can get a very generous one!
• Large choices of food: hot sandwiches (950 yen), napolitan pasta (950 yen), pilaf rice (950 yen), curry (700 yen), various cakes (550 yen), HUGE pudding à la mode (1300 yen), coffee jelly (800 yen), hot cakes (900 yen) etc…
• Nice spot for breakfast as the morning set comes with a “toast tabehoudai offer” (all-you-can-eat) for 650 yen.
• It’s also a nice place to have a lunch. Portions are quite big and the lunch set is only 1000 yen! (from 11am to 2pm).

Tips

• The place is quite popular so it gets crowded in afternoon and during weekends. You should expect to stand in line until you can get a seat.
• If possible, sit under the ceiling and try to take a reflection of the glass mosaic in your black coffee.
• If you’re smoking you may actually enjoy it much more as the green seats are matching the ceiling better in the smoking area (at least according to me).
• Seibu coffee tends to have “seasonal menu” and limited items from time to time. Give it a try! It’s usually really nice in autumn for example.
• Low caffeine coffee is available (750 yen for a hot coffee, 800 yen for an ice one).
• Kakigori (japanese shaved ice dessert) is also available (700 to 800 yen). It’s a nice alternative to parfait if you feel like eating something lighter and refreshing!
• Can’t decide between 2 plates? Get a combo plate! Hamburger with demi-glace sauce & napolitan pasta or curry for 1550 yen!
• A “Wi-Fi and power outlets” duo is a feature rare enough in a kissaten to be praised. It’s a nice place to work on your laptop but be sure to order something every 2-3 hours.
•  English menu is available and some staff members can speak a little bit English. So you don’t need to worry about language barrier if you can’t speak japanese.
• Seibu coffee also offers private rooms and meeting rooms. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available. You have to book at least 2 hours. There are small rooms (4-6 persons) but also bigger ones (up to 20 persons!). A small smoking room (4 persons) will cost 1200 yen for 2 hours.

Coffee Seibu 珈琲 西武
Address: 3 Chome-34-9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō
(東京都新宿区新宿3-34-9 メトロ会館 2F)
Phone: 03-3354-1441
7:30～23:30