Hakushaku (Ikebukuro, east exit)
Hakushaku has two kissaten in Ikebukuro, one at the north exit of the train station and the other one at the east exit. Even if the north exit one has a very nice ceiling, I tend to prefer the east one, smaller, more intimate. It’s easy to miss the stairs and the entrance of this kissaten. I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t have notice it if without my friend bringing me there. She used to come there to study and I joined her once so we could study together. Sometimes I miss my student days, going to café to study with my friends and have long talks when we were tired to focus too much on studying.
Hakushaku Ikebukuro east exit (伯爵 池袋東口店) Since 1980 (Showa 55) Smoking No Wi-FI & no power outlets Lively Recommendation: Charcoal burning coffee Japanese & English Menu Couple, alone or with friends We love: carpeting, big flower bouquets Special points: classical music Drinks prices: 500-750 yen Kissa-meter : Fabulously extravagant
Kissaten Overview
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- FABULOUS KISSATEN ALERT! This place has everything I like: carpeting, red velvet comfy seats, subdued lights, big chandeliers, flowers, mahogany woodcrafts, mirrors and classical background music. It’s typically the kind of kissaten I love. I always feel like the atmosphere is wrapping me, soothing me…
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- You can get a lot of different drinks there (coffee, cream soda, juice, tea…), but go for the charcoal burning coffee (650 yen). It reminds me the robusta coffee you can easily find in France, strong and a little bit bitter. Otherwise there are 12 choices of coffee, from arranged coffee/blend coffee (café au lait, cappuccino, American coffee etc…) to straight coffee (blue mountain, Colombia, brazil etc…). I really love their drinks menu.
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- I tend to come here also for cakes; it’s delicious and the cake set is quite cheap for a kissaten (700 yen, but you can get the cake only for 520 yen). My favorite one is the mille crepe but the Marron cake is also nice (chestnut cream and caramel are making a good match). Cakes are not that heavy and, even if it’s not the finest cakes you can find in Ikebukuro, it’s good.
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- Basically the food here is cheap and the menu offers a large choice of sandwiches (400-470 yen, in a set you can get them for 700-750 yen), Pizza toasts (470 yen), spaghetti (850 yen) etc…
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- The place can get easily crowded but remains (strangely) quiet and peaceful. You’ll encounter mostly students, salary men and few old regular customers. I really like this place to study, I can focus easily and sometimes take a nap. The classical music makes me very relaxed and helps me to memorize things. And it’s not that expensive so I can stay there for a long time and order few drinks.
Tips
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- They have a regular cake menu but also one seasonal cake. Try to go for this one!
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- If you’re not that much into coffee, try the fresh cream tea (600 yen). I will not say more about it… Just give it a try, it’s really nice.
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- Even if you don’t speak Japanese it’s fine, they have a bilingual menu.
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- Try to seat next to the window, it’s the best spot ever in this kissaten. Unfortunately, everyone try to get those seats as well, so I hope you’ll be lucky enough to be able to sit there.
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- If you like smoking while studying, this place is perfect. But please, note that the table are not that big so if you’re like me and your computer is quite big you may not feel completely at ease.
Can you see the chandelier’s reflection in my coffee?! Lovely!
Copper cup for ice drinks is my favorite thing!
Hakushaku Ikebukuro east exit (伯爵 池袋東口店)
Address:
(東京都豊島区南池袋1-18-23)
Phone: