If you already heard about Nishi-arai once, it was probably about Nishi-arai Daishi temple and its Daruma. On Februrary 3 every year, you can take part to the Daruma Kuyo rituals, which is basically people bringing back their daruma dolls after their wish came true and the temple burning them while monks are recitating sutras. It’s quite impressive and really nice. If you’re around I highly suggest you to go there for this ritual or for getting your own daruma… And after that, don’t forget to stop by the kissaten “Sylvia” to get your showa time slip dose!
As a kissaten hunter in love with fabulous and extravagant places, let me tell you that Sylvia is exactly this kind of place…

 Kissa Sylvia (喫茶シルビア) 
Since 1978 (Showa 53)
Smoking
No Wi-Fi, no power outlets 
Popular and can be crowded 
Recommendation:  lunch set 
Japanese/English Menu  
Alone, couple, friends
We love:  reasonable prices, the stain-glass behind the counter, the velvet seats
Special points: lunch set, bento, champon (nagasaki regional noodles dish)
Drinks prices: 460-720 yen 
Kissa-meter: Fabulously extravagant

Closest train station: Nishi-Arai station

Kissaten overwiew

• The place is seriously gorgeous. The amazing retro atmosphere of Sylvia attracts a lot of people. I really love the “luxury” and precious atmosphere with the velvet sofa, chandelier, dimmed lightening etc…

• Sylvia is really spacious but it’s actually not so noisy and the atmosphere is quiet even when there are a lot of people. However, it tends to be a little bit noisier during lunch time (12 am-1pm is the rush hour) but it’s not so annoying.

• A lot of CM and drama have been shot there and recently the place became an “instagramable spot”.

• More than a café, the place can also be considered as a restaurant with a large choice of food. Actually I would say that people are coming there mostly for the food and the atmosphere.

• The place is quite spacious so it’s really perfect for a large group of friends or club meeting.

• There is also a private room which can accommodate up to 30 people. It’s quite popular for work meetings.

• If you can read japanese, you’ll be more than happy to find out that they have a “book corner”. Among these books and manga you can find some classics like Dragon Ball and Captain Tsubasa. And yes, I read it few times when I went there… Don’t judge me! 🙂

Tips

• Going there for lunch is always a VERY good idea: large portion, delicious food and very reasonable price. I would actually recommend to go there either for lunch or breakfast (eventually an early dinner).

• Talking about lunch, the lunch set is changing every day but it tends to be quite traditionnal with napolitan pasta, pilaf, karaage and so on. Each set is coming with rice and miso soup. I really love going to Sento around Nishi-Arai and then stopping by Sylvia to have a late lunch.

• Sylvia’s bento (1030 yen) are quite famous and are changing according to the season. I once had one with fried shrimp and it was so good that even now I can remember the taste of this bento!

• They are serving a “Sylvia special menu” which is quite famous and appeared on TV shows few times: a plate with napolitan pasta, hamburger with demi-glacé sauce and a sunny side frie egg. The plate will come with rice and miso soup. All of that for only 1030 yen!

• Do you know about “Champon”? It’s a regional noodle dish from Nagasaki. And can you guess where you can get a very good one? Yes! In Sylvia! They are serving a very popular spicy miso champon with a lot of vegetables in!

• The cake set is quite cheap as well: 600 yen! Cakes are not bad but it’s not the best ones you can get. I didn’t try it but my friend is always getting the “ringo tart” (apple tart/pie) and she told me among all the cakes on the menu it’s the best one. It comes with vanilla ice cream.

• The pancakes are simple but not bad (even if I guess they reheat frozen ones). I tend to choose pancakes over cakes in Sylvia.

• If you want to give a try to Sylvia, I highly suggest you to enjoy some of the nice sento around Nishiarai and then go there for a late lunch or an early dinner.

 Kissa Sylvia (喫茶シルビア)
Address: 2 Chome-7-5 Nishiaraisakaecho, Adachi , Tokyo
(東京都足立区西新井栄町 2-7-5)
Phone: 03-3840-6111
Monday 〜 Sunday 08:00 – 20:00