I visited the restaurant around 4 PM on Saturday and had to wait for about 10 minutes as there were 5 groups ahead of me. I was seated quickly and ordered a set of Shine Muscat shortcake and cherry tea. The cherry tea was a bit too sour for my liking, but the Shine Muscat cake was delicious with plenty of juicy Shine Muscat grapes.

It has been 7 years since I last visited, but the interior of the restaurant remains unchanged, which makes me feel relieved. It was a little past 1 pm on a weekday, and I had to wait for about 5 minutes before being seated. It seemed like there were fewer staff members than before. I ordered the lunch hot sandwich set (with coffee and salad). The food was as delicious as ever, and I left feeling completely satisfied both in my stomach and my heart. It seems like times have changed, as there are no longer smoking seats. I wish they had kept some seats for heated tobacco products. Ikebukuro seems to be going through some changes, but I hope Tsubakiya Coffee remains unchanged.

I ordered a Royal Milk Tea without whipped cream, but for some reason I got an iced one. Oh well, it's delicious. The rich Royal Milk Tea. Personally, I prefer it with a stronger milk flavor. It's expensive! Why is it so expensive?

This is my first visit. The retro interior with slightly low sofas is calming. I went at 10 am for a lunch-like feel, and there were about 50% of customers. The vegetables were crunchy and the salad was delicious. The hot sandwich was also very tasty with fresh vegetables. It was a place that made me want to come back again.

The interior of the restaurant was surprisingly spacious and had a calm atmosphere. We were seated quickly with ample space between tables for privacy. I ordered Darjeeling tea, which had a rich aroma and flavor. The wait time was short, and I enjoyed the high-quality drinks and food. I would definitely visit again.

The restaurant has a retro vibe with an atmosphere similar to a luxury hotel. Most of the staff were very polite. The female staff members were dressed like classic maids and looked cute. However, there was one staff member with a bad attitude that made me feel unpleasant. This time, I ordered a cake set. It was a bit pricey, around 1700 yen for a slice of cake and a cup of coffee. The coffee was a brand name, so all the menu items were on the expensive side. I had the strawberry chiffon cake, which was very delicious. However, I couldn't just order the cake alone, probably because it's a coffee shop.

I stopped by because I had some time before a meeting. The wait was about 30 minutes, but they have a great system where they email you when a table is ready, so it was a stress-free wait. The restaurant was packed, with about 6 people in line to pay at all times, but it didn't feel chaotic. The interior was calming and I could stay for hours. The coffee was delicious, of course. I will definitely go back!

I went around electronic stores in Ikebukuro to buy a notebook PC, spending about 2 hours comparing options and prices. After purchasing the PC, I felt really tired, but my eldest son accompanied me and we found one that met our criteria. The coffee jelly and vanilla ice cream set was a good deal when added to a drink, and the staff kindly informed us about it. The coffee jelly and vanilla ice cream looked and tasted great. The fruit tea was also delicious, with a good balance of sweetness and acidity. I recommend ordering the fruit tea along with the coffee jelly and vanilla ice cream set.

I entered the store almost immediately after it opened. Despite the early morning hour, I was the only customer in the restaurant, but the staff welcomed me warmly. I ordered the Tsubakiya Morning Set with a cup of blended coffee. I was impressed that I could choose whether to have the bread toasted or untoasted, so I asked for half of each. The staff was very attentive and accommodating. The salad dressing for today was a creamy onion dressing, which tasted deliciously soft. The vegetables were crunchy and fresh. The bread was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The honey provided was a nice touch. The coffee was consistently good. As the morning went on, the atmosphere became livelier, but the dim lighting created a cozy ambiance.

・Tsubakiya's special cafe au lait is large in size, poured in front of you with a generous amount of milk, and can be finished without feeling heavy. ・The amaou strawberry on top of the fluffy zucotto cake is plentiful and has a nice sweet and sour taste. ・The seating area is spacious, allowing for a relaxed atmosphere, and there is a smoking area available.

I stopped by a local sundries shop before heading to work, but couldn't find what I was looking for. When I went to a sundries shop in Ikebukuro, it was still closed. There was still over 30 minutes until the 11 o'clock opening. I looked across Meiji Street and saw a café. Seemed like the perfect timing, so I went into the underground store. The inside was surprisingly spacious and had a very retro feel. They asked for a maximum of 2 hours of use. Looking around, I noticed that half of the customers were elderly men reading books or newspapers. I was a bit surprised by the menu - all the coffee options were almost 1000 yen! Just like the store in Shibuya Miyamasuzaka. That meant the coffee probably wouldn't be anything special. I ordered a dark roast. The age range of the customers who came in later was also older, with some young couples who seemed a bit distant. It became clear that this was a place for people who wanted to have a calm conversation or spend some quiet time alone, with the 1000 yen covering the coffee and seating fee. It's like a refuge for those who can't go to Starbucks or are bothered by cigarette smoke at places like L'Opera. The dark roast coffee I ordered arrived, and as expected, it lacked the depth of roasting and wasn't particularly delicious - just decent. I realized that this type of café can also be found in Ginza, Kyobashi, and Nihonbashi. It's a place for those who can't go to Starbucks and want to avoid cigarette smoke at L'Opera. It was an interesting experience.

"Tsubakiya Blend Tea" and "Golden Cheesecake" It's been a while since I visited Tsubakiya, so I decided to take a break at the café. The flavors were consistent and reliable, sticking to the classic choices that make me want to come back occasionally. "Tsubakiya Blend Tea" is a Darjeeling-based tea with a floral aroma of rose and lychee. Adding milk makes it milder and brings out a sweet dessert-like taste. The cute green pot cover with the Tsubaki mark that they lend you is unique to Tsubakiya's tea. "Golden Cheesecake" has the classic taste of a cheesecake. It's rich, milky, with a refreshing acidity that makes it enjoyable. It has a slight stickiness, and the tart crust is moist and crispy. Sometimes, classic cheesecakes may not hit the spot, but this one was reassuringly delicious. I used to think of Tsubakiya as having spacious box seats, but this time it felt crowded. It might be because of its popularity, but I realized I need to be careful in the midst of the pandemic. Thank you for the meal.

I stopped by Tsubakiya Cafe at the Big Camera main store in Ikebukuro East Exit for a break. The store is quite spacious with 173 seats in the basement. Despite the state of emergency, it was crowded. After a short wait, I was seated at a table with transparent dividers for COVID-19 prevention. I ordered the Premium Strawberry Shortcake set, which was delicious with plenty of fresh strawberries and tasty cream. The coffee was also rich and paired well with milk. The retro atmosphere, maid costumes, and attentive service made for a pleasant experience. Although a bit pricey at around 4,000 yen for two people, I enjoyed my time and will definitely come back.

I really love coffee shops. Because there, you can not only drink coffee or tea, but also think about various things (including daydreaming), it's an infinite space, you know. So, on this day, I entered this Camellia shop after finishing my errands. Honestly, it's a bit of an expensive place, but because of that, it's a space where you can really relax. I ordered an iced coffee, took a sip, and it was delicious! Wow, it's so good after all. So, after contemplating various things, I left the shop.

It is difficult to evaluate a place like this. The "Special Iced Coffee" (1,210 yen) - as shown in the photo. It seems rare to have a "special" iced coffee. It's not like ramen where toppings like boiled eggs, nori, or chashu are added. The special thing here is the ice. As shown in the photo, the ice is made by freezing the coffee itself, so the iced coffee doesn't become diluted like with regular ice, which is the only special thing about it. It does indeed maintain its bitterness and richness. However, in terms of taste, it may be a matter of preference, but it doesn't really stand out to me. It seems to be overly focused on a fruity freshness. So, despite being quite bitter, there is also a hint of greenness. I've had cold brew iced coffee a few times, but this one seems to lack depth compared to that. For those who are used to drinking mostly bitter convenience store coffee, it may not be as off-putting. Even after considering various factors, it's hard to justify a 1,210 yen iced coffee. I remember drinking iced coffee at Ginkgo Kogen Beer in Roppongi about 10 years ago, and it was similarly priced, but that was likely due to the location and should be seen as a service charge. Coffee priced at 2,000 yen like at Starbucks, intended for creating buzz, or the kind that costs a fortune for just one drink, is out of the question. Thank you for the meal. It's probably a matter of getting used to it. Similarly, places like Renoir or Takizawa Coffee seem to generally match the preferences of our generation. Well, this place has had its ups and downs in past visits. I won't go into detail this time. However, I did notice a significant difference in customer service between male and female staff again this time. Is it a difference between employees and part-time staff? (By: Kyoka Shukuu, 2020.10.17) (135 reviews/3.20)

From work meetings to breaks, Tsubakiya is always bustling with activity. The staff members in their long aprons are always lovely. Their coffee, pancakes, sweets, and even curry rice are all delicious. It's truly a versatile and charming cafe that I absolutely love.

Because it's in front of Ikebukuro Station, it's luxurious. A high-end coffee shop. The iced royal milk tea costs around 1200 yen. It's considered high-end, right? Around here, the usual price is about half of that. How you perceive that is up to you. Thank you for the meal. The interior of the shop is quite busy even on weekdays.

There is a smoking booth that can just fit two people, which is perfect for relaxing in the early evening. The restroom is located just outside the shop and is clean. The staff were friendly. Although the prices are a bit high, the seats are comfortable and I was able to relax even with my shopping bags. By registering with LINE, you can get a 5% off coupon (one-time use). I ordered herbal tea, which had a nice aroma.

In late May 2020, I revisited a hospital in Itabashi for my regular check-up every two months. There were no significant changes, so I left early due to being on steroids and having a weakened immune system. On my way back, I felt like having something sweet and decided to visit "Camellia Coffee Shop" located on the basement floor of a building near Ikebukuro East Exit. While I appreciate retro cafes like the ones in Jinbocho, I prefer cozy coffee shops like this over trendy cafes like Starbucks. Despite being slightly more expensive, I find these kinds of cafes more comfortable. Ikebukuro was still relatively quiet on this day, with many shops temporarily closed. It was around 11 AM on a weekday, and the shop had about 30% of its usual customers. I opted for the 1683 yen cake set, and when I tried to order a blend coffee, I was recommended the "Ethiopian Coffee" for the same price. I chose the "Belgian Chocolate Cake" from the selection of cakes, which I really enjoy. This place used to be where "Danwashitsu Takizawa" was located. Despite the higher prices, I prefer cafes like this over modern cafes.

- Although it is underground, the store is very spacious with a large number of seats. - Due to the slightly upscale prices, the age group tends to be older, and the customers are composed of a more mature crowd. - From the second drink onwards, there is a discount for iced coffee and coffee. - The cake set is a bit expensive, around 1600 yen, but the taste is delicious. - The smoking area is not completely separated by walls, so the air may leak through. The non-smoking area next to the smoking area might have a slight odor. The staff's uniforms were cute. I thought it would be nice to visit a luxurious café once in a while.