One of the three sister stores located north of Ueno Station. The store is located east of Kappabashi Hondori from Showa Street. When you look east from this street, you can often see the Skytree in front. The interior of the store is mostly made of wood, with remnants of the Showa era still visible. The toilets are traditional Japanese style. The store is long in shape, with four 4-person table seats in the back and a 5-seat counter seat near the entrance. The background music consists of modern jazz and 80s AOR. The store is managed by a female manager and one female staff member. Occasionally, female staff members come to receive supplies and food ingredients, possibly from sister stores. Despite the scorching hot weather, they work hard. There were customers at each of the 4-person table seats in the back, so I sat at one of the counter seats. I ordered the Baked Cheesecake set (950 yen) with an iced coffee, which brought the total to 950 yen due to the hot weather. The Gâteau Chocolat looked delicious, but I was drawn to the refreshing cheesecake. The Baked Cheesecake is described as "baked slowly with Philadelphia cream cheese and Cointreau liqueur for an orange flavor." It had a moderate richness and citrus flavor, making it a refreshing cheesecake. In hot weather, it's good to replenish protein, so I think cheese is better than chocolate. The iced coffee tasted like the traditional Showa era coffee. Despite the coffee taste, this place is relaxing. The friendly atmosphere created by the staff adds to the pleasant ambiance. They also serve morning and lunch, and with a power source, it feels like a place where you can work on your computer all day. There was even a career woman type customer diligently typing on her computer at one of the 4-person table seats.

The shop I casually dropped by because it was too hot. I tried their limited-time matcha float. The staff was very kind and the atmosphere of the shop was nice. I ended up staying for about 3 hours, but they didn't complain and even brought me water. I'm really grateful. I want to visit this shop again. However, I think the table seats behind the counter seats are too narrow.

I didn't have coffee at Mille, so I decided to look for a nearby cafe and ended up at Katsura. I added the cake set (900 yen) with an extra 100 yen to switch the coffee to Guatemala, and chose Gâteau Chocolat for the cake. The Gâteau Chocolat was delicious, and the accompanying whipped cream was also good. However, the Guatemala coffee was even better. Sugar and milk were provided, but I didn't need them at all. They only accept cash.

After visiting the Ueno art museum, I wandered around looking for a place to have lunch. Along the street, there were Chinese and yakiniku restaurants lined up. I wanted to have coffee after the meal, so I came to this cafe. There were always about three groups of solo customers coming and going. It seems to be a popular local spot. There are three branches nearby. 【Daily Lunch Special】 1070 yen Salad, dessert, coffee included - Hashed beef: The sauce was a bit thick but still relatively light. The beef and onions were well mixed. The rice was on the softer side, which was a disappointment for someone who prefers it a bit firmer. - Apricot tart & chocolate banana pound cake: For dessert, I could choose from pudding, chiffon cake, etc. The moist cake with plenty of butter, served with whipped cream, was a nice touch for a cafe. - Coffee: The coffee had a bitter taste that paired well with the sweet dessert. I hadn't had cafe coffee in a while, and it was indeed different from chain cafes. It had a depth of flavor and was delicious. I bought cookies, pound cake, and Florentine as souvenirs. They were said to be additive-free and were very tasty, making good use of ingredients like butter, sugar, and eggs. Healthy snacks are good, but buttery treats are still delicious. I enjoyed a leisurely time in the cozy atmosphere with pleasant music and sofa seating by the wall.

I found this cafe in Ueno while walking around the area. The beautiful interior with relaxing background music creates a cozy atmosphere. Feeling a bit hungry, I couldn't resist ordering the cake set with creme brulee. The delicious cake and coffee, along with the laid-back service from the staff, made for a wonderful time.

It's been a while since I went out for lunch. I had sandwiches and a pork cutlet sandwich last time, so this time I went for spaghetti Napolitan. It had a nice tangy flavor from the ketchup, giving it a traditional taste. It was really delicious. I was also happy to have a small cookie for dessert. And the coffee was great, with a wonderful aroma. Thank you for the meal.

I found this place while walking along Showa Street and decided to visit. The classic Showa atmosphere inside the restaurant seemed to be influenced by the older customers, even though the owner and staff were young. The conversation revolved around sumo wrestling, with names like Taiho and Kashiwado being mentioned. The background jazz music and the conversations of regular customers served as the perfect background for enjoying a delicious iced coffee priced at ¥530. I have a sweet tooth, so I added plenty of gum syrup and cream to my coffee, but I recommend trying it without to truly appreciate the flavor. After a bit of tasting some snacks, I left the place feeling relaxed. I'm glad I found this calming space just a short walk from Ueno Station. Thank you for the meal.

I saw someone's post and felt like eating egg sandwich, so I was invited to visit. It was a beautiful day, and I felt really good as I entered the shop. The interior had a woody feel reminiscent of Ghibli's Country Road. A woman was cooking freshly made egg sandwiches on the spot, and they were served hot. The egg was not too sweet, with just the right amount of saltiness. The fluffy egg sandwich was just perfect. The ham sandwich also had a nice salty taste and was delicious. The coffee had a balanced acidity and aroma, with a deep flavor. I left feeling satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

I tried a cutlet sandwich for the first time. The bread was light and very delicious. The coffee was as always, with a perfect balance of acidity, aroma, and richness. With dessert included, the price was reasonable. Thank you for the meal.

In a so-called coffee shop, when I asked for cream soda without the cream, I was served melon soda.

Atmospheric and stylish interior, with handmade cakes! I got a Gâteau au Chocolat to go and it was delicious! The chocolate flavor was rich but not too heavy. The whipped cream was not too sweet and had a nostalgic taste, which paired well with the Gâteau au Chocolat. I would love to try other cakes if I have the chance!

Coffee, Katsura sandwich, and tart.

Cafes can be challenging.

The other day I visited a restaurant next to Taito Ward Office, which is affiliated with Katsura. This place faces a street with lots of greenery and gives off a cozy and intimate vibe. There were many plants placed in front of the shop, and inside, the furniture like the dish shelves were made of wood. It had a soft atmosphere that is no longer easy to find nowadays. I had the lunch set with Jambalaya-flavored pilaf. The set comes with a choice of salad or dessert, and I chose the cheesecake. I also added an iced coffee. The pilaf was quite spicy and delicious. After finishing the pilaf and dessert (a small slice of chiffon cake was included), I felt relaxed. As I lit a cigarette and looked outside the shop, I noticed that just across the road in front of the shop was the Ginza Line train depot. For railway enthusiasts, this is near the famous "Ginza Line railroad crossing". The retro-painted Ginza Line trains could be seen peeking over the fence. It was a peaceful lunchtime.

The café I casually entered during lunch turned out to be a women's oasis... Could it be a café very popular among women? It was a weekday afternoon, and I popped into the café while out on my rounds. The exterior exuded a trendy vibe, but the interior surprisingly had a Showa era feel. The cozy space with around 20 seats was occupied entirely by female customers, with two female staff members. As a result, I was the only male customer in the café. Oh no - kind of embarrassing... The menu offered typical café fare, such as sandwiches and Napolitan pasta. I opted for the Jambalaya and salad set with black tea for 920 yen. The daily special Taco Rice also caught my eye. As I observed the tranquil atmosphere, I noticed the office ladies eagerly enjoying their lunch break. Ah, indeed, this is more of a coffee shop than a café. Before long, iced tea was served, followed by the Jambalaya. Surprisingly, it arrived before the group of customers in the back. Perhaps they were considerate of me being alone? However, the portion size was quite cute. I'm not a big eater, but wouldn't this leave an average woman feeling unsatisfied? I finished it easily and said my thanks. If I had more time, I would have loved to try the cake, but not today. Thank you for the meal.

On this day, I took a walk passing by Geidai-mae on my way to Kitaueno area! On the way to Sanwa Saketen, I noticed a cafe that caught my eye, so I decided to have a quick lunch there. The name of the cafe is "Cafe Katsura"! I didn't know they had other branches besides the Ueno Gakuen-mae store, such as the Showadori-kado store and the Taito Ward Office Nishiyoko store haha. I entered the store around 1:30 pm and there were a few customers already there. There didn't seem to be any smoking customers, but just to be safe, I quickly secured a seat near the entrance. During this time, there were two female staff members managing the place. The lunch time goes until 3 pm, so it's good for a late lunch as well. The lunch menu includes daily sets as well as sandwiches, Napolitan, Hani-to, quiche, pilaf, etc., so there's quite a variety! I hesitated a bit, but finally decided to order the "Shrimp Pilaf" set for 870 yen! There were three choices: shrimp, yakiniku, and jambalaya. This time, I chose the classic shrimp, but the regular portion wasn't enough, so I should have gone for the large portion and yakiniku haha. After a while, the salad from the set arrived! It had a refreshing dressing on it. The pilaf was quickly cooked in the kitchen space behind the counter, so it was quite fast! The rice and ingredients were slightly burnt, but it added a nice flavor. The portion was indeed not enough with the regular size, so next time I'll go for the large portion haha. After finishing the meal quickly, a delicious blend coffee was served! You can never go wrong with coffee at a cafe! The total bill came to 870 yen, which was reasonable. The daily lunch on that day was "Keema Curry," but on Mondays they have gratin, Wednesdays have loco moco, Thursdays have pasta, Fridays have doria, and Saturdays have omu pilaf. I would rate it 3.3 stars overall! Next time, I might try the Napolitan or omu pilaf.

While walking from Asakusa towards Ueno in search of a Western-style restaurant, I stumbled upon this place. I entered around 3 pm on a Saturday, and there was only one other group of customers. The interior had a vintage coffee shop vibe with jazz music playing, creating a calm atmosphere. They offered a daily special menu which included salad, drink, and dessert. On Saturdays, it was Omurice Pilaf. You could choose from three options: shrimp, yakitori, or jambalaya. The set came with salad, drink (default was hot coffee, but you could pay extra for other options), and dessert (choices like homemade half cake, yogurt mousse, or vanilla ice cream). I ended up ordering the Shrimp Omurice Pilaf, Iced Milk Tea, and Gateau Chocolat. The total came to 1,070 yen due to the drink upgrade. The Omurice Pilaf was tasty, with buttery shrimp pilaf topped with egg and ketchup. The portion was slightly small, but the set with salad, drink, and dessert balanced it out. The Gateau Chocolat dessert was rich and not overly sweet, which I enjoyed. It was my first time having a meal at a coffee shop, and it was a different experience from a traditional Western-style restaurant. I can't forget the Gateau Chocolat I had here.

While buying tennis equipment in Okachimachi, I decided to explore for interesting shops and ended up walking north on Showa Street from Ueno Station. Just when I thought there were no dining options, I found a small café nestled between two Chinese restaurants with a large outdoor air conditioning unit. The café offered a pasta set (with dessert) for 900 yen, which only had Neapolitan pasta available. The pasta was thinner than expected, and the sausage was quite tasty, with a classic ketchup flavor. The dessert was a chiffon cake, chosen over ice cream due to the cold weather. The cake had a rich flavor and seemed carefully made, giving off a sense of "for the customer's smile" in each bite. The blended coffee was so delicious that I couldn't help but exclaim "Delicious!" in my mind. It was on a different level of taste compared to chain coffee shops used for meeting or passing time. Although I didn't notice a strong aroma (perhaps due to the café's air), the lingering taste after drinking was undeniable. There were no rude customers smoking, so I was enveloped in the pleasant scent of coffee, creating a comfortable atmosphere. The value for money for this set at 900 yen was incredibly cheap. It was a delightful experience enjoying a delicious cup of coffee. Thank you for the meal.