Cafe de Lento is a gem tucked away on the fringes of Motomachi. Stepping inside the cafe is like entering a Parisian coffee shop–it’s cozy, chic and incredibly serene. The dark wood furniture adds an elegant, modern touch to the simple interior and the hanging lights cast a warm glow that creates a peaceful atmosphere. You can take a group of friends with you or come alone to escape reality for a couple of hours and have some quiet time to yourself. It’s the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon reading a book while enjoying a cup of coffee, which is exactly what many were doing during our visit.
We ordered their popular dessert, Profiterole (¥1300 w/drink included), which is ice cream sandwiched between crunchy pastry puffs and doused in thick, warm chocolate sauce. It tastes as amazing as it sounds! The Strawberry Cheese Tart (¥1250 w/drink included) was a sizeable slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. The sweet tanginess of the strawberries inside the slightly bitter crust blended perfectly with the thin layer of milk chocolate topped by creamy cheesecake. For drinks, we ordered cafe latte, as well as their milk tea which, to our surprise, came in a large “cup” that resembled a soup bowl. Creamy and subtly sweet, this is a great option if you’re not a fan of coffee.
Lunch options are available as well. The cafe provides savory dishes such as beef stew and sandwiches. Cafe de Lento offers a menu of delicious, classic foods and drinks with a modern twist–not only will you marvel at the taste, but also at the unique and creative presentation.