Mineko Iida, owner of HanaUta cafe used to enjoy wining and dining in Ishikawacho and Motomachi with her husband and friends. But when she had a baby and wanted to hang out at restaurants and bars, she could no longer find any places friendly to a woman with a baby in her arms. “Most places were smoky and had no space for small kids to relax. Plus, people gave me a weird look when I enjoyed a beer with my baby,” Iida said. So in 2012, when her daughter turned 1, she decided to change that inconvenient life by herself and started running her own café where she could feel most comfortable.
Iida grew up on a farm in Yamagata with fresh home grown rice and vegetables. As a “vegetable sommelier” with a wealth of medicinal cooking knowledge, her recipes contain a lot of vegetables. At her deli on the first floor, you can find over ten different dishes, most using vegetables sent from her hometown and Miura. Deli foods can be taken packed to go or also enjoyed at the café as a lunch combo with your choice of rice or bagel, soup and drink. The rice they use is also from Yamagata and she polishes the brown rice every morning to serve it fresh.
The wooden-floored room on the 2nd floor is designed for customers with small kids or those with reservations. The whole room can be reserved provided the party has a minimum of four people. This bright, comfy room is perfect for kids to crawl around in while parents enjoy their meals. You’ll also find a separate nursing room with a baby changing table. This May, Iida added organic, additive-free baby foods to the menu, starting kids off on meals that are healthy. “I started the deli as I thought it would be convenient for customers to take food out for dinner. When parents have a chance to eat out, I want them to relax and forget about cooking,” Iida said. The hair salon on the 3rd floor, yururi salon, is run by Iida’s sister and makes for a convenient stop before or after visiting the café.
Bar time at HanaUta cafe starts at 5pm and you can enjoy your drinks with a variety of food priced at ¥300. It’s a non-smoking atmosphere and you won’t get any dirty looks for enjoying your beer or wine with a baby in tow. HanaUta means humming in Japanese, and I bet you’ll feel like humming a happy tune in this friendly cafe.