1.Prologue
When I was is middle school, whenever my family would go shopping in Shibuya, we’d park the car in the Tokyu Department Store parking lot. My parents would always buy me chocolate at nearby Théobroma.
When we’d finished shopping, we’d always stop by Levain just off of Inokashira-dori for some pain de campagne made with natural starter. The mild sourness goes very well with Échiré butter.
The area around Yoyogi-Koen (Yoyogi Park) and Yoyogi-Hachiman is home to many tasty bakeries and confectioners, and whenever I’m scheduled to head to the office I find myself weighing my many great options from the night before.
Recently I’ve been into trying all the different kinds of chocolate at local bean-to-bar chocolate shop Minimal.
And last summer, a new gelato place called Fun Ice opened across the street from the parking lot on Yoyogi Park’s west side. I’m hooked on the pistachio and watermelon flavors. Each time I visit I can’t make up my mind, and end up just getting a double.
<Chocolate>
2.Minimal
This shop specializes in bean-to-bar chocolate—they process cacao beans into chocolate bars and other products in-house. You’ll find standard chocolate bars like “Classic" and aromatic “High Cacao," as well as “Nutty" “Fruity" and “Savory," which draw out different aspects of the cacao. The raw chocolate and seasonal desserts are also a highlight. Chocolate bars usually have indentations so that they can be broken off into equal pieces; at Minimal, each bar is segmented into several different sizes both big and small, and with varying texture—to allow customers to enjoy the range of mouthfeel. The rich hot chocolate is lightly sweet, and a great reward after a long walk around Yoyogi Park.
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Minimal Tomigaya
3.Théobroma
This chocolate specialty store opened its doors in 1999 in the neighborhood that is now known as Oku-Shibu. Enter and you are immediately greeted by displays of chocolate bon bons and truffles, as well as a variety of chocolate cakes and other baked sweets. All of the sweets are great with a cup of tea; there is also an adjacent cafe space, perfect for a mid-afternoon break. Recently I’ve become a fan of making hot chocolate at home out of their “Caviar Brown," a round tin filled with tiny, slightly bitter chocolates. Théobroma also runs a bean-to-bar chocolate specialty store called Cacao Store closer to nearby Yoyogi-Hachiman and Yoyogi-Koen Stations. Perfect for a little pick-me-up.
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Théobroma Shibuya Main Store
<Bakeries / Bagels>
4.365 jours
365 is a “select shop for food" dedicated to enrich the day-to-day lives of its customers. Its bread, made using choice organic ingredients, has become a major draw for locals and visitors alike. The shelves are lined with flavorful, filling options, but personally, the loaves of bread—which are available in different blends of domestically-produced flour—are a highlight, and an essentially part of my breakfast. Chocolate lovers will love the craquant chocolat, a bun stuffed with small round chocolates—the perfect blend of sweet and bitter.
<SHOP INFO>
365 Jours
5.tecona bagel works
This bagel shop is located just off the main Tomigaya thoroughfare, which runs adjacent to the Tokyo Metro Yoyogi-Koen Station and the Odakyu Line Yoyogi-Hachiman Station. They have a variety of bagels both sweet and savory, with toppings and fillings like apples, cranberries, azuki bean paste, as well as cream cheese, dried tomatoes, and olives. They come in three types, with onomatopoeic names: the soft and fluffy “fuka", the chewy “mochi", and firm “mugyu". The standards are fantastic, but you’ll want to keep coming back for the new and seasonal flavors put out on a regular basis. Come sooner than later, as they tend to sell out and close early. And don’t forget to bring your own bag.
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tecona bagel works
6.Jensen
From Yoyogi-Hachiman Station (Odakyu Line) and Yoyogi-Koen Station (Tokyo Metro), cross the railroad and walk about 30 seconds toward Yoyogi-Uehara, and you’ll find Jensen right on the corner. This bakery sells flaky, buttery danish pastries that are the real deal, beloved by the folks at the Danish Embassy in Tokyo. For breakfast, grab the flaky “tebirkes", topped with poppy seeds and the roast ham pastry. The cinnamon roll “smørsnegle" is a frequent afternoon snack at my office. I find it goes especially well with a rich royal milk tea.
<SHOP INFO>
Jensen
7.Donky
Donky is a friendly neighborhood bakery beloved by local foodies for years. It’s located halfway between Yoyogi-Hachiman Station (Odakyu Line) and Yoyogi-Koen Station (Tokyo Metro). You’ll find a wide range of sweet, savory, and snack breads at reasonable prices—great for any occasion. The French bread is especially well-regarded, with some customers reserving their baguette order to get theirs freshly out of the oven. A number of French and Italian restaurants in the area also serve Donky bread.
<SHOP INFO>
Donky
8.Levain
Levain has been serving French sourdough bread in the Tomigaya neighborhood since 1984. Despite the central Tokyo location, you’ll feel like you’ve come to a cottage in the French countryside. I recommend the butter croissant, made using whole wheat flour, the “mélange", made with currants and walnuts, and the quiche. Adjacent to the bakery is Le Chalet, a cafe where you can enjoy a light meal along with bread from Levain.
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Levain
<Confectioners / Baked Sweets>
9.ACOT
This confectioner serves up natural desserts that go great with A Cup Of Tea. The pleasantly mild sweets are made using choice ingredients like domestic flour, sugar made from sugarcanes cultivated in Tanegashima, and organic dried fruits. For first time visitors, try their bestselling “Shio Cake" (salt cake) or the “Shio Butter Caramel Cake I also recommend the down-home poundcake, made using Guérande salt from the Bretagne region on the west coast of France.
<SHOP INFO>
ACOT
10.Nata de Cristiano
This takeout-only shop serves Portuguese egg tarts that are absolutely to die for. I also recommend the pão-de-ló, a type of semi-raw sponge cake made using choice eggs and flour. It comes in plain, caramel and mandarin flavors. Also check out their sister restaurant Cristiano’s, serving up delicious Portuguese cuisine just a two-minute walk from Yoyogi-Hachiman and Yoyogi-Koen Stations.
<SHOP INFO>
Nata de Cristiano
11.Afterhours
This western confectioner is tucked away along a quiet residential street that runs between the main thoroughfare and nearby Yoyogi Park. It is run by a married couple that decided on the name “Afterhours" because years ago they would spend their time after work dreaming up big plans for their future. Standards like the gâteau au chocolat and cheesecake are rich with a light aftertaste. My recommendation is the shortcake, which is made using a generous amount of seasonal ingredients. Inside the compact space is a counter with seats for two, and a table that seats two.
<SHOP INFO>
Afterhours
<Ice Cream / Shaved Ice>
12.fun.ice!
This homemade gelato place is located along the street that runs along Yoyogi Park’s western border, towards Sangubashi. The delightful gelato is made using natural ingredients and agave syrup instead of refined sugar, for a mild sweetness. Choose from around 12 flavors (single scoops or combinations), which are all fantastic. My recommendation is to get the pistachio flavor on your first visit—you’ll be hooked.
<SHOP INFO>
fun.ice!
13.Sebastian
This shaved ice specialty store is located in the Oku-Shibu neighborhood near the west entrance of the NHK broadcasting center. The shaved ice, which is made using generous portions of seasonal fruit, is served in an eye-catching manner that more resembles cake than shaved ice. Definitely worth trying if you’re looking for something different. During the warmer months and summer, expect for there to be a line. Sebastian also serves up health-conscious bento boxes on weekdays, popular among local workers.
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