Sawamura might be best known for its freshly baked bread and coffee, but the brand branched out in a new direction with this bakery-lounge in Nakameguro. Open from 8am, the spacious bakery serves coffee, brunch plates and fresh baked goods, including special sweets created by Sawamura’s bakers and pastry chefs from their original location in Karuizawa.
Hidden away on the quieter side of the hip neighbourhood, just a few steps from the Meguro River, the café is worth seeking out purely for its heavenly french toast. This thick slab of Sawamura’s best-selling, ultra-light pain de mie shokupan – caramelised and crispy on the outside, obscenely light and fluffy within – pairs perfectly with a side of artisanal Shinshu bacon from Nagano.
Be sure to lay down a couple of hundred extra yen on a cup of hand-drip speciality coffee; this Sawamura outpost serves as an extension of the brand’s Karuizawa roastery and offers a wide range of single-origin beans.
From 5pm onwards, the menu changes to reveal an evening selection highlighting a number of creative small plates like bread gyoza and tartines. These dishes make a wonderful accompaniment to the selection of booze, which includes craft beers, wine and gin.