Tucked into an unassuming backstreet in Nihonbashi, this bakery may be small, but its selection is abundant and of excellent quality. Before opening Beaver Bread, Kenichi Warita worked as the in-house baker at an upmarket French restaurant in Ginza. There, he had to produce impeccable goods; at Beaver Bread, he says his approach is more homely and rustic. That said, everything here still has a polished look, from the perfectly flaky pastries to the sandwiches and sourdough.
The consistent line out the front speaks to the quality – we recommend going before the lunch rush to avoid the queues and snag the best selection. Warita’s Japanese-inflected creations are a must, like the gobo (burdock root) and cheese twist, a bread roll filled with Setouchi lemon-scented egg salad, and black bean and chocolate buns. If you’re after more conventional baked goods like croissants and sourdough, you’ll also find those at Beaver Bread, and they won’t disappoint, either.
To spot Beaver Bread, look for the beaver stencil on the side wall and on the head of the peel at the entrance, which was inspired by the stencil art of Bansky. Better yet, just follow your nose – the enticing aroma of baking bread wafts all the way down the street.