If you’ve ever braved the queues for a cup of coffee or tea at Bongen in Ginza, you’re not alone. While the original shop had little seating and functioned mainly as a takeaway stand, Bongen’s new Nihonbashi café offers a serene space with plenty of room to sit and savour a drink.
Following the success of the Ginza location, the Nihonbashi outpost opened in April 2025. Its refined interiors take inspiration from Noh theatre, featuring a counter clad in glossy black burnt cedar and a beautifully crafted coffered ceiling. Owner Wataru Shiraishi, a passionate bonsai collector who owns around 30 trees, displays several of his prized specimens – some more than 200 years old – throughout the café.
The menu offers around 17 types of coffee, including blends and single origins, all roasted to bring out each bean's rich sweetness and bright, fruity notes. Highlights include the signature Bongen Latte Rich which uses twice the usual amount of beans for a deeply satisfying cup. For food, try the salted onigiri rice ball or the taiyaki monaka wafer filled with rich cream cheese and anko bean paste.