Entering this café hidden in residential Shimokitazawa feels like opening a secret door into the owner’s imagination. A good 15-minute walk from Shimokitazawa Station, Hi Monsieur is decorated with quirky knick knacks that seem random except for a vague association with Europe and America.
Many of the cups, plates, clothes and books on display are also for sale, or you could just admire them while you savour a cup of coffee from Yokohama’s Tera Coffee. Light snacks on offer include a selection of baked goods from Higuchi Noriko and cinnamon sugar doughnuts from My Picnic. The homemade ice cream here is highly recommended, with unique flavours such as raspberry cardamom, salted vanilla olive oil, peach rosemary, and passion rum milk.
Occasionally the café hosts exhibitions featuring works by local artists.