17 best restaurants, cafés, shops and things to do in Nishihara and Hatagaya

Importing beans from Portland’s famed Stumptown Coffee Roasters every week, Daisuke Matsushima’s Paddlers have been caffeinating shoppers at the Nishihara arcade since 2015. All beans are served fresh in french press or espresso form for the perfect flavour. Beans are also available by the bag, with their most popular roast being the Nano Challa from Ethiopia, which offers delicate notes of grapefruit and peach.

To accompany your cup, order one of Paddlers’ signature hot dogs, made with buns from a bakery in the neighbourhood. The café has a calm wooden interior, communal tables and a homely atmosphere – a little piece of the Rose City in one of the quieter corners of Shibuya.

Situated in a former laundromat, the aptly named Laundry Koffiehuis at the northern edge of Hatagaya is a distinctive coffee house serving speciality coffee that’s carefully brewed to order. The owner, having trained at Onibus Coffee in Nakameguro, offers a curated selection of single-origin hand-drip brews using beans sourced from across the globe – including Ethiopia, Kenya, Bolivia, Rwanda, Honduras and El Salvador.

While enjoying a refreshing brew, why not check out the store’s used apparel section, which occupies a third of the café with a curated selection of vintage sneakers, Levi's denim, Hanes T-shirts and more.

This charming cellar-bar, hidden in the relaxed Hatagaya neighbourhood near Shibuya, specialises in natural wine. But don’t let that newfangled wine term scare you: if you’re unfamiliar with the selection on offer, simply specify red, white or sparkling, and trust the recommendations of the store's knowledgeable staff. 

There are two long communal tables with seats to enjoy your wine, as well as some standing room areas. Glasses start from ¥1,000, or you can select a bottle from the cellar and drink it in-situ for ¥3,000 corkage. 

At Sanita, which opened in December 2020, you can take a seat at the marble-topped bar, or one of the small tables, and order plates of the house speciality: NYC-style Southern Italian bites. The menu is specific, and it works. Think salami, cheese, chicken soup, octopus salad and tiramisu, all accompanied by cocktails and natural wine (there’s an especially good selection of orange wine). Classic white tiles and the bold lines of a New York bistro bring added charm and relaxed sophistication. You’ll find Sanita on a corner along the eclectic Nishihara shotengai shopping street.

An institution in the neighbourhood since 2016, À côté – meaning ‘next door’ in French – is the perfect way to describe this zakka variety shop, as it’s like your friendly neighbourhood go-to spot for daily essentials, gifts and even alcohol. 

Goods from both Japan and abroad are thoughtfully displayed throughout the store, where you can browse everything from kitchen tools and Japanese stationery to playful knick-knacks – alongside a well-curated selection of Japanese craft beer and natural wines from France. The store also has a dedicated ‘community spot’ where the owner displays some of her favourite things including items from popular artists like illustrator Izumi Shiokawa.

Early risers may be lucky enough to catch the weekly Saturday morning vegetable market, where you can stock up on pesticide-free produce sold on the shop’s cosy terrace. This takes place from 7am to 10.30am.

Just a five-minute walk from Hatagaya Station, Bullpen is a thoughtfully curated furniture and lifestyle shop nestled in the nostalgic Nishihara shopping arcade. Run by a duo with backgrounds in furniture retail, the owners travel both within Japan and abroad to source unique items selected with a designer’s eye and a craftsman’s sensibility.

Bullpen offers a range of one-of-a-kind finds, including their original plant-based liquid soap, 'Palos', available in two distinctive scents: 'Abstract Plants', a woody blend inspired by Japanese cypress, and 'Angelic Chorus' a sweet, exotic fragrance centered around ylang-ylang.

The store’s name reflects the founders’ commitment to fostering strong relationships with the makers – much like the trust between a pitcher and catcher on the field.

Formerly based in Setagaya’s Kamimachi, Ella Records picked up and moved to Nishihara, in between Hatagaya and Yoyogi-Uehara stations, in summer 2016. The warm, wooden interior houses an impressive selection of rock, soul, jazz, rare groove and Japanese oldies, and you can often spot Shibuya-based DJs browsing the racks in search of filling for their jazz and groove sets. Don’t sleep on the discount corner either. The shop has two listening stations where you can sit down and try before you buy.

This small neighbourhood sento is the perfect place to unwind after a day of walking, shopping and eating. Open from 4pm, the spacious bathhouse offers a soothing escape with weekly rotating herbal baths featuring relaxing scents like peppermint, lavender, rosemary, chamomile, and lemon balm. In addition to the herb baths, guests can enjoy a full-body jacuzzi and a steam sauna (sauna available for an additional ¥500). 

One of the best features of this sento is that it’s tattoo-friendly, so visitors with ink can relax without concern. Conveniently, coin laundry services are also available on-site.

Whether you’re aiming to sharpen your swing or simply blow off some steam, Nishihara Golf Garden offers a convenient and enjoyable escape right in the heart of the city. This rare urban driving range is perfect for both seasoned golfers and curious beginners looking to try something new without leaving Tokyo. 

You can gain entry to the facility for just ¥500, with club rentals available for a wallet-friendly ¥300 – no need to bring your own gear. Practice balls are available for ¥800, making it an affordable and low-commitment way to work on your technique or unwind after a busy day. The range features both a first and a second floor, so you can choose your hitting spot depending on your preference – whether you like the grounded feel of the lower level or the elevated perspective from above.

All along the sakura-lined Meguro River, the shops, restaurants and cafés here reward exploration at any time of year

Nestled between Shibuya and Nakameguro, this unassuming little neighbourhood is full of hidden gems