After fully enjoying your shopping, why not dive into a "deep culinary experience" unique to Shinjuku, Tokyo?

Hidden just behind the modern cityscape lined with skyscrapers are numerous "retro cafes" that still strongly retain the atmosphere of Japan's 1960s to 1980s (the Showa era).

This time, we have carefully selected 4 must-visit retro cafes in Shinjuku where you can enjoy Japanese nostalgia along with a superb coffee break!

1. Meikyoku Coffee Shinjuku L'ambre

An Elegant Underground Space of a Showa-Era Pure Cafe and Classical Music

Walk down the narrow stairs, and you'll feel like you've entered a medieval European ballroom! In this vast underground space with over 200 seats, rows of bright red velvet sofas line the floor while elegant classical music plays in the background. It’s hard to believe you are in the middle of the metropolis of Shinjuku. It's a must-visit classical music cafe that gives you the illusion of having slipped through time.

• Theme: A vast underground classical lounge to forget the hustle and bustle of the city

• Store Name: Meikyoku Coffee Shinjuku L'ambre

• Hours: 9:30

• AM – 10:30 PM

• Location: 1F & B1F, 3-31-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

• Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HyDij7nRS3oVBZgr9

2. BERG

From Morning till Night! A Lovably Chaotic Beer & Cafe Connected to Shinjuku Station

Just 15 seconds after exiting the ticket gates of Shinjuku Station's East Exit, you'll find this legendary cafe and bar visited by around 1,500 people every day. Here, you can enjoy artisanal sausages, superb craft beer, and authentic coffee from morning to night at incredibly low prices. It's a lively and chaotic space where local businessmen and tourists mingle while drinking standing up.

• Theme: Shinjuku's crossroads bustling with artisanal sausages and beer

• Store Name: Beer & Cafe BERG

• Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM

• Location: LUMINE EST Shinjuku B1F, 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Outside JR Shinjuku Station East Exit ticket gates)

• Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Top1foeXLRmWpcXT8

3. Kissa Times

Look for the Brick Exterior: A Classic Retro Cafe That Feels Like a Time Slip

Located in the Southeast Exit area of Shinjuku, this is a beautiful, old-fashioned cafe with a brick exterior. Inside, there's a newspaper rack, perfectly preserving the "everyday scenery of Showa-era Japan" where cigarette smoke fits right in. Their retro, photogenic Jun-kissa (classic pure cafe) menu items, such as brightly colored melon cream sodas and classic Napolitan spaghetti, are very popular.

• Theme: A classic Japanese cafe with cream sodas and newspaper racks

• Store Name: Kissa Times

• Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Fri & Sat 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM)

• Location: 3-35-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

• Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BSDySJ6nFJg7ma7e9

4. Cafe Bon (Jikabaisen Coffee Bon)

An Overwhelming Cup Collection! Legendary Coffee and a Giant Strawberry Shortcake

Behind the counter, you'll find a display of over 1,500 beautiful, high-end teacups gathered from all over the world. Along with their superb home-roasted coffee, you absolutely must order their famous "Adult's Shortcake," which is packed with large, domestically grown strawberries. While a bit pricey, it's a hideaway for adults where you can spend a blissful time in an artistic space.

• Theme: 1,500 premium teacups and the ultimate coffee experience

• Store Name: Jikabaisen Coffee Bon

• Hours: 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM

• Location: Toriichi Building B1F, 3-23-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

• Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/48HfGkzxhUGdboK66

What do you think? For a break between shopping and sightseeing, these retro cafes where you can time-slip back to Showa-era Japan right in the middle of a metropolis are the absolute best spots. When you visit Shinjuku, be sure to enjoy a superb cup of coffee in these meticulously curated spaces!