Cafés, cocktails, charcoal—even a convenience store. This fall, leave your laptop behind. Let the crisp air, golden light and clink of glasses pull you into Tokyo’s best open-air spots. They may not be the newest or trendiest, but they’re beloved by locals who savor the season outdoors.
Put your phone down. Share a table. Spark a conversation.
Photo courtesy of Fulgen Tokyo
Fuglen – ¥¥
Perhaps no one worships natural light like the Scandinavians. In Oslo, home to the original Fuglen, the sun sets as early as 3:14 p.m. in winter—a reminder of how vital light is to daily life. Fuglen Tokyo wears this ethos proudly. Beneath its red spit-tail tern logo, built-in benches wrap two street-facing sides, each table just snug enough for two Nordic-roasted coffees and a buttery croissant. On weekends, lines stretch out the door, every outdoor seat claimed, coffee lovers spilling onto the path that winds toward Shibuya. Inside, warm wood paneling glows as candles flicker above the bar.
By day, the espresso machine hisses; by night, cocktail shakers take over. A bartender in overalls lights a rosemary sprig, smoke curling above your drink. Fuglen means “the bird” in Norwegian—a fitting symbol for a café that’s flown from Oslo to Tokyo and Seoul, connecting through light, ritual and flavor. Can you smell it too?
Address: 1-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku
5 min walk from Yoyogi-Koen Station
Instagram: @fuglentokyo
Fulgen’s Website
Photo Courtesy of TRUNK
TRUNK(STORE) – Cat Street – ¥
This is Tokyo, so a stylish convenience store isn’t entirely shocking. But one with a terrace this spacious—and konbini prices? That’s rare. It’s ideal for first dates, especially the ones that don’t go well. On crisp autumn afternoons, grab a seat under the awning, where heat lamps hum above and a tree strung with warm bulbs casts long shadows behind your chair. Tucked away just off Cat Street, TRUNK(STORE) is a calm oasis known to locals, international residents, the occasional celebrity and their dogs. On weekends, it becomes a backdrop for newlyweds. Couples pass through on the hour, pausing for portraits atop the greenery-lined stairs. Come early or late, or visit on a weekday to avoid the wedding rush. Trunkers, as the staff are called, drift between tables in oversized black jackets and limited-edition white tees. They’re open-minded, multilingual and impossibly cool. It’s one of those rare places in Tokyo where you feel like you belong—without needing to earn it.
Address: 5-31 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (Inside TRUNK(HOTEL) CAT STREET)
7 min walk from Meiji Jingumae Station or Harajuku Station
Instagram: @trunkhotel_catstreet
TRUNK’s Website
Photo Courtesy of Locale
Locale – ¥¥
The energy here is different. Take the hustle of Tokyo and dial it down to a third, maybe a quarter of its usual pace. Seated at the counter at Locale, you wonder if your banana pancakes are burning. A minute later, the soft slap of the griddle assures you they’ve been flipped in perfect timing. They arrive warm, crowned with a thick slab of melting butter, seconds before the syrup. Behind the counter, the chef slices avocado, fans it neatly and toasts thick-cut bread still warm from the oven. When she dusts a poached egg with a nutty Moroccan spice blend, you’re certain she’s been asked a thousand times, “What’s dukkah?”
Plan ahead—reserve through their website and arrive early. Look for the discreet wooden sign above the door and the chalkboard brunch menu. If there’s a wait, settle onto the sun-dappled patio, where a cup of freshly brewed coffee or Brew Tea Co. English breakfast tastes even better, surrounded by leafy calm. Across the street is their new natural wine bar, Wine Bar Juni.
Address: 1-17-22 Meguro, Meguro-ku
6 min walk from Meguro Station
Instagram: @localetokyo
Locale’s Website
Photo Courtesy of Little Darling Coffee Roasters
Little Darling Coffee Roasters – ¥¥
Little darling, it’s been a long, steaming hot summer. Sunday morning at Little Darling Coffee Roasters is the perfect place to accomplish nothing—unless cloud-watching from your gently reclining lawn chair counts. Hidden in the cool shadows of a reimagined warehouse, part of the Share Green Minami Aoyama complex, the café offers three of Tokyo’s rarest luxuries: lush greenery that softens the city’s edges, generous space to breathe, and a laid-back vibe that makes your worries feel far away. It’s no secret to locals and California-dreaming expats alike, eager to escape the quiet pressure of urban life. Families sprawl on picnic blankets. Friends linger over second cups.
Get there right at 10 for a pocket of calm. Order My Best Friend’s Crush, the café’s signature blend, to savor notes of milk chocolate, almond and cherry on the finish. If there’s sun, try the new iced organic matcha: smooth, naturally sweet, with just a faint hint of bitterness. And for a brief, breezy moment, it’s all right. It’s all right.
Address: 1-12-32 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku
6 min walk from Nogizaka Station
Instagram: @littledarling_coffeeroasters
Little Darling Coffee Roasters’ Website
Photo by Andy Miller
Start your weekend night with an open mind and see where it takes you. Find this open-air joint wedged beneath the Chuo Line tracks. The background hum of the exhaust fan sets the tempo. Bottles clink, ice water sloshes. A large bottle of Sapporo Red Star is lifted from its icy cradle. The cap pops with a sigh of relief—as do you. Kanpai! Drag your stool closer to the grill. Binchotan charcoal smolders and cracks as the bandana-clad yakitori master dips his head through bursts of smoke and heat.
The crisp autumn air calls for lightly salted ginkgo nuts. When you spot lotus root stuffed with minced meat laid carefully over the coals, order one, along with stuffed green peppers. Both are known to sell out early. The deep-fried gyoza arrive golden, crisp outside and juicy inside. Regulars will likely have their own favorites. Come curious, stay for the smoke and stories.
Address: 3-11-5 Nishiogi-minami, Suginami-ku
1 min walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station (South Exit)
Cash only
This Article is part of Metropolis Magazine’s Autumn 2025 Edition.
Check out our article on Finding Pumpkin Spice Lattes in Tokyo.
