Ghibli Museum Cafe

Just had a moment to spend in the café to catch our tour group so we just ordered the ‘coffee with milk’ to see what picture would be painted into the coffee.
I guess the pictures posted were from earlier times because it looked like they used to do different and more intricate pictures. This time when we went it was the same simple picture for both of us: the straw hat logo. Which would have been cool if my expectations to see a better picture in the foam weren’t so high.
Something strange was that you cannot bring outside food that you purchase from the museum food stand into the café?! So we had to chug the beer we bought there. They wouldn’t even let us set the beer under the table or in the corner.
The experience at the café is nothing special so I recommend just enjoying some coffee elsewhere at a local bakery.

This location is located within Studio Ghibli and closes at little later at 7:00 P.M. or 19:00. In Japan they use military time, so you better get used to it if you’re heading for this great land.
Overall, this location really felt like it was themed after the film Kiki’s Delivery Service and as a fan I was truly grateful for this experience. The hostess/​waitress we had was actually a little snobby which was a bit of a surprise as almost all the workers here seemed truly heart warmingly gracious. I’m not sure, what the deal was, but that’s what happened.
The food here is top notch as the cake I had was perfect, and the soup the GF had was also fantastic. The ambiance feels like a Studio Ghibli film which is actually what you want when eating here. It’s very homey and a pleasant experience. I wish the waitress was bit warmer though. However, the rest of the staff at the restaurant were great.

They provide seats under a marquee and you get to read the cute menus before going in. When you do go in, the place is so delightful! The afternoon light fills the room and you can see the trees through the glass ceiling.
I ordered the Grilled chicken with veggies on multi grained rice with homemade soy sauce Y1,200 ($ 12.23 AU). At first it looked like a mess but then you closer and all that chaos has an actual structure! The cherry tomatoes are strategically place on the outside whilst the chicken, beans, carrots, sprouts, sesame seeds are scattered in a crisscross pattern with a boiled egg as its crowning glory. Speaking of patterns and glories, there was a tiny feint Totoro painted on the edge of my plate.
Will I come here again? You bet your sweet peach cheeks, I’ll be back! I hope to come back to Japan in the next 2 years or so.

Waited for about one hour starting 11:40am, and the line still exists when we came out 1ish. The food (salmon open face sandwich, katsu sandwich and strawberry shortcake) was pretty good, light and refreshing. The katsu sandwich and strawberry shortcake have the totoro and ponyo flags! A cute café I’d say, if only the wait could be shorter.

Why review a café that is only open to people who have been lucky enough to gain admission to the Ghibli Museum? Simply put, because it is an integral part of the visitor experience, that’s why.
Without going into details gained by visiting the museum proper, this review will only focus on the food and beverage offerings at two locations on site.
The first is the outdoor «window» or counter. Here, you can pick up drinks (including beer!), certain quick and easy foods and soft ice cream cones. No question, choose beer! No seriously, choose ice cream. It’s REAL cream, served the way soft ice cream was intended to be served. There will be plain vanilla and a limited seasonal flavor made from the freshest ingredients. For example, during my previous visit in early summer, a light purple colored flavor was offered. What was it, grape? Eggplant? Sweet potato? Nope, it was flavored by, you guessed it, lavender. The fragrance and smooth consistency were quite interesting… and good!
OK, I mentioned beer — a Ghibli-​branded craft beer is offered chilled in bottles. It’s a light, flavorful ale that’s quite refreshing on a warm day.
Part two: Inside dinning. The menu is seasonal and like the ice cream, features the freshest ingredients. Check the link for what is currently offered. There’s usually a meat and or fish dish and pasta. Salads with meals are always crisp and tasty, although the quantity is nothing like the full meal sizes you’ll see in the US. Thank goodness for that because you’ll want to enjoy the main course AND have room for dessert. Their desserts are wonderfully hand made and show the same level of careful detail put into other dishes. I have memories of a smooth chiffon cake accented with fluffy whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Again, check the menu.
So the reasons for four instead of five stars are two: One, seating is very limited inside and you’ll often need to wait. Limited is not in terms of quantity, but because the food is so damn good and the atmosphere is charming. That said, they could easily fill all the tables in a space three times larger but with a bit more elbow room. Yes, it feels a bit cramped, depending on your table location.
Two, prices are a bit on the «barely tolerable bordering on the steep» side. Granted, the quality is great but still… they’re on the same level in pricing and quantity as the «themed» restaurants at Disney Resort. (Seeing that Disney made a major investment into Ghibli, are we going to see more Disneyfication of Ghibli? I hope not.)
Overall, I’d rate the café 4.5 stars, but will take one for the two drawbacks mentioned.
For the facilities, please note that table service is for dining inside the café only. Although covered tables and chairs are numerous on the outdoor deck, these are for people who have purchased from the quick order window only.
If you have extra time and money, taking in a full meal is worth the experience. Don’t forget to try the desserts… and beer!