Cafe Zenon

A unique and interesting concept born from the world of old manga, art and publishing.
Each item adorning the café has a story — feel free to ask the staff to share it with you. And look carefully, there are various «Easter eggs» hidden among the decorations, paintings and furniture.
Other reviews covered the food menu and general atmosphere, so I’ll skip those here. However, the second floor loft can be rented out for your group of ten or more. The view is great and atmosphere very cozy, almost like a secret hideout.
Stop in for lunch — great rotating seasonal sets. The Musashino curry is the standby — nicely simmered and robust with spices and flavors.
Insider tip #1: Power outlets NOT usable on weekends
Insider tip #2: Power outlets in the non-​smoking section on the raised area in the back in front of the ceiling-​high bookshelf
Insider tip #3: Power outlets in ample supply in the smoking section
Insider tip #4: Free wifi — ask your waitperson for the password.
You gotta see this one during the day, and once at night. Very different but equally intriguing. Cheers!

I had the hamburger-​on-​foccacia for lunch yesterday. Very tasty and with fries. Highly recommend. If you are into casual American grub and booze, try «2Papas», also in Kichijoji.

Kichijouji has a lot to offer. From little shops filled with all sorts of knick-​knacks to quaint eateries, each corner in this continually growing section of Tokyo is a whole new area to explore.
Since I still don’t know Tokyo all that well, Shoko O. decided to take me around to some of the spots she found on Tabelog, the primary « Unilocal for Japan.»
When we got there, a line of seven or so people trailed outside of the door. Shoko asked one of the waiters how long the wait would be, but all he could say was «I don’t know — there’s no time limit, so people can leave when they want.» The inside space looked really cool, as did the drink menu, so we took the chance and waited in line.
Turned out, it only took about 20 minutes for us to get a seat. So we sat down and both ordered their special tea latte. Ten minutes or so later, we get our beautiful cups of latte, complete with a frothy bit of art on top.
For a great place to chat and drink some lattes or tea, Café Zenon has a really cool atmosphere. Did I mention that it was also animé-​themed?

Café Zenon is a spacious, comfortable, and casual café in a quieter part of Kichijouji that offers a surprisingly good latte and decent variety in their menu.
The interior here is an interesting mix of pop-​art and comic culture, featuring chandeliers made of old comic books, and comic-​inspired art literally running up the wall. Each corner of the café also doubles as an exhibition space for local artists, so each table’s location is something of a unique visual experience.
The menu is fairly expansive, and there’s a little something for everyone — pasta, pizza, curry, sandwiches — it’s pretty standard fare, but it’s prepared well and it won’t disappoint. I went with the Hamburg Focaccia sandwich (the kind of off-​beat mix I can never seem to pass up) and it hit the spot — fresh, soft bread with just a little crunch on the outside, and a good balance of salads surrounding a hamburger patty that was, perhaps, just a little on the small-​side.
The set-​up at Zenon — lots of natural light, comfortable couch seats, and simple tables — makes it perfect for catching up with friends over some food, or spending a lazy afternoon with some coffee and dessert.
With Kichijouji growing in popularity recently, this might be a good starting point for getting some food and coffee on before jumping into an afternoon of exploring the city proper.