What is it about Australian cafes that has Tokyo so excited? Is it the relaxed atmosphere, the service or the fresh flavors? Perhaps it's the high-quality produce and the commitment to crafting exceptional cups of coffee? Or maybe it's the attraction of Australia's laidback lifestyle? Whatever it is, cafes and restaurants across Tokyo seem to be invoking Down Under.
Aussie chef and personality Bill Granger might have been the first to introduce the appeal when he opened a branch of his Sydney restaurant, bills, on the seafront at Shichigahama, Kanagawa Prefecture — bills' first overseas post. His restaurant's ethos, "sunny, easy-going and generous," is a reflection of Australian culture and seems to have been a hit in Tokyo: the seventh bills in Japan opened in Ginza in October.
It's not only Australians who are pushing their culinary culture on Tokyo. After spending some time in Melbourne, two young Tokyoites became fascinated by the city's laidback restaurants and cafes. They wanted to replicate that same all-day dining experience in the heart of Ginza and in March, 2016, opened Me's Cafe & Kitchen, a breezy space with a long communal table, open kitchen and a menu boasting healthy smoothies, sharing boards, salads and burgers. Owners Naoya Numata and Kantaro Okada believe that what is so appealing about cafes in Australia — particularly those in Melbourne — is a relaxed attitude, and the way they promote a lifestyle as well as healthy food.