Cafe de L'ambre
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Shimbashi Station · 5 min walk (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, JR Yamanote Line, Toei Asakusa Line)
- Hours
- Tue–Sat 11:00–20:00 (L.O. 19:00), Sun & holidays 11:00–18:00 (L.O. 17:00); closed Mon
- Time needed
- 30–60 min
- Best time to go
- Weekday mornings at the 11:00 opening, when counter seats are readily available before the afternoon peak rush
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Hidden in the backstreets of Ginza, Cafe de L'ambre is a legendary, smoke-friendly temple of coffee that has remained virtually unchanged since opening in 1948. This is a purist's haven where beans are aged for decades in a specialized cellar and brewed with meticulous care using flannel drip filters. Expect a moody, retro-cool atmosphere with no food on the menu—just an extensive, book-like list of single-origin coffees and creative concoctions served in vintage glassware.
Details from local sources
- The cafe name L'ambre derives from the French word for amber, chosen to reflect founder Ichiro Sekiguchi's principle that coffee should be clear and amber-colored. [source]
- Regulars order the signature layered cold coffee Blanc et Noir using the code number 7, a recipe that founder Ichiro Sekiguchi designated as the Queen of Amber. [source]
- The cafe rapidly cools hot brewed coffee inside a cocktail shaker and serves it over frozen coffee ice cubes made from the same five-bean blend to eliminate water dilution. [source]
- A specialized washing machine is positioned behind the counter for the sole purpose of laundering the reusable flannel cloth drip filters. [source]
Insider Tip
Order the 'Blanc et Noir'—an iconic iced coffee layered perfectly with sweetened milk, served in a delicate champagne coupe.
Frequently asked
Can visitors order food or dessert with their coffee?
No. In accordance with its founding concept as a coffee-only establishment, Cafe de L'ambre serves zero food, cakes, or toast. The menu focuses exclusively on house blends, aged vintage beans, and coffee-based preparations, with staff guiding guests according to their taste preferences for acidity and bitterness.
What is the Blanc et Noir drink and how should it be consumed?
Blanc et Noir, also called the Queen of Amber or No. 7, consists of sweetened concentrated cold coffee layered under unsweetened evaporated milk in a champagne glass. It is traditionally consumed by sipping steadily without stirring, allowing the contrasting milk and bitter coffee layers to blend on the palate.
How does Cafe de L'ambre prevent its iced coffee from getting diluted?
Rather than pouring hot coffee over water ice, baristas brew a five-bean blend, chill it quickly in a cocktail shaker over ice, and pour it into a glass containing cubes frozen from that same brewed coffee. This ensures the coffee concentration remains completely unchanged as the ice melts.
Tours near Cafe de L'ambre
On the same walk
Photos
