Cafe Studio, MTV Cafe in Harajuku, Tokyo

Review of Cafe Studio

Text by Jesse Chadwick

In the heart of Harujuku among all of its colorful characters lies a trendy yet welcoming cafe providing diners with an escape from the Tokyo turmoil and its busy residents rushing in the rat race of life.

This hip, spacious café just off of Meiji Street is appropriately named MTV's Café Studio as it's MTV's first cafe production in Japan. Opened in March of 2005, Cafe Studio is a find. A clean and groovy establishment which reminisces a modern club design with the gentle unity of contemporary café. With free internet access and two immense TV's running MTV's great programming all day, the atmosphere is conducive for a quick brunch with friends or casual business meeting but there is also a noticeably well stocked bar, a stage for live bands, and a state of the art DJ system that tells me that the Cafe Studio has a different face at night. That face makes it a perfect gathering place for parties.

Not everyone who works in the establishment is fluent in English, but the patient and helpful staff members are more than willing to assist you with any questions you may have and to provide you with friendly service.

I had the privilege of sitting down for a quick business lunch with a colleague and was pleasantly surprised! We were greeted at the door with the welcoming smile of Cafe Studio's manager Koji Chiba, who was previously the manager for another excellent café in Kichijoji called Medewo & Dine that my colleague was quite fond of. Chiba happily assisted us with our inquires and we were given a description of the food available on the lunch menu. Offerings ranged from delicious to delectable with most dishes coming in at under 2000 Yen.

Both my friend and I asked the elusive question 'What do you recommend?" Chiba selected the Teriyaki Chicken with white rice and salad. Swiftly following the excellent service the well prepared food, a gorgeous display of fresh crisp daikon on a bed of lettuce with a tangy oriental salad dressing, marvelous moderately sized teriyaki chicken and Japanese rice topped with sesame seeds to fill my belly came to our table. I finished the meal with a hot coffee and my friend had an Assam tea with steamed milk. It was a rewarding lunch to keep us fueled until dinner.

All in all a wonderful place to spend some time with friends whether you happen to be in Harujuku area shopping for some of the worlds strangest fashion and need to break up the day with a relaxing meal or are looking for a place to hang loose at night and possibly catch an exclusive MTV live show.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

MTV Cafe Studio (03-3478-0182) is located five minutes from JR Harajuku Station, Takeshita Exit & two minutes from Meiji-Jingumae Chiyoda Subway, Exit #5.
They are open for lunch from 11:00AM - 11:30PM.