01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Standing quietly on a corner along a Higashi-Ginza side street, Basilico Coffee is an old-school kissaten steeped in a nostalgic mood. The compact dining space, wrapped in wood finishes and arranged with small tables, lends itself naturally to reading a book or spending unhurried solo time.
A natural place to start is the house-blend coffee, which showcases the shop's character. Guests can tailor their cup to taste, choosing from a bold, drip-brewed strong style, a gentler soft style, or an American style. For cold drinks, the menu extends from clean iced coffee and mellow iced cafe au lait to ice-cream-topped coffee floats and vibrant melon cream sodas. The cream yogurt, a sweet staple here, is also well worth ordering alongside a cup of coffee.
Light bites and midday plates are equally well represented. In the morning, a set with toast, an egg, salad, soup, and a drink provides a handy opening to a day wandering around Ginza. Come lunchtime, visitors can choose nostalgic cafe standards such as classic spaghetti Napolitan, jambalaya billed as Mexican pilaf, shrimp pilaf, or dry curry. Settling in over simple sandwiches, like egg salad or a mixed sandwich, offers an easy, restful break.
Smoking is permitted throughout the premises, and payment is cash only. For smokers, it serves as a comfortable retreat to pause without fuss, preserving the atmosphere of a bygone Tokyo cafe.
