DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2025.03.17
A long-established coffee shop in Jimbocho, exuding Showa-era charm.
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"SABOR," a long-established coffee shop located in the famous Jimbocho used bookstore district, offers a unique atmosphere that evokes the charm of the Showa era. Its retro red telephone at the entrance, cabin-style interior, and wooden chairs and tables, which convey a warm, inviting atmosphere, are among the shop’s distinctive features. Customers here enjoy a variety of items on the menu, including coffee, the popular pizza toast, strawberry juice, and the much-talked-about seven-color cream soda.
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"SABOR" is located in the heart of Jimbocho, a neighborhood lined with bookstores. It has been a beloved spot for publishing professionals and writers for many years. The shop's name comes from the Spanish word "sabor," and the founder’s goal was to create a space where people could not just drink coffee, but gather, converse, and relax. This spirit continues to thrive even more than half a century later.
Known as one of Japan’s major secondhand book districts, Jimbocho is frequented by many writers and researchers. "SABOR" has also played an important role as a cultural hub. At the counter, regular customers chat with the owner, while students can be found spreading out their notebooks at the tables. Antique decorations, aged with history, adorn the walls and shelves, allowing visitors to feel the shop’s long journey.
A signature dish is the "Pizza Toast," made with a secret recipe that has remained unchanged since the shop opened. The melted cheese and crunchy vegetables blend perfectly with the aromatic toast. In addition, "SABOR" coffee is exceptional. Each cup is carefully brewed, with a deep flavor and rich aroma, the result of meticulous bean selection and extraction methods. For regulars, it’s a part of their daily routine, starting their morning with "the usual taste."
Pizza toast" topped with pizza sauce, chopped onions, green peppers, mushrooms, bacon, and cheese
Medium-shallow roasted coffee" perfect for mornings
The seven-color cream soda, invented by the previous owner, comes in melon, strawberry, blue Hawaii, lemon, grape, and orange flavors, with the addition of Calpis flavor introduced alongside the release of a picture book. Cream Soda (Each 850 yen)
A perfectly balanced toast with juicy tuna, ideal for breakfast, with the option to add a cheese topping. SABOR Mixed Toast 700 yen
SABOR's specially crafted Napolitan sauce is sold as a ready-to-eat retort product, allowing customers to enjoy the shop's taste at home. Classic Coffee Shop Napolitan
The shop also offers logo-branded merchandise. This hoodie is boldly printed with the famous totem pole and logo on the front. SABOR Original Hoodie 6600 yen
The information contained this article was correct as of 03/17/2025 (the time of publication)
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