Cafe de l'ambre

a great small kissaten with a coffee menu that is all perfected and delicious! their choices of coffee beans are also plenty. come during weekdays during non-peak hours to have a more quiet atmosphere. but even if there is a line, turnover rate is high so there is nothing to worry about. the owners are super friendly and amazing. prices are quite on the higher side but with the flavor, service, and atmosphere, visiting at least once is a must!

Cafe de l'Ambre is a timeless coffee shop that feels like stepping back in time. The atmosphere is calm, cozy, and filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. It is fascinating to watch the baristas work with such care and precision, treating coffee like an art form. The menu focuses on classic styles, and every cup tastes deep and perfectly balanced. It is the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and appreciate the moment. A true gem for coffee lovers.

Absolutely loved this place! Tried their special coffee for the first time, and the combination of rich café flavor with a touch of sweetness was just perfect (No. 7 blanc et noir - Queen Amber). The preparation was impressive and added to the whole experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a unique and delightful coffee moment!

The most memorable and special coffee experience of my life. We sat at the bar and watched them make perfectly crafted drinks as we enjoyed cocktail-like coffee concoctions. The Queen Amber is the one to get. It’s cool, sweet and smooth. Absolutely stunning and delicious. Such a special place.

I have to admit, even though I ordered the regular coffee, it is the best coffee I had. My wife ordered the queen amber and it was also very good. I am not sure if I'll ever drink such good coffe anywhere else. If I return to Japan, I will definitely come here again.

I find the 10yr Ethiopian coffee tastes nice (but expensive - maybe due to Ginza location). Personally I do not prefer the second drink (with cream on top). It’s a bit too sweet. One thing I do not like - I ordered whole bean coffee 100g and the staff first measure it over 100g so he used hand to take out some beans. Should be small spoon instead for good hygiene.

A very traditional coffee shop, yet full of warmth and human touch. Truly worthy of being called the “God of Coffee” — people keep coming in and out nonstop. The coffee has a truly unique and delicious flavor, unlike anything I’ve ever had elsewhere. The staff are warm and hospitable, and the service is excellent. I make sure to visit every time I come to Tokyo. Highly recommended!

I ordered no.9 and thought it was just ok. But honestly it was hard to judge since the quantity was so small. The staff was nice enough and the inside was small and cozy. Overall I feel like you are mostly paying a premium for the history and location.

Excellent Coffee!!! Excelkent Service! Cash Only!!! Lov Cash!!! Lov The House Mom!!!

Found out about this place on social media and I am so glad I went. This is some of the best coffee I've had. I had cafe au lait. They heat the milk in a saucepan before adding the coffee. So old school and cool. The taste was smooth and wonderful. I can't wait to go back everyday while here. The staff are very friendly and English friendly.

I feel so fortunate to have been here. Only had two days in Tokyo, but made this a priority. The experience and the setting is incredible. Walking back in time. Staff were very kind and welcoming. Have us a nice seat, and helped us with the menu. Interior is wonderfully old; cross between Vienna and Japan. Coffee was excellent. It was a treat to watch them prepare each cup individually. True coffee lovers here. I pray I get to visit again.

A different coffee experience. While in the Ginza area we visited Cafe delAmbre. This is quite a unique experience since the moment you walk in. This coffee shop is relatively small, so depending on the time of your visit you might have to wait a bit. Once you are seated, you start enjoying the aroma of coffee. Cafe de LAmbre offers coffees from all over the world, and you can go for a single one, or try a flight. Coffees are carefully brewed by pour over, this made each of the coffees that we tried smooth, and easy to sip. So if you are in the ginza area, and want a different coffee experience, Cafe de LAmbre, is an excellent choice. Keep in mind that it is cash only.

If you have time patience a love for real coffee and a 100 yen this is the place. You can order in English, no problem Thank you Yelpers for helping me on my travels. They make a very cool looking, martini looking coffee, sort of like a Buena Vista Irish Coffee without the whisky. I wish I ordered it because it looked marvelous. I had a basic Sumatra and a pastry. Both were delicious and I enjoyed the experience.

It's impossible for me to rate this "café" in a rational way. Cafe de l'Ambre is ground zero for the "nel drip," a method of making filter coffee that involves using what looks like an old flannel sock as a filter. When visiting Tokyo, it's imperative to come here and pay one's respects. I did so while wearing a Small World Coffee t-shirt ("coffee makes you smarter") from Princeton, NJ. The de l'Ambre operation occupies a very tiny space; when you walk in, you're warned that this is a "coffee only" business and that you can't accompany a paying customer without ordering at least one drink for yourself. In my case, I had two team-members with me who wanted no coffee, so they took a proverbial "walk around the block" while I consumed my drink: I ordered a thimbleful-full of Nicaraguan nel drip and got a very concentrated beverage for my money (around 820 Yen). It's a good thing that I wasn't looking for a high volume:price ratio when I walked in! After the personnel realized that this particular American actually liked their coffee and wasn't about to tweet about their weakness and dishonesty, they eased up and got friendly. That was a bit of a relief. I'm glad that I stopped by, but my impression is that the nel drip at the Mint Plaza Blue Bottle in San Francisco is a notch or two better than the Cafe de l'Ambre version.

This was my favorite coffee place in Japan and I'm super sad I only came here once. The place itself is fairly small. There were a couple of tables and the rest of the seating is at the bar. I arrived around 2pm and it was half full, but plenty of seats at the bar which I didn't mind at all. I was able to see their craft front and center and was able to pick up some things to make my own coffee better. I got the No.7 and it was smooth and bold. Totally regret not coming back on my trip, but I'll definitely go again next time. Highly recommend checking out this place!

FOR THE COFFEE SNOB IN ME (Warning: Young adults from Central Florida in for vacation) Coffee enthusiasts led us here, and it wasn't a secret. We arrived 30 minutes after opening time and our English-speaking server led us to the second-to-last cafe table - even all the bar seats were taken. The interior alone was enough to capture my attention with its plushy red chairs around the bar, and dark, elegant wood. The cafe was created in the late 1940s and seems to have captured the elegance of that time. GET THE SIMPLE STUFF... UNLESS Hubs was smart and took their iced coffee. Dang, it was served so smartly on a little white tray with tiny cups of creamer and simple syrup if he wanted to add it. Typically, I get a black coffee/espresso of a sort to really test the quality, but decided to go with the Queen Amber - it was also beautifully served in a curved, martini-looking glass with a layer of foam. But it was too sweet. Tasting the iced coffee black was a smarter option - and yes, the quality was definitely there. TALL PEOPLE AND BAR SEATS The table next to us had a tall American built like football player - poor guy had to sit with his legs splayed out because the table was too small and chair too short. Either way, I'd love to sit at the bar next time because the barista there seemed to spark conversations among those watching. Cool note: before you get in the main room, you pass a little office, and it's cool to see all the roasted coffee bean bags inside.

Cafe de l'ambre is an old school Japanese coffee shop that takes hand crafted coffee to a whole new level. Each cup of coffee is poured with personal care. I highly recommend coming here if you are a coffee aficionado for the experience alone. The experience is 5 stars+ The end product itself is a good cup of coffee but it's on the dark side and I wouldn't put it up there with the better third wave coffee chains like blue bottle, verve, etc. The coffee would be 4 stars The coffee here is expensive for coffee but given how much time they spend on each cup it's worth the price.

This was one of the most character filled coffee shops i have visited in my entire life. It was built sometime in the 1950s, you can feel the history when you step in. The customers are primarily business men, or regulars. This coffee shop allowed smoking which i found kind of gross, but i guess japan is like that. My friend and i ordered the cold coffee drink served in a champagne class topped with sweet cream. It was so sweet and delicious i could have drank a few more. They make coffee the old school way, and even measure out the beans using a weighted scale!! This is a must go if you are in ginza!

$7 for coffee? When in Japan, it's a must. Especially here. I felt guilty until I took a sip of the Blanc et Noir. It was sweet, but not too sweet and super smooth. So classy with character. One of the most memorable coffee shops hands down. Def go for the experience and some good coffee.

¥800 for some beans and 5oz of hot water? And they're not open for the early morning? Do you really dare to charge at least this much? Shameless? Maybe. Or they're just that mad, militant, and daring... A thoughtful friend recommended Café de l'Ambre as he had visited a number of times. I'm glad I sought it out. They pour perfectly heated water over aged ground beans through a little strainer delicately by hand. It is fantastic in the least. I normally take cream and sugar, but this satisfying exhibition doesn't need it. In fact, the rich cream you can request may even pervert the product. The space has over fifty years of wear contributing to its charm. It has a bar, coat hooks and a few tables. Don't expect to do work on your sweet MacBook, conduct an interview or meet for business. This cafe is strictly for enjoying the craft, aroma, the careful performance and the taste. I wish the portion was little larger so I would have the excuse to linger longer in this one-in-a-million of cafes.

Is it possible to award six stars? Classy, cosy, like a fine coffee library with dedicated librarians on call. Disclaimer: I am a fan of simple, short strong espresso, no milk and no sugar. I detest watery coffees in all their forms. This place changed that. The coffee menu was simple and ordered according to maturity and complexity. With no idea where to start, I asked for help. After explaining my usual coffee preferences the attendant suggested a Tanzanian coffee, about a third of the way down the list. Fresh ground, and a pour over ritual that was mesmerising. The steam rising into the maker's face seemed to annoy him, but he was so focussed he persevered. Beautiful fine china demitasse. And then coffee as I've never had it before - and obviously should. Don't go here if you want froth, art and flavourings. Go here if you want coffee and beauty!

Best coffee in Tokyo. Wonderful experience. The atmosphere is amazing. I always get the seat in the corner next to the iconic lamp.

I enjoy my Ragamuffin, Verve, Coava, Augies, Sightglass, Camber, Onyx, Heart..., and enjoyed my 30-min experience at the Cafe de L'Ambre bar. I observed as the brewers masterfully brewed the 10-year old beans and paid unparalleled attention to detail. The equipment used is not fancy but finely aged and reliable. While the cup I drank was one of the best mouth feels I've ever experienced, I could not truly appreciate the tiny cup of coffee I received. Cafe De L'Ambre is either beyond my palate, or they are fooling everyone. I suspect the former. Note: 50% locals, 50% tourists

This was recommended to me by a restaurant industry friend who lived out here for a month. Turns out it was literally down the street from where another friend was staying. So i had walked by it the first day i was here without even knowing. They do lots of interesting preparations, one of them being that they age a lot of their beans for different profiles. Id only had this once before in Oahu at Alan Wong's from a particular vendor. de L'Ambre goes well beyond at. The Nicaraguan and Mexican aged coffees are so smooth. However the iced coffee, no ice (meaning the cubes are actually frozen coffee of the same batch to not dilute) is my fave. So damn smooth and refreshing. It was so good it was one of the few places i went back to again. Caffeine lovers, this place is fantastic

The best damn cup of coffee I've ever had in my life. My husband and I both agreed and he's not even big on coffee like I am! The master roaster is over 100 years old and still aging the coffee beans. The staff uses a coffee kettle the master roaster designed and serve drinks in thinner ceramic cups so the drink feels light and elegant in your hands. It's very cozy and classy inside this kissaten. Watching the men at work carefully crafting the coffee is worth the price alone as it's so nice to see it being made with love. Before I had a sip of my coffee, I just KNEW it was going to be terrific and the work and care put into a single cup translated into a taste-sensation. It's also inspiration for the Persona 5 coffee shop Café Leblanc, but don't expect to see curry on the menu here. It's a coffee-only! Treat yourself to the oldest coffee they have available. We had the Kenya and a classy drink served in a gimlet glass which I am failing to recall the name of *check out my picture, though!* If you're looking for the best damn coffee experience you'll ever have in your life, please visit Cafe L'ambre in Ginza. Little bonus : English menu available!

I read about this place in my lonely planet book. I wanted to go and try the coffee after traci g the man that owns it and roast the beans is 100 years old at the time of the writing of the book. When he arrived he learned he had passed at 102 but the coffee is still being roasted and prepared as he did it. It was wonderfully smooth. We bought some beans to bring home. However, it is a smoking establishment and you can't get coffee to go. So if you can't handle Smokey places this is not for you!

$7 for a cup of coffee is a bargain if you go to this place. The master roaster is over 100 years old and is still doing the roasting. Drink in the bar area for the best experience.

I was really surprised how good this is. I drink "Third Wave" pourover coffee from Blue Bottle, Stumptown, Intelligentsia, Verve, etc. every day. My thinking was that freshness is paramount. But the 18- and 20-year-old coffess that I tried at L'Ambre were fascinatingly complex and delicious. I also loved the "coffee jelly" snack/dessert. Also, the atmosphere is cool and memorable.

Every cup of coffee here is tended to with meticulous love and care since 1948. From the beans to the roast to your cup, all traditionally hand prepared in antique fashion. Her smile never leaves her face as she puts together one of their finest on their menu... Blanc et Noir "Queen Amber". Here in their cozy little cafe on a brisk autumn day, her passion for coffee pours out from her heart into our little cups of beautifully reserved roasts layering it with a silky smooth cream that floats atop like the clouds. She softly tells us with her broken English n warm smile, "Don't mix, just drink." She knows without a doubt we would feel her very heart n soul with the sip of her love she so gracefully passed onto us. This is coffee. This is art. This is pride in its purest form. This is Japan.

If you take the time to seek out good coffee in Tokyo, this is the place. It puts to shame anyone who thinks they know about coffee. I profess my ignorance when it comes to this level of craftsmanship. I had the Mexico, my buddy had the Nicu, and my wife had the Brazilian - all of them were fantastic. Brewed with a level of focus I only see in Japan. If you love coffee for the sake of coffee, make this a destination on your itinerary.

I'd give this place negative stars if I could. Where to start? 1) Service is slow 2) Despite having gone early(ish) in the day, they were out of multiple items on the menu 3) Atmosphere looks like your uncle Fred's 70's basement 4) Coffee is horrible - tastes of old, dried out beans 5) +700¥ for the privilege of drinking a cup of this sludge Don't believe the hype. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.

How does this place not have more reviews? If you're at all a "foodie" or a coffee lover, you must go here. They have been in business for decades and for good reason. Tucked away on a cute street in Ginza, this place knows what its doing. You get to choose the type of beverage you want and the origin of the beans and then sit back and watch the masters HAND POUR each drink. Really old school. Why mess with a good thing? It's pricey if you think of it as a cup of coffee, but it's more an experience and worth every penny. Sit at the bar if possible.

Coffee was very good, and watching the entire process was fun. It's true that the price is steep for the amount of coffee you receive (770+ per adorable cup). However, each cup is high quality.

I ordered a cup of Ethiopian coffee (not espresso) for ¥820 ($6.83) and out came a demitasse (basically, a shot) of barely 50ml. What the fuck? I can get expertly prepared single origin Arabica pour over coffee at home for about 1/10th the price. I understand this is Tokyo, but the price for what I got is outrageous.

Cozy coffee shop that only seats 12 at tiny cafe tables, and 10 at the bar. Some lady was smoking next to us in this tiny room, which made the experience kind of unenjoyable. Cafe a la glace: vanilla ice cream with coffee liqueur. It was tasty, but there was no actual coffee in it (except in the liqueur). Cafe au lait: coffee could've been stronger. The milk made this drink nice and rich. Must be the Japanese milk.

Ma and Pa owned coffee shop off the Ginza strip. Everything is handmade right in front of you. And when I say "hand made", to add iced coffee to a mixed beverage, the barista added fresh brewed coffee to a vintage cocktail mixer and rolled the mixer on a gigantic block of ice until it was chilled. Amazing. Sit at the bar and watch the magic. Everything was beyond extraordinary. Arigato!

Came here on a rec from my barista friend. Their thing is that they have a master coffee roaster who is over 100 years old and still doing the roasting. You drink at a tiny, smoky bar and watch as the artisans masterfully pour and prepare the coffee. The coffee was amazing, but at $7 a cup, you'd have to either really enjoy the process or have a very sophisticated coffee palate. For me, the price was a little too steep and the bar too smoky for me to justify coming back, but it was cool for the experience

5 star cup of coffee. Totally worth the money for the experience. You order a single (size of an espresso) or a double (closer to a regular coffee cup size), then pick your coffee bean from the menu. The barista then carefully pours the hot water over the beans. This is called a dripper. It's perfect. You can ask for cream and it will come in a thimble size carafe.

Had the Colombian brew. Exquisitely balanced flavor profile. Quite expensive for one cup (~800 yen) but worth a special visit every now and then.

Went here on a whim a few weeks ago when I was in Ginza. A bit pricey (mine was ¥900 for a small cup of aged Ethiopian coffee), but easily the best coffee I've had in my life. Highly, highly recommended. My only regret is that I didn't come here sooner! Will definitely return when I am in Tokyo again.

This is a special place. Found by reading Jack Forsithe's book, Heart in the Cloud. Never seen such care taken to prepare a cup of coffee. The coffee is probably the best I have had, but maybe even more importantly is the cozy atmosphere that you will love.