Asakusa, a town that evokes the atmosphere of Japan, is lined with nostalgic, old-fashioned coffee shops. After getting off at Asakusa Station, walk down an alley for two minutes. In an exotic brick building, you will find Cafe Meursault, which was founded in 1980. We visited the cafe, which has been watching the changes in Asakusa for over 40 years, and spoke with the daughter of the founder.

"The restaurant was founded by my parents and has continued to operate while watching the unchanging scenery of the Sumida River and the development of Asakusa landmarks such as the Skytree and Asahi Beer."

"I want to open a cafe" - that wish came true in Asakusa

The restaurant was founded by the parents of the current owner. The father, who originally worked in the restaurant industry, dreamed of opening his own restaurant.

"At first, we mainly served coffee, but gradually we added cakes, teas, cocktails and food, and now we have a wide variety of menu items, including seasonal specials."


Enjoy the view with this lunch set

Cafe Meursault is proud of its lunch sets, which can be chosen from about 15 different types. Among them, the quiche lunch set, which is only available on weekdays, is a popular menu item, as it looks cute but is also filling. The quiche is packed with ingredients and is filling, and you can also feel the texture of the vegetables, which will warm your heart.

"The ingredients in our homemade quiches change depending on the season. We offer a set of bread that changes daily - spinach, pumpkin, and regular bread. The fluffy bread has a subtle vegetable flavor that makes it very popular."

Cakes at Cafe Meursault are also popular. They range from seasonal fruit tarts such as pear and apricot tarts to classics such as chocolate cake and pumpkin pudding that have retained the same flavor since the cafe first opened. There is also a wide variety of teas to pair with the cakes. They have everything from standard varieties such as Assam and Darjeeling to flavored teas such as strawberry and peach, and blends that combine multiple tea leaves and spices to create a unique flavor.

"Some of the menu items have remained unchanged for a long time, so many customers enjoy eating them with a sense of nostalgia. My mother is in charge of selecting the teas. She samples teas from various companies and, as she selects the best ones, the number of teas on the menu has increased."



Protecting an unchanging place in Asakusa

The best thing about Cafe Meursault is the view from inside the restaurant. Every seat in the restaurant has a wide open space with a view of the Sumida River. During our interview, we could see customers exclaiming, "Wow!"

"We have a wide range of customers, including friends, couples, tourists, and people coming alone. We also have long-time regulars who come, and we're very grateful that our restaurant is loved by a wide range of customers as a place where they can relax."

Finally, he shared with us the wonderful words about what he wants Café Meursault to be: "We want to remain something that never changes in a city that is constantly changing."

Asakusa, a popular tourist town, continues to change while retaining its original character as development progresses and more shops open. Cafe Meursault continues to operate today as a place to bring nostalgia and relaxation to those who visit Asakusa in search of the unchanging parts of the town.

カフェムルソー
電話番号：03-3843-8008
住所：東京都台東区雷門2丁目1−5 中村ビル 1F,2F
アクセス：東京メトロ銀座線浅草駅から徒歩2分
HP：https://cafe-meursault.jp/
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