food

Tokyo Starbucks store starts selling beer, wine

10 Comments
By Scott R Dixon

Normally known for a spot to get a sugar-fueled caffeine fix, Starbucks recently opened a new outlet in Tokyo that is serving alcohol. The new coffee shop is part of a concept line of cafes the company is establishing in Japan to offer customers something a little different from the usual Starbucks experience. In addition to serving upscale coffee drinks and homemade desserts, this shop is selling wine and beer after noon in the fashionable Shimokitazawa neighborhood.

The about 138-square-meter store has room for 42 people, including four seats on an outside terrace. Customers will be able to choose their coffee brew from six different beans. Aside from the typical cafe fare of cappuccinos, lattes and drip coffee, this shop also has specialty drinks like the “Shakealato,” a shaken coffee drink served in a martini glass for 500 yen. Another speciality drink is the “Gold Foam Mocha,” a three-layer drink of coffee, milk foam and chocolate sauce for 650 yen.

And since not everyone likes coffee, this Starbucks is selling wine and beer 650 yen for a glass.

The shop is located in a quiet residential section of Shimokitazawa near a walking path that is popular with local residents. To make customers feel more at home, baristas at this Starbucks are encouraged to wear their own clothes instead of the normal uniform. The company said it was to create an atmosphere where coffee enthusiasts would feel like they are being welcomed into the home of a barista.

The cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Shop info: 5-8-13 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 10-minute walk from Shimokitazawa Station (Keio Inokashira/Odakyu Odawara lines)

Source: Shimokitazawa Keizai Shimbun

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10 Comments
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No, just no. Starbucks is a coffee shop and a cafe NOT A FREAKING BEER DRINKING PLACE! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING JAPAN! OR STARBUCKS!

Coffee not beer. I hope Starbucks never have establishments in the United States which sells beer in Starbucks. I would hate to see drunks and such.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Beer and wine just as over-priced as their coffee. :(

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Good idea, I always see a lot of cute chicks in Starbucks but the thought of drinking coffee stops me going in.

Cafe Excelsior used to do the same thing but at half the price, but they stopped.

Don't worry hikkifan17, it won't happen in the US. Drinking a beer there seems to be a social faux pas these days.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

this shop is selling wine and beer after noon

Please stop this time restriction... it affects my drinking habits and is inconvenient!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A cold beer in a comfortable, smoke-free environment? Don't mind if I do.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I hope Starbucks never have establishments in the United States which sells beer in Starbucks. I would hate to see drunks and such.

This has been going on for years.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/24/business/la-fi-starbucks-beer-20120124

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No, just no. Starbucks is a coffee shop and a cafe NOT A FREAKING BEER DRINKING PLACE! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING JAPAN! OR STARBUCKS!

Now.....if this were to happen to EVERY store, I would totally agree with you, BUT it is just one store for now, and its a concept idea. Good on em for trying to think outside the box.

If you dont wanna go there, then walk 5 minutes to the next SB which doesnt serve alcohol lol

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good idea. Why not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

First, it is a NO SMOKING place. That gets my vote everytime. Booze, well, OK. As long as there are no cancer clouds it is OK with me. However, I just can't see caffeine and alcohol as a compatible mix...unless in the same glass. : )

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Great! I'd rather sit around drinking beer in Starbucks than coffee.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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