The 20 Trendiest Cafes in Kanazawa

A sample of Wagashi (Japanese Sweets) at Kazu Nakashima

Kazu Nakashima is a Japanese sweets (wagashi) speciality store which was first opened in 1888. The store is in one of the most picturesque parts of Kanazawa, Higashi Chaya District, a popular tourist destination. The sweets that they make doesn't just go well with tea, but also with sake as some are made a bit salty so that it can be eaten together while taking a sip of sake.

Aside from wagashi (Japanese sweets), Daifuku Mochi filled with fruits are also popular

Kazu Nakashima Interior

Kanazawahigashikahokazunakashima

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Higashiyama 1-7-6

0762585280

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Peach, Strawberry and Almond Parfait 1,650yen (with tax)

DORUMIRU is a parfait specialty store in Kanazawa using seasonal fruits. Their classic parfait with peach, strawberry and almond does not look just instagrammable but also tastes really good. The fresh fruit is tasty enough but topped with special whipped cream makes it even better and melts in your mouth.

Peach, Strawberry and Almond Parfait 1,650yen (with tax)

DORUMIRU.Kanazawa

石川県金沢市広岡1-5-3 クロスゲート金沢1F

0762552113

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Kaga Bocha Tea (roasted twig tea) 250yen with sweet dango dumplings (soy sauce 95yen, red bean on Japanese mugwart 95yen and sakura red bean 120yen)

Cafe Murakami was once a shop specializing in Japanese sweets (wagashi) but has been transformed into a cafe. The sweet aroma of its Japanese sweets handcrafted by Japanese confectionery artisans is wafting through the stylish, modern atmosphere of the cafe. There are a wide variety of original menus that are visually appealing and create a cozy and relaxing space inside the store.

Green tea set with sweets

Café Murakami Interior

Kafemurakami

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Izumihonmachi 1-4

0762421411

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Some cakes offered at the tea lounge

Lobby Lounge Palti is a tea lounge in the Kanazawa Hakuchoro Hotel Sanraku, located just a three-minute walk from Kanazawa Castle Park and a five-minute walk from Kenrokuen Garden. Because the interior of the hotel is decorated throughout in a vintage Taisho era style with colorful stained glass windows and beautiful furnishings, many visit the hotel not for staying but also to admire its architectural beauty. The tea lounge is surrounded by stained glass and red carpet in a nostalgic atmosphere and visitors get to try the most popular menu "Green Tea Set" which comes with Japanese sweets along with a range of other drinks.

Coffee with edible gold leaf

Interior of Kanazawa Hakuchoro Hotel Sanraku

Kanazawa Hakuchoro Hotel Sanraku

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Marunouchi 6-3

0762221212

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Green Tea Zenzai (a dessert which combines thick red bean in a sweet grean tea soup topped with mochi) 896yen (with tax）

Sakakobo Taro sells unique Japanese sweets. Yokan is a thick, jellied Japanese dessert made of red bean paste, agar, and sugar. It is usually sold in a block form, and eaten in slices. However, the popular “Taro-yokan” sold at the store comes in unusual flavors from chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate and green tea aside from the typical red bean flavor. Similarly, other sweets sold at the store incorporated Western elements to create a more artistic “wagashi” (Japanese sweets) that is not just visually entertaining but also tastes really good.

Sakakobo Taro Kikawa Exterior

Sakakobo Taro (Onikawa Branch)

4.0

33 Reviews

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Nagamachi 1-3-32

0762232838

8:30-17:30

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Café Prestat

Prestat is the chocolate brand of royalty, loved by not only the British royal family but by celebrities and heads of state of various countries across the world. Their location in Nishi Chaya is in a remodeled teahouse from the late Meiji era, and the first floor is a bright chocolate shop, while the second floor holds their chic cafe. Look for their whimsical pink and white banner among the traditional teahouses of the district.

Café Prestat

Café Prestat

CAFE PRESTAT

Ishikawa Kanazawa Ichino Machi 2-24-2

0762563338

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A shop specializing in amanattō, or sweetened beans covered in sugar, Kawamura has a modern cafe on the second floor called Salon de Thé Kawamura. The contrast of the white walls with the black wooden lacquer offers a clean, sophisticated air, and the large windows facing Nishi Chaya allow plenty of natural light. Behind the store, during the summer you’ll find Mame NomaNoma, which is a sweet stand that sells monaka wafer ice cream sandwiches. It’s only open on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, so plan accordingly.

Ama-Natto Kawamura

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Nomachi 2-24-7

0762827000

[Monday-Saturday]9:30-17:30[…

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Set in a remodeled storehouse for a public bath, Chayu features flavors of ice cream that scream Japan, like miso, amazake, and soy sauce, as well as other unique creations that use local ingredients. The Toyama Ice Monaka is an especially popular item, with a bamboo-charcoal infused cone filled with the gelato of your choice. On the second floor there’s a sitting area offering tatami floors, cushions and low tables, so you can enjoy your new-age Japanese treat in traditional style.

Chayu

4.0

20 Reviews

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Higashiyama 1-7-8

0762531715

10:30-At dusk * May open fr…

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On the second floor of a gallery displaying wonders of Ishikawa Prefecture’s traditional handicrafts lies Cafe Yanagi-An. This stylish Japanese cafe uses a special type of ice cream made from up to 25% of whipped cream from Hokkaido, giving it an especially rich texture. The ice cream is part of the reason fans of anmitsu, a Japanese dessert with ice cream, fruit, and jelly, come from far and wide for Yanagi-An’s take on the traditional treat.

茶房 やなぎ庵

石川県金沢市東山1-13-24 金澤東山しつらえ2F

0762518899

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Hakuichi renovated an old bathhouse into a trendy cafe, and they’ve been getting lots of media attention for their signature Gold Leaf Soft Serve Ice Cream. The premise is simple, a vanilla ice cream cone topped with a sheet of Kanazawa’s famous gold leaf. But the effect is surreal. The delicate gold leaf adheres to the contours of the ice cream, and you have a treat that shimmers and welcomes you to Kanazawa. A must if you’re in town.

Hakuichi Higashiyama Store

4.0

80 Reviews

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Higashiyama 1-15-4

0762530891

9:00-18:00* Friday foil soft…

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HUM & Go is situated on the first floor of Hatchi Share Hotel, a modern hotel with a chic atmosphere. The cafe is also open to the public, and they serve a serious cup of coffee here, along with an assortment of soups, sweets, and light dishes. Have a seat and enjoy the easy company of fellow travelers over a bite to eat or a hot drink. You never know who you might meet.

HUM&Go 橋場町スタンド

石川県金沢市橋場町3-18 HATCHi内

076-255-0207

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Set in the midst of Kanazawa Castle Park, Mamezara Chaya is an airy space with the fresh scent of noto hiba wooden decor. The cafe’s large widows line the walls, giving great views of Kanazawa Castle sitting directly in front of the shop. Dishes are served on cute personal trays, and items like coffee with gold leaf flakes and various types of sweet treats fill the menu, which is also available in English. It’s a tourist-friendly spot with a distinctly Kanazawa feel.

豆皿茶屋

石川県金沢市丸の内1-1

0762321877

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There’s one place that stands above the rest in Kanazawa for bagels and baked delights, and that place is Hug Mitten Works near Kanazawa Station. The tasty creations of this calm cafe are made using natural ingredients from Ishikawa Prefecture, and a bite of one of their bagel sandwiches will have you hooked. They offer several different flavors, so bagel fans might make trips to this cafe a habit.

The blackthroat seaperch, or nodoguro, fish is one of Kanazawa’s specialties. And the Higashiyama location of Hyakubanya has used that to their advantage in this creation: the Nodoguro Ice Cream. This quirky creation is a chewy fish-shaped cone made from Ishikawa mochi rice, filled with soft serve custard cream and anko, or red bean paste. It’s only available at the Higashiyama location, so get it while you can!

Kanazawa Higashiyama Hyaku Banya

Ishikawa Kanazawa-shi Higashiyama 1-3-5

0762546181

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Get ready to line up at this ultra-popular cafe. Occupying a remodeled ironworks building from the Taisho era of Japan, this classy bistro adeptly mixes a European atmosphere with an antique warmth. Serving up fancy French fare with a rotating menu throughout the day and offering wine at night, you won’t be bored if you decide to come twice. You can even take one of their freshly baked treats to go.

Bistro Hiramipan

4.0

56 Reviews

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Nagamachi 1-6-11

0762217831

8:00-18:00

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The grilled cheese sandwiches at Stand By Corner are not to be trifled with. You’ll be pulling sumptuous strings to arms length and savoring every bite. The food may be classic American, but the vibe is smart and modern. Use of the Wi-Fi and outlets for phone charging is encouraged, so you can take your time. This is also the place to be if you’re feeling like a little day drinking is order. No excuses or apologies needed.

#STANDBYCORNER

Ishikawa Kanazawa-shi Kakinokibatake 4-14

09094470999

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This relaxed cafe is set in a renovated house that’s over 100 years old. Stepping inside Full of Beans is like entering an antique shop that happens to serve food. The bottled drinks are popular among the Insta-crowd, with their shapely, clear glasses containing things like lemon soda with rosemary and lemon slices. But you can just enjoy the quaint, laid-back atmosphere over a light meal.

Full of Beans

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Satomichou 41-1

0762223315

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If you want to focus more on your coffee than the scenery, then Cafe Ashito offers an intimate location that will leave you satisfied. Simple, antique furniture fills a peaceful space where the barista meticulously prepares lightly roasted coffee across the counter in the back. The purists will certainly be pleased, but also those who prefer a more modest sense of style that’s not without its own fine touches.

cafeASHITO

Ishikawa Kanazawa-shi Korinbo 2-11-5

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This cafe is based on the trendy Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. And it nails the vibe. From the brick storefront to the interior design magazines filling the tables and shelves, Dumbo knows that it’s the little things that create a genuine experience. Head up to the second floor for a seat on one of the low sofas with a drip coffee and an American-style sweet that tends toward the healthy side of decadent. Or share an American-sized drink with a special someone.

Dumbo

Ishikawa Pref. Kanazawashi Kourimbou 2-11-6

0762556966

12:00-18:00

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The fluffy waffles of Warutsu are all the rage. Served up in an assortment of styles and flavors, some also have a bit of Kanazawa flare, like the chocolate waffles with gold leaf flakes. Then there are the waffle sticks, which are elongated and easy to take along to your next location, not to mention covered in several types of chocolate, should you prefer. But the indirect lighting and bright artwork could call you over to a seat. Though your waffle will be delicious regardless.

WAFFLE/SOUPWARUTSU

4.5

2 Reviews

Ishikawa Kanazawa-shi Fukuromachi 1-1 Kanazawa Ha Komachi 1F

0762258161

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