What’s your go-to drink? Coffee? Tea? Now imagine that served with a good dollop of whipped cream and colorful balls of slightly sweet candy called oiri. That’s what Mirliton Cafe has in store for you.
What’s oiri?
These colorful toppings are Japanese candy, traditionally given as a wedding gift.
Cute as they are, it’s not very common to find them in stores these days, unless you’re in Kagawa Prefecture. Like most Japanese sweets, oiri has but a hint of sweetness to them. It crackles with a good crunch when you sink your teeth into them, and it’s this addictive texture that makes them a perfect topping. At Mirliton, you can order oiri to garnish your drink of choice for JPY 150.
Lunch & Dessert Available
Besides their Instagram-ready drinks, Mirliton Cafe also serves lunch plates and desserts. The lunch plates are served with rice and salad. As for the desserts, the custard pudding has caught my eye, but it was unfortunately sold out on the day I visited.
See the gallery below for more of Mirliton’ Cafes menu (photo taken June 3, 2020):
LUNCH PLATES 
COFFEE 
TOPPINGS 
DESSERT 
BEER SELECTION & SIDE DISHES
Inviting Interior
A two-story shop, Cafe Mirliton instantly is easy to find with its shop sign decorated with green leaves. You can order takeout from the small window out front.
The cafe’s first floor has tall tables that can fit two people each. The second floor is more spacious with couch seating that can probably fit up to six people. Decorated with small bulbs that resemble oiri, the interior is photo-ready, but make sure to adjust your settings accordingly; the lighting is a dim tungsten.
If you’re the type who likes to work at a cafe, Mirliton doesn’t have sockets where you can plug your device to, but the seating arrangement allows for privacy when you work. In fact, I wrote the first part of this blog post while I was in the cafe.
Mirliton Cafe Access
7-minute walk from Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station, Marunouchi Line
Business Hours: 11:30-18:00
Open everyday, but check their Instagram for possible coronavirus-related closures
32 Seats, WiFi available
Credit cards accepted
Suggested budget: ¥600 for coffee, ¥1,000~¥1500 for a meal
