HOLLYday (Horidei)

Step inside HOLLYday (Horidei) along Mukojima's Mito Kaido, and you are met with an intimate room retaining the warm, unhurried air of Tokyo's traditional shitamachi quarters. From the handful of tables indoors, the Tokyo Skytree is visible through the window, making the cafe an inviting stop while strolling through the neighbourhood.

Inherited Recipes and Signature Sandwiches

Arrive hungry and begin with the house specialty: Hori-san's Tamagoyaki Sandwich. Built around recipes handed down from the previous master, it relies on handmade mayonnaise and house-prepared Japanese mustard, letting you appreciate the contrast between crisp toasted bread and soft slices. Available in both half and full portions, it works just as well for a proper meal as it does for an afternoon bite. The lightly toasted, fragrant American Sandwich is another favourite, with the option to keep or remove the crusts to suit your preference alongside the juicy filling.

Carefully Brewed Coffee and Warming Teas

The coffee served alongside the sandwiches uses beans sourced from takbeans in Seiseki-sakuragaoka, poured by hand-drip 1 cup at a time. Beyond a refreshing hot brew balanced neatly between light and dark roasts, warmer days call for a clean iced coffee or a nostalgic coffee float. Non-coffee selections are equally thoughtful: spiced, rich chai brewed with Prana Chai, as well as an original cinnamon and ginger blend from Yamani Seicha in Kakegawa, provide deep, comforting warmth.

Nibbling on desserts such as French toast made from bread crusts while listening to gentle banter between the owner and regulars captures the true character of this cafe. It is an unpretentious refuge to unwind, soak up the historic neighbourhood atmosphere, and leave comfortably nourished in body and spirit.