Located at 3-6-1 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan is Emporio Armani Caffe, one of the two Armani eateries in Japan (the other being the more upper class Armani Ristorante located in the Armani/Ginza Tower).
Nestled in the fashion area of Omotesando, Emporio Armani Caffe showcases Italian cuisine but also a modern and relaxed atmosphere compared to the more elegant and formal Armani Ristorante. But that doesn’t mean Emporio Armani Caffe is bad, in fact, it’s one of the coolest locations to be at.
It’s frequented by celebrities, it’s right by the A-1 Omotesando exit and the overall look and feel of the cafe is stylish and for the most part, if you are in that location near all the elegant shops nearby or across the street, it’s definitely a place worth hanging out.
I entered through the Emporio Armani store location as I wanted to see the various watches being sold. But once you come into the building, (as of Spring 2015) you are greeted with many images of Cate Blanchett for the fragrance “Si” and then the entrance to Emporio Armani Caffe.
You’ll notice immediately that the location is not huge but it’s a convenient bar with a cool atmosphere.
As I perused the menu, despite my study of Italian, I was not really prepared to order much of anything as the menu was in Italian. Granted, they had English speaking waiters but I wanted to experience whatever looked good based on the name (yes, I know that is not always a good thing to do), and so I ended up getting a sandwich which I believe the primary ingredient was egg.
My friend from Italy laughed at me when I told her this story but I have to say that the sandwich was tasty and not too expensive (under US $20) and yes, I had an orange juice, which I have been craving quite a bit during my trip to Japan. And yes, like many other restaurants in Japan, do not expect the glass to be filled up that high.
I ended with desert, Affogato (gelato with shots of espresso) and it was delicious!
Overall, I spent around $40 (US) but it’s the environment and ambiance that I truly enjoy being at. So, whether you want to wait at the Emporio Armani store or take a load off your feet from all the shopping you do at Omotesando, then definitely give Emporio Armani Caffe a try!
