Tokyo Breakfast Club: 5 Best Restaurants & Cafes for Breakfast in Shinjuku

My friends used to tell me that Shinjuku is the real heart of Tokyo. It has everything: offices, shopping, fine restaurants, an entertainment district, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and so much more! Shinjuku Station connects to a lot of places and is often jokingly termed by travelers, foreign visitors, and locals alike as a “warp zone.” This is because you can get lost at the station, so remember which exit you need to go to!

Want to spend a day exploring one of Tokyo's busiest districts? Sign up for one of these 10 food tours in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku is a zestful and dynamic place that will surely surprise you each time you pay a visit. No wonder many tourists opt to stay here instead of other areas in Tokyo.

Whether you are already staying in one of Shinjuku’s hotels or coming from a nearby city for a day trip, we highly recommend you explore the “warp zone,” starting with a good and hearty breakfast! Shinjuku offers a lot of breakfast options ranging from traditional Japanese restaurants to French cuisine eateries. 

Feeling lost with all the options? Fret not! We have compiled a list of spots for the best breakfast Shinjuku goers rave about. These breakfast places in Shinjuku will certainly give you the energy to match the vibrance of this area.

At the top of this list is sushi. Yes, who wouldn’t eat sushi for breakfast? It is a great alternative to the generic eggs-and-toast routine, especially in Japan, where you get premium quality seafood prepared by the masters.

Sushi Tokyo Ten has an omakase concept, which means you let your chef decide which ingredients and methods to use to prepare your food. The Japanese word "omakase" means “I leave it to you." It's a fine tradition of mutual trust between the chef and the customer. Chefs express creative freedom, and customers experience a memorable and highly personalized dining experience.

The restaurant offers just one breakfast option from 7:00 to 10:00 for only ¥1,620. This dish is called bara chirashi and consists of roughly 10 various ingredients mixed on top of a rice bowl. The ingredients vary daily depending on the season and availability, so you get only the freshest ingredients. Imagine pieces of fatty tuna, creamy sea urchin, and refreshing cucumbers mixed with plenty of salmon roe on a flavorful some rice. 

In case you are not familiar with tsume, it is an umami-rich, thickened sweet sauce made from boiling conger eel, so even just a spoonful of the breakfast rice is enough to make you feel satisfied!

Boul’ange has been one of my favorite Shinjuku cafes ever since a friend recommended their pain au chocolat. The bakery’s name is a combination of two French words, boulangerie (bakery) and ange (angel). Boul’ange lives up to its name as a pastry heaven, with a wide variety of bread and a down-to-earth store atmosphere, comforting in a busy city like Tokyo. 

Most locals get their bread to-go, but if you want to take your time, you can grab their famous croissant (they sell about 2,000 per day!), pair it with a hot cup of coffee, and take a seat on the upper floor.

If you want something unconventional, try their melon pan. You can enjoy the contrast between the texture and taste of the sable dough and the fluffiness and buttery scent of the pastry. 

Boul’ange was a solo bakery but was renovated into a food hall that now includes Eggslut and Luke’s Lobster. If you are up for something hearty and heavy, try Eggslut’s Route 20 sandwich, a dish only available in Japan that is packed with filling ingredients: burger patties, scrambled eggs, creamy egg yolk, and cheddar cheese.

Conveniently situated just below the Shinjuku bus terminal, this Santa Cruz-born Shinjuku coffee shop is a great place to have a quick morning bite. Travelers can get coffee here before they venture outside of the city or after a long overnight bus ride. Verve Coffee Roasters offers a variety of single-origin pour-overs and some yummy pastries like croissants and donuts that are just perfect to start your day.

You can really feel the Californian surf culture reflected in the overall vibe of the place. Although the cafe is small and doesn't offer many seats, you definitely feel welcome. It feels very open due to its balanced, clean, and warm design, with white walls and wood accents everywhere, from tabletops to signage and merchandise shelves. Currently, Verve has many branches all over Japan, but Shinjuku is their very first outpost. 

I highly recommend their signature Tokyo drink, Latte Valencia. It’s an espresso heavily infused with milk, some honey, and freshly squeezed Valencia orange with shaved orange peel to complete the drink. A personal favorite of mine. My routine would be to buy a to-go cup and sit at the nearby public space overlooking the train tracks with a surrounding view of skyscrapers like the NTT Docomo Tower. Verve has a "farm level" philosophy, meaning their direct trade practice exceeds the Fair Trade minimums. It’s an ethical and sustainable brand, and I think it speaks volumes when you choose such a brand to accompany your morning.

Particular about your coffee? Check out these seven Tokyo cafes and roasteries with killer coffee.

Most locals I have talked to convinced me that Coffee Kizoku Edinburgh has the best breakfast in Shinjuku, as it puts most coffee shops to shame with its amazing siphon coffee and on-point customer service. From its menu to the overall interior, this Shinjuku cafe emits nothing but elegance and sophistication. You will definitely feel as if you are a kizoku or an aristocrat.

They serve three types of morning sets: bread rolls and eggs, a toast set, and a rice soup set. Each set comes with a side salad, a drink of your choice, and a scoop of ice cream. Ice cream may seem like an indulgence for a morning meal, but this only shows how seriously Coffee Kizoku takes its branding game. 

Come to this cafe if you are feeling a little fancy and are in need of a rich, aromatic cup of coffee. It's best experienced on a rainy day, trust me.

Harajuku crepes with heavy cream and sugar-filled toppings are the usual image when one thinks of crepes in Japan. They are great and definitely worth trying, but honestly, I am not a major fan. I like savory crepes better, so I'm happy to have found BREIZH Cafe Creperie in Takashimaya Shinjuku, which serves legit French buckwheat galettes and crepes. 

For first-time visitors, I recommend getting their Dame Asperge bis, a galette with white asparagus, smoked salmon, broad beans, sunny-side-up egg, cheese, and Hokkaido cream. They also have a seasonal menu, which is great for repeat customers who wish to try something new. 

You will adore this place if you are an al fresco dining fan! It has terrace seating with a view of Shinjuku. You will have a lovely cool breeze on spring mornings as it is situated on the 13th floor. Chill and laid back, this Shinjuku cafe is a small haven for those who wish to temporarily leave Japan for a glimpse of France.

I think that we can agree that a good breakfast means a good day. Just by having a meal in the morning, we're setting up our intentions and commitments to live through the day. Why not set those intentions in an aristocratic cafe… maybe drink it with a refreshing orange juice and then finish it with a bite of pain au chocolatey goodness? I hope this list fueled your enthusiasm to try new places in Tokyo or revisit old ones.

If you feel like getting breakfast with an expert local guide and learning more about Japan while you eat, check out this Shinjuku breakfast tour.

Swap the global flavors of the breakfast options above for a traditional Japanese breakfast in this morning tour of Shinjuku Park. Follow in the footsteps of Yutaka, your expert guide, who will take you to Gohanzen Tambo in Yoyogi, a restaurant where you’ll eat a Japanese breakfast set — consisting of a main (chicken, salmon, mackerel), accompanied by rice, soup and a side dish — while learning about the culture and history that inspires each dish.

From here, you’ll be led on a peaceful stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen before stopping for a break of coffee or tea and sweets. Even in the metropolis that is Tokyo, you’d be surprised how you can find these moments of tranquility amidst it all. 

Join this Shinjuku breakfast and walking experience.

Looking for more things to do in Shinjuku? Check out this overview of our top Shinjuku food tours or work your way through our list of the best things to do in Shinjuku. Still hungry? Check out the best spots for breakfast in Ginza, too!