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There are over 32,000 Starbucks locations in the world, but there are only 6 Starbucks Reserve Roastery cafes. The Starbucks Reserve in Tokyo opened its doors in 2019 and when we first tried to visit back then, we were shocked at the wait time of over four hours. 

They had their grand opening during cherry blossom season, so the wait time was crazy long because the store is located in the vibrant Nakameguro neighborhood, which is known as the most famous cherry blossom spot in Tokyo.

Three years later, we were finally able to enter Starbucks Reserve Roastery with zero wait time to get in. It is unquestionably a unique and memorable experience, especially for coffee enthusiasts. 

The Roastery is spread over multiple floors and combines traditional Japanese design elements with modern aesthetics. 

Floor 1 - Starbucks Reserve

When we stepped inside, we were greeted by the rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee and the array of freshly baked pastries, desserts, and artisanal food options to complement our coffee.

It was so interesting to see the professional baristas at different stations, which felt like I was in a science class about to observe an experiment.  Everyone was super friendly and didn’t mind at all that we were taking a ton of photos.

At the time of our visit, Starbucks just launched their newest coffee concoction called the Oleato. It’s the combination of coffee infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil, which sounds questionable. It’s definitely an unexpected combination, but Crystal was intrigued and put in an order for the Oleato Oatmilk Latte. 

A skilled barista informed Crystal that her Oleato would take a whopping 10 minutes to prepare. Candy was envisioning a heavy lump of olive oil floating at the top of the latte, but it looked like a regular latte. However, it didn’t taste like your ordinary latte. 

It was deliciously lush with a velvety smooth texture and the creamy oat milk gave it a subtle earthly flavor. The infused olive oil wasn’t overpowering at all and you only get a hint of it which is delightfully pleasing to the palette.

The bakery on the first floor is an authentic Italian bakery by Roco Princi and you can even observe the pastry chefs in the kitchen. We couldn’t decide on what to eat with our drinks because everything looked SO good. We ultimately went with a variety of pastries and desserts. 

We ended up with a few of their handcrafted croissants in various flavors and a petite dessert called the Cupola Fragola (white chocolate, strawberry powder, and rum). We typically don’t crave desserts so early in the morning but they all looked like edible art that it’s nearly impossible to resist. 

If you want more than a light bite with your coffee, they have that too. We weren’t expecting artisanal pizzas, sandwiches, and tons of other baked goods, so that was a nice surprise. 

Floor 2 - Teavana

Tea culture in Japan holds a significant place in the country's history and traditions and this space was created to the long-standing importance of tea in Japan. The tea menu is not your ordinary spread like black tea or matcha. Instead, it’s unique beverages feature high-quality tea with brightly-colored fruits. 

Candy ordered the iced Rose Rasberry & Lychee Tea (¥1,100) from their seasonal collection menu. It’s a combination of cherry blossom allure, raspberry puree, and lychee juice. Although the cherry blossoms had just concluded, this cup of tea is a nod to Nakameguro’s narrow path of cherry blossoms in full bloom. 

We were expecting a light cup of tea, but this one had quite a punch. The scent was reminiscent of roses and it had a sweet and sour taste to it. The tiny rose was an adorable garnish and even though it was edible, we didn’t eat it. We have a tendency to never eat the edible flowers in our drinks. Is it just us? 

There is a beautiful Washi (Japanese paper) Wall that displays various innovative tea accessories and dishware for purchase. If you’re a tea connoisseur, you’ll find unique items and one-of-a-kind exclusive collaboration merchandise.  

Floor  3 - Arriviamo Bar

One of the highlights of the Tokyo Starbucks Roastery is the Arriviamo Bar. This is where you can enjoy coffee-inspired cocktails and mocktails. The unique coffee-infused beverages are prepared by expert mixologists. 

Since it was still early in the morning, we passed on the cocktails and went with a non-alcoholic drink. We ordered the Citrus Coffeemoni (¥1,700), which included cold brew coffee, citrus lavender sage, housemade lemon orange syrup, tonic water, lemon, orange, lime, and an edible flower.

Citrus and coffee sound like the worst combination, but it strangely works. It was refreshing and the notes of coffee came after the citrus flavors. It was such an interesting and visually pleasing drink. 

The atmosphere on this floor is filled with natural light and plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. We loved the coffee card wall that was constructed of 5,000 Starbucks cards from around the world. The designs of each and every one of the packaging were so colorful that it made for great pictures. 

Floor 4 - Amu Tokyo

The floor guide indicated this space as an inspirational lounge. There was seating both indoors and outdoors here as well, but this intimate space was created specifically for the community to gather for hosted social events.

Amu in Japanese means “to knit together” and the concept of this space is founded on human connection and passions coming together. Their very first event was just held last month that celebrated the role of women leaders in Japan. 

Gift Shop

This is where you can purchase exclusive Starbucks Reserve merchandise. It’s located on the first floor and there were an array of products from coffee mugs, tote bags, stationery, tumblers, and more.

There were several mugs that caught our attention, but they were surprisingly pretty pricey. Candy bought a couple of brass tags/charms and a mini-sized tumbler. 

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed our drinks and equally enjoyed the light and airy atmosphere. Every inch of the space was thoughtfully designed with a ton of visual elements. For example, the furniture made of cedar on the terrace created a soothing ambiance and the origami-inspired ceilings brought a sense of tranquility and peace. 

Every floor had skilled baristas expertly preparing your drinks with different brewing methods, including pour-over, siphon, and espresso. It’s crazy how there are so many different ways to brew coffee.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo definitely offered an immersive coffee experience, unlike any other Starbucks store we’ve ever been to. We had a great time trying their rare and higher-quality beverages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the wait at Starbucks Reserve Roastery?
We visited on a weekday morning and there was no line and plenty of seating. We heard that it can get quite busy, especially during peak hours on the weekends. 

What is the closest station to Starbucks Reserve in Tokyo?
Nakameguro Station on the Hibiya subway line.

Is Starbucks Reserve rare?
Yes! Starbucks Reserve offers a selection of the rarest, most extraordinary coffees Starbucks has to offer.

Is Starbucks Reserve free to enter?
Yes.

STARBUCKS RESERVE ROASTERY TOKYO
2-19-23 Aobadai Meguroku Tokyo
@starbucksreserve_tokyo

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