06. Bar Del Sole - Roppongi

When you're a college student preparing to travel abroad to Japan, you're pretty much told to avoid Roppongi at all costs. Our Bureau of Consulate Affairs considers it so dangerous, in fact, that there are specific warnings on their website instructing travelers not to go there because you will either (a) have your credit card stolen, (b) get roofied, (c) be assaulted, or (d) all of the above. A lot of my Japanese friends are shocked to hear this. The long and short of it is that there is a potential sketch factor to any entertainment district (not only in Japan,) but this doesn't mean you shouldn't avoid them at all costs... because then you would miss out on awesome places like Bar Del Sole.

Exterior of Bar Del Sole

Bar Del Sole is an Italian cafe/bar hybrid located just a short walk from the station. They offer lunch, dinner, a decent selection of desserts and gelato and (best of all) coffee and espresso. You can sit either outside or inside. Because the summer weather was still in full swing back in September when I went, we opted to sit inside. The lights inside are dimmed and the decor is simple... a perfect setting for an afternoon break.

The best part about this place is that although they're an Italian-style cafe, they offer set menus which seem to be standard at most Japanese eateries. This means you pay a set price for a meal or course and drink and sides are included. They offer two different dessert sets: one with your choice of espresso or coffee drink and a dessert, or one with the drink, desert and gelato.

Kabocha (Japanese Pumpkin) Cake

Cappuccino

Tiramisu and Strawberry Gelato set

Being a fan of all things kabocha, I'm definitely biased when I say that this is one of the best things I've eaten since coming to Japan.





















Heavenly doesn't even begin to describe their cappuccino. It was perfect, and I would happily make the trip all the way back to Roppongi just to have it again.






















This was my friend's order. While I was a little disappointed by the portion of gelato (I suppose this is a cultural bias, portions are typically smaller in Japan) the portion of the tiramisu made up for it!







In terms of food, everything was fantastic. Even though it was probably pushing 90 degrees outside, the cappuccino was worth it. I would drink it outside on a 100 degree day - that's how good it was. The service was so-so, they forgot to bring us one of our drinks and the price the charged us on the check didn't match what was in the menu (!). If my friend wasn't a native speaker of Japanese, I'm not sure how easy it would have been to clear up the issue. I can't say that this is typical of their service though, since I've only been once. That being said, if you want to experience some awesome coffee in a charming little cafe go to Bar Del Sole. You can find more info about their menu and location here!