01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked along a side street in Kitazawa, Setagaya Ward, Cafe Anthrop focuses its menu on organic, vegan cooking. The savoury offerings centre on bread baked from ancient wheat, yielding combinations that manage to be satisfying without feeling heavy: a sandwich filled with tandoori-spiced fava-bean protein, or another layered with an egg salad made from chickpeas. Slices of the same ancient-grain toast are also served with soy-milk cream cheese, sliced avocado, and dukkah—the fragrant Middle Eastern seed-and-spice blend—letting diners explore how neatly plant-based components can build layers of savoury depth.
Spices and plant milks feature just as prominently among the drinks and sweets. Standouts include a house-made chai latte simmered in a blend of soy and oat milk, a dirty chai latte bolstered with a shot of espresso, and a pudding crafted from that very same spiced chai. The dessert options cater to various afternoon moods, whether that means a crepe wrapped around chai pudding, vegan whipped cream, and spiced nuts, or an affogato poured over rich coconut ice cream.
Seating is compact and oriented primarily around a counter, making the space well suited to solo visitors or pairs dropping by. Table reservations are not accepted, and each dine-in guest is required to order at least one drink. Sandwiches and baked goods can also be boxed up for takeout, making the cafe a convenient stop to incorporate into a stroll through Shimokitazawa.
