Loiter
Stop in and stay a while at this Cat Street Hangout

Photos by Kohji Shiiki

Anyone who has been in Tokyo for more than a few hours knows that the times when, upon leaving a bar, you can exclaim, “Wow, that was cheap!” are few and far between. It therefore came as quite a shock when those very words escaped our lips after a recent evening at Cat Street’s Loiter. While the stellar service certainly earned our praise, it was the cash left in our pockets that had us truly impressed.

Cat Street, that epicenter of cool bridging the worlds of Harajuku hipsters and Shibuya scenesters, is home to many a trendy boutique and café, but has definitely earned its reputation as more of a daytime destination. The area’s iconic youth culture is now recognized as a global brand (thanks, Gwen Stefani), but despite its location, Loiter is decidedly grown up. The interior is a swanky blend of black and white, with the dim lights bouncing off several strategically placed mirrors. It’s easy to feel at home in this cozy bar/café, which comfortably seats about 15.

It’s hard to say who exactly their target crowd is, though, since on a recent Saturday night we were the only patrons for the better part of the evening. We were joined later by a hip young couple, who no doubt wandered in after a day of hardcore shopping. We weren’t complaining, though, since that meant we had the bartender’s undivided attention. Well, almost. He did stop by our table to ask if we minded him changing the channel so he could watch the K-1 fight. We admired his gumption and gave him the green light.

The soundtrack, luckily, remained chilled-out lounge classics like bossa nova and jazzy house—the perfect background music for sophisticated conversation… or grown men pounding each other to
a bloody pulp. We chose to focus on the former, naturally.

The drinks selection is impressive, featuring a range of cocktails, fresh juices, and café favorites like Italian sodas and espresso drinks. Our friendly bartender assured us that he’d be happy to mix up anything that wasn’t on the menu, which was ideal because we were tempted by the pineapple-ginger ale but wanted something with more of a kick. We opted for an Amaretto pineapple-ginger ale, which was superb (¥750). We loved how this drink was blended into a delightful concoction of fizzy, tart, and sweet. The rum and coke (¥700) was also a hit, arriving in a large glass and containing a hearty portion of liquor. Next up was the banana shake (¥600), which was a perfect stand-in for dessert.

The food menu truly offers something for everyone, ranging from chilled organic tomatoes (¥600), Satsuma beef spring rolls (¥880) and chicken carpaccio (¥950) to the charmingly named Big Sausage, served on a stick (¥740). Since the bar doubles as a café by day, a selection of the usual fare (Japanese- and Western-style pizzas and pastas) is also available.

Loiter’s prime location and tempting drinks selection definitely caught our attention, but it’s the affordable prices and smart service that’ll make us regulars.

2F 6-7-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5466-1252. Open daily noon-midnight. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae, exit 4 www.cupbearer.jp/loiter

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