Warmth Inside the Igloo

I made an incredible discovery on Monday.  I was by the University of Tokyo patiently awaiting a Jane Goodall lecture and craving some coffee time.  I wandered and wandered, so I can't easily tell you where this discovery is located, but it's somewhere near the Keio Inokashira Line near the university.  I made my way down a small avenue and gloriously stumbled upon a diner meets coffee shop.  You know, I can't really tell you the name either, but I'm pretty sure it's Igloo (イーグル).  This great find was cozy and the coffee was surprisingly good for such a quaint little place.  Unfortunately, the menu isn't in English, but if you know any Katakana, you'll survive just fine.

 

Igloo was clearly a man's coffee shop. Being the only female patron, I noticed pretty much everyone else was an old man smoking a cigarette and having a cup o' Joe. In my mind, this is pretty rare. When it comes to coffee shops, we think of the Caribous and Tully's of our days - full of mostly young people and predominantly female. So I can appreciate places like Igloo, with men being men in an ambience similar to Cheers. It was the perfect after work third place, and it was clear there were some regulars.  This shop was perfectly rejuvinating, and I left refreshed and ready to continue a busy day. If you, by some freak chance, happen to be in the area and stumble upon it like I did (Hey! Maybe it's Narnia!), I recommend the cafe au lait.  In a comfortable atmosphere like Igloo, it's the perfect complementary drink.  Cheers.  :)