Tokyo’s theme restaurants have been attracting tourists and locals for quite some time. There’s a selection suitable for every mood, kink and outfit - just take a look at this partial list!
- The Vampire Cafe
- Alice in Wonderland
- Christon Cafe - yes, it’s Jesus-themed
- Princess Heart - Snow White + Cinderella theme
- Opera - Phantom of the Opera
- The LockUp
Naturally, on our Japan-o-dventure our curiosity and appetites were piqued so we paid some of these fantasy eateries a visit.
The Vampire Cafe is a maze of red velvet and layers of candle wax. Waitresses in tarted up maid uniforms solemnly lead patrons trough crimson corridors across a blood red floor, literally. This floor, likely my favorite part of the decor, is composed of glowing backlit tiles depicting enlarged photographs of blood cells. Customers can choose a banquet table or private curtained booths, maid bells provided. I tried to wish myself back there yesterday - it would be stupendous for a Halloween dinner; appetizers arranged into the shape of crucifixes, rose petals sprinkled across plates, the main course served in, yes, a tiny black casket. And all this triumphantly crowned with a chocolate skull inside my parfait, no less.
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I didn’t get a chance to see the Christon this time around, but it’s high on my list. Here is what Nadya had to say about it: This “Christian-themed bar” is filled with religious icons, statues of Jesus, and opulent chandeliers that drip with motley crosses gathered from different churches. Gaudy and atmospheric lights mix to create an ambiance that’s both clubtastic and mystical at once, and an impressive altar stands at the front as the restaurant’s crowning gem. The menu boasts that all of the items in the restaurant are genuine articles, gathered from the churches of Europe.
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And for those in need of entertaining nourishment, Wonderland style? While this was the less impressive one of the the two themed restaurants I visited, the Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant redeems itself by specializing in Amuse Bouche - “mouthful size” Japanese and Western appetizers, which are very good. And of course the waitresses are dressed in sky-blue dresses with starched blue aprons and striped socks, which doesn’t exactly hurt. I loved the card suit decorated coasters and flaky pastries shaped like the Cheshire cat with attached cards spelling out “Eat Me”.
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Next on the list is most definitely The Lock Up. I hear they tie visitors to wheelchairs and pretend-inject them with mystery substances!
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:13 am
in a gibson book (i think pattern recognition), he writes about a kafka themed bar in japan…any truth to this, or was it a work of fiction…
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:34 am
Hey Joshua, I think I remember that from Pattern Recognition too. We didn’t find a Kafka-themed bar and I think Gibson might have made it up for the book. However, a lot of themed bars in Japan open and close very fast, so it’s very possible that there may have been one in the early 2000s.
As it turns out, there are other Kafka-themed establishments around the world. There’s one called Kafé Kafka in the Norwegian city of Bodø. Here is their link: http://www.kafka.no/. There’s also supposed to be one called Café Franz Kafka in Prague.
Of course a Kafka-themed cafe in JAPAN sound much more exciting!
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:38 am
ah, i figured as much. it seemed a very gibson thing to make up, and while the japanese are cool…they can’t be *that* cool…or can they…?
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:09 am
i wanna go to Japan!!
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:51 am
You’ll enjoy the Lockup, I hope. I went there with a group of friends in May and had a great time. The food and drink is all very scary and usually has a surprise in store. The “Electric Shock” cocktail is brill but be careful of the Russian Roulette Takoyaki, if you pick the wrong one, the chilli will put you out of action for ten minutes!
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:32 pm
it just occurred to me, that i should open my own kafka themed bar. the idea being, you just wait in line, and never get in. or you get in, but then can’t order a drink. it’ll be called the castle, and it’ll be excelllllent.
nerd up.
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Actually the Kafka bar was mentioned in Idoru
Nic - that Russian Roulette takoyaki sounds like my kind of food - I’m already mad about the regular kind.
Joshua - that’s hilarious. DO IT. Nothing nerdy about Kafka!
And, if everyone’s really in the mood for some literary doom dining, in St.Petersburg I fell in love with a place called The Idiot was, believe it, Dostoevsky themed. Their food was absolutely incredible and some of the tables were fashioned from antique sewing machines. And with desert? Icy vodka - on the house!
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Deliciousness for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Oh the destinations to be added to my wantlists.
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Joshua, I’d go there. Just send out invitations. Or make it just like the novel, tell people they’ve been appointed, give them some space to wait in and a locked door. Great idea.
Which of the Gibson novels has that creepy bubblegum bar?
Pity the last Gibson, Spook Country, mainly consists of descriptions of what designer did what chairs, glasses, clothes etc. It’s crammed with it.
I bet the japanese can afford to be stunningly cool, seems there’s an audience there for almost any exclusive taste.
‘Eat me’. That cat-head is such attractive food (and a bit scary). Nice images!
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
That place would be heaven for me. Definitely a must-see whenever I get to go to Tokyo.
November 3rd, 2007 at 2:45 am
Lust. All sorts o’ lust.
November 4th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Fun times, dude!
We definitely need to hit The Lock Up next go.
July 27th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Wow that’s wonderful! I wanna visit them all!
There should be a steampunk place as well.
Like getting drinks with dry ice served in test tubes :)
New here btw, love this place! <3