5 Must Visit Cafes in Shiga Prefecture: Coffee, Desserts & Lunch – MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON

08.February.2020 | FEATURES / FOOD

Having recommended many cafes to our readers in Kyoto and Osaka, we felt it time to move to another prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. This time, we’re looking at Shiga, and we’re joined by Instagrammer Tiara who posts photos of their trips around Kansai eating sweets. They have kindly provided us with photos along with explanations of 5 must-visit cafes.

and f CAFE in Moriyama

and f CAFE is popular for its fresh fruit-filled parfaits and assortment of refreshing drinks. The cafe is adorned with many different plants. Up on the second floor is a spacious kid’s area, which makes it a popular location for people with children. There are even private rooms you can take your pets in, as well as mini dog park seats where you can sit with your dog.

Morning-Harvested Strawberry Bread / Morning-Harvested Strawberry Latte
Feast on an enormous thick-sliced piece of fluffy bread loaded with a homemade cream that’s made with mascarpone cheese and not too sweet, and topped with sweet strawberries, which have their flavour elevated thanks to the cream. The latte is also topped with super sweet strawberries.
▼and f CAFE (アンドエフ カフェ)
Address: 208-5 Futamachicho, Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:00-16:00 / Cafe 11:00-18:00
Closed: Sundays

cafe de Boku in Moriyama

cafe de Boku was actually renovated from an old-time sake brewery with a rich history. It’s furnished with lots of antique furniture. Their lunch menu is packed full of healthy vegetables, and they haven’t skimped on desserts either, boasting a range of parfaits and tarts made with fruits grown in Shiga.

Seasonal Fruit Parfait
The parfait I had was topped with a variety of fresh and juicy strawberry called akihime, grown in Dainaka. They go lip-smackingly well with the rich flavour of the milky ice cream. Part of the fun of eating the seasonal parfaits as cafe de Boku is that the parfait changes with each passing season, so it’s fun to look forward to what they’ll have next time.
The cafe also sells a variety of takeout baked confections, making it a great place to stop by to pick up some nibbles for yourself or to share with friends.
▼cafe de Boku (カフェ デ ボク)
Address: 1-10-2 Moriyama, Moriyama-shi, Shiga Prefecture
Opening Hours: 11:00-17:30
Closed: Thursdays

Cafe Marvel in Otsu

A window seat at Cafe Marvel means you get to watch the trains go past along the Keihan Electric Railway. This beautiful cafe has a wonderful interior with its wooden tables and chairs. They have a unique lunch menu, which is limited to just ten options, and those options change every day. In addition to the mains and soups, there’s around six deli-type foods to pick from.

Fried Yuto Shrimp & Crab Cream Croquette With Omurice
I ordered the fried yuto shrimp and crab cream croquette with omurice. The tasty fried shrimps are nice and big, and the cafe’s original tartar sauce is to die for. This is a pretty hearty lunch, but it’s so delicious you get through it quickly. It might be a good idea to check out their menu sheet which shows what’s been served each month, that way you can plan what you want to eat.
▼Cafe Marvel (カフェマーベル)
Address: 5-9 Goryocho, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture
Opening Hours: Not known
Closed Days: Not known

W.Bolero in Moriyama

W.Bolero is a cafe selling luxurious Western-style confections. Tucked away quietly from the hustle and bustle of the city, their dining space has an antique aesthetic. They sell cakes, sweets, chocolate, pastries, and more.
Opera d’été
It has been called the number one confectionery shop in Saga because anything you eat there is exquisite. They also allow for takeout.
There is also a branch of this cafe in Osaka, but at the Saga branch, with its warm and welcoming homely vibe, you can enjoy your coffee and cake at one of the terrace seats.
▼W.Bolero (ドゥブルベ・ボレロ)
Address: 48-4 Harimadacho, Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture
Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00
Closed: Tuesdays
Official Website: http://www.wbolero.com/

Mov’s TOWN & COFFEE in Otsu

Mov’s TOWN & COFFEE is another cafe with a relaxed atmosphere. It was renovated from a traditional Japanese house, and its interior design is Denmark-made. As well as comfy chairs, they even have sofas, so you can kick back with a cup of coffee or other beverage.

Left: Cafe au Lait / Right: Coffee Jelly
The subtly sweet  coffee beans used for the coffee in the cafe au lait are provided by a coffee roasting company based in Moriyama, Shiga called Comeyasu. The creamy coffee jelly contains a cream sauce with a fragrant kirsch and coconut smell. They also sell a variety of other drinks like healthy organic juices.
▼Mov’s TOWN &COFFEE (モヴズ タウン&コーヒー)
Address: 1-56 Miyukicho, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture
Opening Hours: 10:00-8:00
Closed: Wednesdays / Every 3rd Tuesday of the month

We hope you enjoyed this list. If you’d like more recommendations of cafes around the Kansai region then be sure to follow Tiara on Instagram.

 

Original Text & Photos: @happy_pinkrose_tiara

Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

 

*Information written in this article is correct at the time of publishing. For more details on each shop, please visit their official websites and social media pages.

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