Why You Need to Visit Tokyo’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery

On October 4th, 2019 I visited the “World’s Largest Starbucks in Tokyo, Japan!

On November 15th, 2019, an even larger Starbucks Reserve Roastery opened up in Chicago making that one the “World’s Largest Starbucks”. But I will forever say that I visited the “World’s Largest Starbucks” *at the time. 😉

So what’s it like inside a grande-sized Starbucks café? Is it just like a regular Starbucks on every block in every city? Well, that would be a hard NO. I had quite a unique experience and here’s why you should visit a Starbucks Reserve Roastery the next time you’re in Seattle, Shanghai, Milano, New York, Tokyo, or Chicago.

First of all, there are 4 floors! The first floor is the main floor with the coffee bar, food bar, merchandise, and seating areas.  Here you will be greeted with a friendly face who will hand you a menu and direct you to a place in line.  I also highly recommend checking out the super fancy bathrooms one floor below especially if it’s your first time ever in Japan. 😉

You can order all of your drinks and food here.  But not like pastries and cold sandwiches that are in normal Starbucks.  There is a full on bakery that offers gourmet sandwiches, salads, pastas, and pizzas.  You can also purchase your bags of coffee and branded merchandise on this level. And there’s plenty of seating both inside and outside so you can relax and unwind for a bit.

The drink menu is a bit different than the one you see in a common Starbucks. They have a few signature drinks and they will ask you what type of bean/roast you want. I chose the signature Butterscotch latte and let me tell you – it was one of the best lattes I’ve ever had! Also, they serve everything on adorable wooden trays and with a keepsake card listing your chosen blend.

Are you a tea lover? Head up to the second floor to make all of your tea dreams come true! This area is smaller than the first floor, but seemed more lowkey and less chaotic.  You can sample tea, order your favorite Teavana drink, and purchase any Teavana branded merchandise here.

Go up to the third floor and you will find a magical place. That’s right, this Starbucks serves alcohol!  There is a full bar with a bartender or a barista-tender? I’m not really sure what you call a bartender in a coffee shop.  Anyways, since it was only 10:30am and I wasn’t trying to be the tipsy mom at school pick-up (although no judgment here), I opted out of indulging in the spirits during this visit. Also, a very nice man gave me an order tip: almost everything you see on the first floor can be ordered on the third floor – but the third floor is way less crowded with a much shorter line.

The fourth floor includes extra seating (both indoor and outdoor) and seemed to be an event space and storage area. You can also head outside for a decent view of the city.

Then you can head back down and pick up a nice gift for yourself or a friend.  They will even wrap it nicely and put it in a pretty bag (no extra charge)! Trust me, you were just in the fanciest Starbucks of your life – Treat. Yo. Self.

I should note that this is not an “in and out” type of Starbucks. I would plan to spend at least an hour here.  We spent about two hours here and could have easily stayed longer. You will want to sit and enjoy your drinks and take in the atmosphere.  And if you come during a busy time (like a holiday or weekend), be prepared to wait in line for a while.  They do use a ticket system so there won’t be total anarchy or anything, but just be prepared to wait a while. However, it will be worth the wait!  So when you come in, just take your time and look at all the pretty things. 🙂

I should also mention that this Starbucks is located basically right on the Meguro River.  Which is THE place to be during Cherry Blossom Season.  So if you decide to visit here around March/April, may the odds be forever in your favor. And there is no assigned parking lot although you could find some public spaces or park next door at the Mega Don Quijote. I took the train and it was only about a 15 minute walk through a charming neighborhood and along the river.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here and would love to visit another Reserve Roastery location so I could compare the two.  If you like Starbucks or unique coffee shops, then I think you will love it too!  I will also add that I saw a range of people here ranging from business folks to tourists to families – even the high chairs were fancy so don’t be afraid to bring the babies with you.

Let me know if you plan to visit here sometime. I will be going back for sure. You can find me on the third floor. 😉

Cheers!

~SM