Black Cat cafe is a great cafe in the LES (super chill, nice to read in) that has amateur comedy nights sometimes - and if you pay like $5 you can actually go up and do your own set lol
Hard To Explain is a โhole in the wallโ bar in the east village that specializes in sake and good vibes. Amazing place for a date or if you just wanna sit and chill. I would recommend going later rather than earlier, and choosing from their vinyl selection. If you point out one that you like, the bartender will play it for you :)
Mar 26, 2024
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Music Venues:
DRKMTTR - great for tapping into the local underground scene
Random Sample - another cool lil indie scene spot
Coffee/Breakfast:
Matryoshka - the cutest and funnest lil spot to get cooky specialty coffee
Tempo - get breakfast tacos from here to go and eat them nearby at Matryoshka
No Free Coffee - if you're like INTO coffee as an experience this spot has some very quality coffee
Weak Coffee - if you're in East Nashville this is a good spot for coffee and bagels next door at All or Nothing Bagels
Bagelshop - their tartines are INSANELY good
Guerilla Bizkits - vegan breakfast sando spot
Bars:
Schulman's - nice lil social bar in east, they make a mean dirty gin martini. get the lil buddy beer. their sandwiches hit for lunch too
Dino's - the staple dive bar in east. great bar food also
Tiger Bar - spin the wheel
Random Distractions:
Belcourt Theater - THE spot to go see indie movies
Dec 8, 2024
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BARS:
Rice Vice by Proper Sake
Martha My Dear
Americano Lounge (also a cafe)
Mother's Ruin (just realized this is an NYC import. best brussel sprouts in the city)
Green Hour (also chocolatier shop)
Living Waters (also has coffee/tea and is right next to Grimey's and Anaconda Vintage)
CAFES:
Crema
Stay Golden
Dozen Bakery
Matryoshka Coffee
Headquarters
ETC:
Anaconda Vintage
Grimey's
Kisser
royallmonarch you better get in here
Mar 25, 2024
One night I'd realized that I was sorely lacking in any experience in Tokyo nightlife. I wasn't sure if I'd wanted to go out to Shinjuku for the red light district or risk being ID'd at the bars across Roppongi.
I wandered for a while before finding a nifty little spot. Small, quaint, warm. Plus, they allowed indoor smoking, so I was more than happy.
The first night I went I was the only one in, conversing endlessly about Mingus and other jazz giants with the barkeep, Kyoko. A simple gin & tonic and some Mingus was enough to keep my head straight for the rest of the night.
Last night, my final night in Tokyo, I decided to say my goodbyes there. It was full this time around, salesmen having just gotten out of work and the like. I had a wonderful conversation with each and every single one of them. Two whiskeys and five cigarettes deep, I still feel like it was a work of my imagination to have heard a group of middle aged men call me "sugoi".
Unfortunately, I do believe I owe all of them one of my own records. If I can get into a recording studio at all.
Nonetheless, its the best experience I've had in Tokyo thus far (aside from... usual tourist stuff, I'd say.)
Volontaire in Akasaka, Tokyo. If you like jazz and want an intimate night with yourself and some jazz records, and have 2,000 yen to spare for the cover charge, it's well worth it. It's not particularly foreign friendly but it's a wonderful place.
Jun 6, 2025
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what an endearing and pure form of intimacy
Feb 14, 2025
Feb 19, 2025
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i just signed up for this app to recommend a couple of cool lil books and now iโm embroiled in a hot dog war with all these terrifyingly good looking people
Apr 4, 2024