Sometimes you just need to duck into a cafe, wrap your frozen fingers around a hot mug, and thaw out. That’s exactly how we ended up at Cafe Cubanos Hakuba. Our original pick was shut, we were peckish and freezing, so we wandered in for a warm-up. Spoiler: the warm-up was better than the food.
What Is Cafe Cubanos Hakuba?
It’s an Aussie-managed, Latin American-inspired cafe with a brunch-leaning menu. Think breakfast burritos, avocado toast, burgers, toasties — light bites rather than a proper sit-down feed. Cosy vibes, especially when it’s snowing outside.
What We Ordered at Cafe Cubanos Hakuba
Long Black (¥550)
Hubby’s pick. Perfectly fine, nothing memorable.
Mocha (¥600)
Mine. Did the job of warming me up.
Beef & Cheese Toastie (¥1,650)
Sliced roast beef, cheese, wasabi mayo. The wasabi gave a nice mustardy kick.
The coffees? Decent enough. When you’re cold and snow’s falling outside, any hot cuppa feels like a hug.
The Toastie Situation
Here’s where we got a bit of a shock. The toastie arrived and we honestly went, “Huh, just like this?” Two flat halves of sandwich on a plate. No crisps, no fries, not even a token bit of salad. At ¥1,650, it felt light on effort.
We get it — Hakuba is a seasonal tourist town, prices spike in winter, and this cafe only runs during the ski season. Aussie pricing comes with the territory. But it’s not the cost that stung. It’s that there wasn’t much love or thought on the plate. Just a sandwich, full stop.
Would We Return to Cafe Cubanos Hakuba?
Honestly? I’d rather queue at Starbucks. This ranks as one of our two worst meals in Hakuba. Skip it unless you’re truly desperate for shelter from the snow.
