We stumbled onto Luna Cafe and Laundry the night before, while walking to Tsukemen Yasubee in Takadanobaba for dinner. A 24-hour laundromat with an organic cafe attached? That got my attention. The cafe had already shut for the night, but a poster in the window showed these ridiculously cute sleeping bear cakes. Decision made. We were coming back for breakfast.
Getting to Luna Cafe and Laundry
It was a 2-minute walk from our hotel, Sotetsu Grand Fresa Takadanobaba, and about 3 minutes from Takadanobaba Station. The cafe opens at 10am. We rocked up just after and had the entire place to ourselves.
Honestly, the concept works. Chuck your clothes in the wash, order a coffee, and wait it out in a proper cafe instead of staring at a spinning drum. The space is bigger than expected with cosy, low-key vibes. Bring a laptop and get some work done. Nobody will rush you.
What’s on the menu
Small and tidy, which I prefer:
- Hot mains – a handful of options
- French toast and croque monsieur
- Chicken nuggets, a salad and a soup
- Coffee, tea and juices
- Sleeping Bear cakes – chocolate, rare cheesecake, matcha and tiramisu
We kept it simple: a coffee each and one Chocolate Sleeping Bear to share.
The coffee (600 yen)
The “coffee” here is essentially a black coffee, Americano-style. Not acidic, no funny business. It does the job. Quick note on price though — we paid 600 yen each, but the menu on their website now lists 400 yen. Either the site is outdated or prices have dropped. Worth checking before you order.
Chocolate Sleeping Bear (1,100 yen)
Google Translate told me this is a fluffy rice flour cake roll topped with rich, slightly bitter organic chocolate mousse.
It looked so cute I genuinely hesitated to stab it. Head or bum? I went with the bum. And what a delicious backside that was. The chocolate mousse was smooth and properly chocolatey without being overly sweet. The cake roll underneath was soft and fluffy, exactly like the Japanese sponge rolls I love. I couldn’t tell it was rice flour at all. It tastes as good as it looks, which is rarer than you’d think with photogenic desserts.
The one downside
Service is not the warmest. Some of that is probably the language barrier, but the male staff member (possibly the owner) came across as fairly unsmiling and robotic. Efficient, but no charm. Manage your expectations and you’ll be fine.
Is Luna Cafe and Laundry worth it?
If you’re staying around Takadanobaba, yes. It sits on a quiet street away from Tokyo’s usual crush, the cake is legitimately good, and there’s something oddly comforting about a cafe that also handles your dirty socks. Come for the bears, stay for the calm.
