[Matsusaka City] A Charming Cafe with Unique Atmosphere “Kissa Macaroni”

​Kissa Macaroni is a popular restaurant in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, which attracts customers as soon as it opens and is nearly full during business hours. The secret to its popularity is not only its weekly and seasonal lunch and dessert menus, but also its relaxing and nostalgic atmosphere.

*Information as of October 2023 interview.

The store is on the second floor

Kissa Macaroni is located 1.5 hours by car from Nagoya, or 5 minutes by bus from Kintetsu/JR Matsusaka Station. The building is conveniently located along the road, making it easy for first-time visitors to visit. To get to the store, take the central staircase to the second floor.

When you go up the stairs, you will be guided by a blue-based wall, and an antique and solid door will appear! For a moment, the atmosphere leaves visitors wondering, "What kind of shop is this?" and gives visitors a sense of elation.

This time, we will introduce you to the charms and secrets behind the popularity of Kissa Macaroni.

A place where you want to tell someone but don't want to

The concept of Kissa Macaroni is "Use it as an excuse to invite that person you love.''

You can't help but chuckle at the phrase, which gives you a feeling of bittersweet love. We asked the owner, Mr. Okuno, about the behind-the-scenes concept and the background behind the creation of the shop.

– I saw it on Instagram and was really interested in the concept of the store! Was there something that triggered it?

Mr. Okuno:"I wanted the interior to be something you wouldn't imagine from the outside. 'I want to tell someone, but I don't want to.' I created this because I wanted it to be a place like that for people who visit."

– Do you actually have customers who are inviting their favorite person to come to your store? How about the customer base?

Mr. Okuno:"Yes, they do! We have a wide range of age groups, from young middle school and high school students to elderly people who use it as a coffee shop. We have middle school students who come to our store in their gym clothes. Cream Soda and parfaits are popular. It's nice to see people like that."

– It’s a store that is loved by people of all ages. Even though it's a coffee shop, I was surprised to find that it didn't look like a coffee shop!

Mr. Okuno:"I put things in the store that I like it! It brings me joy to make customers happy with the space and products."

– Do you also sell clothes?

Mr. Okuno:"Yes. The staff at Kissa Macaroni who used to work at a second-hand clothing store have selected the items. Some customers buy them, so it feels like we share the idea of 'cuteness'.''

- I see. Kissa Macaroni is a space packed with Okuno-san's favorite things!

The interior of the store has a nostalgic and exotic feelings

The store's floor plan is distinctive, with a square shape centered around the stairs. You can get a different view of the world depending on where you sit. "I created it with the image of a shop that appears in stories. It may have been influenced by my love for Ghibli movies," says Mr. Okuno.

As soon as you open the entrance door, the vermilion walls of the space stand out, making you feel as if you have wandered into a foreign country. Part of the fun of visiting is deciding where to sit, whether it's a large table, a counter seat, or a sofa seat for one person.

The opposite side of the stairs has an impressive blue-based color scheme. Considering Mr. Okuno's love for Ghibli, I fantasized, "This is the color of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" (lol). The unique antique sofas and tables stand out against the blue walls, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.

If you want to feel a little classy, choose a black leather sofa, or if you want to chat with your crush, choose a side-by-side sofa. It might be a good idea to use the time you spend at Kissa Macaroni depending on your mood that day.

There is also a corner that looks like art. It's exciting to think that I can fit into this space!

By the way, the wall color, furniture, lighting, etc. in the store were all chosen by Mr. Okuno. A worldview that combines a space filled with yearning with a new atmosphere. I feel that the interior design of the store is one of the reasons why people feel like they don't want to tell anyone.

A menu that tickles the girl's heart

Kissa Macaroni's menu is diverse. There are three types of lunch menus, and the desserts and drinks are both standard and seasonal, so customers won't get bored no matter when they visit.

The criteria for deciding the menu is based on what Mr. Okuno has experienced. "I keep making things based on my imagination, such as what I enjoyed at other restaurants or what I would like to try," says Okuno. He is actively taking on new challenges, such as consulting with the staff to make decisions, and reintroducing items that have been well received by customers.

Now, let's introduce Kissa Macaroni's standard menu!

Special keema curry

The utensils look antique!

Special keema curry is a year-round menu. A taste that whets your appetite with just the right amount of spiciness! When I put it in my mouth, I felt a faint sweetness, and even I, who don't like spicy food, enjoyed it. It is a dish that you will become addicted to once you taste it.

Until lunch time (15:00), the set menu includes miso soup and salad.

At lunchtime (until 3pm), it costs 1,100 yen (tax included) and includes miso soup and salad. The miso soup has a homey taste with a good dashi stock. I feel like I've discovered a little bit of the secret to why it's popular with men and women of all ages.

Parfait for More Happiness

The way it is served in a retro glass bowl is visually appealing!

The poetically named "Parfait for More Happiness" is a year-round menu that, as the name suggests, will make you feel happy. The texture of vanilla ice cream, moist chocolate cake, walnuts, chocolate sauce, and slightly bitter coffee flavored ice cream is exquisite. By changing what you put in your mouth, you can enjoy the same chocolate parfait in a different way.

You can get lost in your thoughts alone or enjoy chatting with friends. If you eat slowly and enjoy your food, you'll feel happier than before you even entered the cafe!

This is half size

There are two sizes: half size (700 yen) and regular size (1,000 yen). By the way, I ate the half size after lunch and was satisfied with the size.

Kissa Macaroni's parfaits are also available seasonally. Check us out on Instagram before you visit!

Chestnut Mont Blanc Tart

Chestnut Mont Blanc is a seasonal menu. This popular cake is made with Mont Blanc cream and custard cream, topped with homemade marron glacé.

In fact, Kissa Macaroni's cakes are made every morning at our sister store, Parlor Okuno (*). The proud cake that incorporates seasonal ingredients can only be eaten at Cafe Macaroni!

*Parlor Okuno: A sister store of Cafe Macaroni and a to-go specialty cake shop.

Macaroni's mochaccino

Macaroni mochaccino (630 yen)

Kissa Macaroni's original "Mochaccino" is a luxurious drink with a chocolate-flavored cafe latte, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. The cinnamon topping adds a nice spiciness! Recommended for those with a sweet tooth.

Enjoying with customers
Continue to be a beloved store

Kissa Macaroni will celebrate its 5th anniversary in December 2023. We asked Mr. Okuno about his future goals for the store.

Mr. Okuno:"Of course we value our regular business, but we also want to plan events that our customers find interesting and that we can enjoy! We want to plan events that our customers think are interesting and that we can also enjoy."

– For example, what kind of event is it?

Mr. Okuno: "One of the most popular contests in the past was the 'Cake Eating Championship.' The winner is the person who eats the most cakes from Kissa Macaroni. The winner is given the right to decide the date and content of the dessert buffet. The cakes at Kissa Macaroni are not too sweet, and customers have praised the cakes, saying, 'I can eat as many as I want'! We were inspired by the compliments we received from our customers."

– You have held events before!

Mr. Okuno:"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily stopped doing it. We even held an event where all the staff members made their own spice curry and the customers judged whose curry was delicious to determine the winner."

– Your goal is to involve your customers and create a store that everyone can enjoy.

Mr. Okuno:"That's right. The staff are all very nice people and have a lot of ideas. They can be entrusted with anything. I couldn't have gotten this far by myself."

Stay tuned to see what will be on this plate.

– I feel that the place that is filled with Mr. Okuno's "love" has become a place for customers and staff to belong.

Mr. Okuno:"Thank you. In the future, I would like to try various things under the name 'Macaroni' based on Kissa Macaroni. We want to continue to be loved by our customers and continue to be a place they can enjoy together for a long time. I want to deliver to customers the space and food that I love."

I would love to tell someone about Cafe Macaroni, but at the same time, I don't want to. I feel that this sentiment is due to the owner's contemplation scattered throughout.

Why not visit Kissa Macaroni not only as a place to invite your loved ones, but also as a place to immerse yourself in an extraordinary experience to pamper yourself?