Suimon is a coffee shop located in Hongo-cho, Gifu City, which is famous for its beautiful zelkova trees, about 6 minutes by car from JR Gifu Station. Green tea blended herb tea and mom's cooking are attracting attention.

The orange and white vinyl roof and the spinning yellow patrol light is the landmarks.

The atmosphere of the good old Showa era is somehow nostalgic, and it looks like it will appear in the downtown area of the movie "ALWAYS"...! There are people taking a walk on the tree-lined street where the shop is located, and you can hear birds chirping.

When you open the door of the shop, the image changes completely, and a modern, chic and calm cafe space spreads out with bare concrete floors and white tones.

It feels like opening the “anywhere door” from Showa to Reiwa.

The antique lighting that has been used since the Showa era is still active even after the Heisei, and Reiwa eras.

This quaint property was originally a coffee shop built more than 50 years ago. While keeping the name of the coffee shop, the owner, Ms. Itami, has transformed it into the new "Suimon," a retro coffee shop that blends Showa and modern styles.

We interviewed the owner, Ms. Itami.

-Please tell us how you started the shop.

Ms. Itami: “I worked for about 20 years at Kozo, a creative Japanese restaurant in the Yanagase shopping district. I love my hometown, so I thought I'd like to open a shop in this area someday, so I found this place when I was looking for a property. I was attracted to the atmosphere of the Showa era and decided immediately, "Let's decide it here!"

This building used to be a coffee shop called "Sabo Suimon", so I decided to keep the name.

The building itself was so dilapidated that it was hard to renovate. However, the design of the ceiling, the walls with tiles...there were so many wonderful parts that I didn't want to tear down, so I left them as they were. I also repaired the exterior, but I didn't want to change the scenery too much, so I used it as it was without much modification. ”

Suimon reflects Ms. Itami's wonderful way of thinking, which is not to change everything, but to keep the old and good quality as it is, add a little contemporary accent to it, and leave it for the future. The chic and retro space where "now" and "old days" are mixed is wonderful.

-Please tell us about the concept of the shop.

Ms. Itami: "It's 'an old-fashioned coffee shop, a place where you can relax and feel comfortable, even if you're alone.' I would be happy if you could enjoy Suimon's drinks and meals while enjoying the scenery outside and having a good conversation with your friends.
I'm trying to create a shop where you can feel free to come anytime. It would be great if it could become such a familiar presence that permeates our everyday lives.”

-The illustrations on the signboards and shop cards are wonderful!

Ms. Itami: "I asked a designer, who is a friend of my partner to draw the illustrations used for the signboards and shop cards.

Those dwarves who carry the meal are actually "me" and "partner". He imagined us and drew an illustration.

I really like how you capture the characteristics of the two of them so well. ”

It is very cute to see them cheerfully carrying food with each other's favorite things in one hand.

Excited every morning for the daily side dish
Suimon morning breakfast and herbal tea

Daily morning breakfast (drink fee only)

Suimon's morning breakfast (8:00-11:00) comes with a "Daily morning breakfast" when you order a drink. Thick sliced toast and daily side dish on one plate! Enjoy what you will get on the day, such as Neapolitan, gratin, and sometimes pizza toast.

Today's daily morning breakfast is toast with plenty of butter, egg radish salad, and yogurt.

For a cup of waking up, the herbal tea of Suimon blend is recommended.

Suimon's original herbal tea is made by blending green tea familiar to Japanese people to make it easier to drink so that many people can enjoy herbal tea.

No flavorings or sweeteners are used, so it is highly recommended for those who care about their health and those who like black tea. For green tea, Gifu's famous tea, Mino tea is used.

This time, I would like to introduce a slightly mysterious herbal tea that blends leguminous plants called "butterfly pea".

Herb tea blue 500 yen (tax included)

As the tea is steamed, the color of the hot water gradually turns bright blue! When I drank it fearfully to see what it tasted like... a refreshing lemon-like taste spreads throughout my mouth.

There is no strong acidity like when you put lemon fruit in your mouth, and it has a gentle texture. The refreshing citrus scent of the blended lemongrass will calm your mind. It's faintly sweet without adding sugar, and the aftertaste is refreshing and delicious!

This herb tea has another surprise point.

When lemon is added, the color of  tea changes from blue to purple!

Butterfly Pea is a plant that changes color when it reacts with citric acid.

In addition, since it contains plenty of "anthocyanin", it has an excellent antioxidant effect that prevents skin aging, and has an anti-aging effect that suppresses the action of active oxygen that accelerates skin aging such as wrinkles and dullness. .

Enjoy the change in appearance and do good things for your body! Each herbal tea can be served hot or iced.

The peculiar herbal taste is made milder by blending with green tea. I hope that those who have never tried herbal tea will give it a try.

Heart is also full
Freshly made and hot!
Suimon mom's cooking

Another thing you can enjoy at Suimon is "mom's cooking".

"Mom's cooking" is a warm, freshly prepared meal that tastes like a mother cooks. Ms. Itami a.k.a. Suimon-mom's cooking satisfies not only the stomach.

Ms. Itami: "No matter how old you are, your mother's home cooking is very delicious, strangely comforting, and very attractive, isn't it? I wanted to offer such a meal, so I started 'Mom's cooking'. Recently, cute and sparkly 'Instagrammable' food has become popular on social media, but at Suimon...it's nothing to do with it... Sparkling is also nice, but when you come to Suimon, you can eat 'mom's cooking' and relax. I would be happy if you could feel warm. ”

Mince cutlet set meal 850 yen (tax included)

The mince cutlet with its light and crisp batter has a nostalgic and gentle taste. It is a size that is perfect for eating and filling, which is unique to "mom's cooking". The mince cutlet made after receiving an order is always freshly fried. Eating it fills you with power.
In addition to the main dish, the set meal comes with a side dish, red miso soup, and rice. A small side dish served in a small bowl is a famous part of Suimon set menus, as one is less likely to cook or eat home-cooked food when away from one's parents' home.

Takeout starts at 10:30. You can also order in bento style with rice. (There is an additional charge for rice from 11:30)

A takeout service that started with the desire to help mothers who work hard every day.

The mince cutlet (500 yen including tax for 2 pieces of cabbage per serving) and gratin (420 yen per plate including tax) are very popular for lunch and dinner. (Reservation required for gratin, delivered in 180ml aluminum tray)

Baked cheesecake 500 yen (tax included)

After your meal, don't forget to try Suimon Mom's special dessert.

Ms. Itami was in charge of desserts when she worked at Kozo before. The original baked cheesecake, which is made as simple as possible while being particular about it, is always sold out.

An exquisite baked cheesecake with a rich yet moderately sweet taste allows you to enjoy the refreshing lemon flavor.

It goes perfectly with herbal tea and coffee, making it a supreme gem.

There is also a cake set that offers a 50 yen discount on drinks.

A new friend appears in Suimon!
"Gratin Pot" and "Original Blend Tea"

From this summer, "Suimon Gratin Pot" will be added to the set meal menu and "Suimon Original Blend Tea" will be added to the drink menu! Now I'm introducing a new menu that can only be tasted here, where Suimon mom's commitment shines.

Gratin pot set meal (from 900 yen including tax) *price varies depending on seasonal ingredients

Gratin, which is popular for morning breakfast and takeout, has become a new set menu as "Gratin Pot". What is a gratin pot?

A whole bread gratin that you can eat the whole bowl! The slightly firm bread bowl is filled with melty cheese and a rich homemade bechamel sauce.

A moment of bliss if you eat the ingredients with the sauce. The gratin pot set meal comes with a salad as a set.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter, make sure to try the Suimon mom's special gratin pot made with seasonal vegetables.

Gratin filled to the bottom of the bread. You can dip bread in it, too.

Freshly made and piping hot...! I love the stretchy cheese.

Another new item on the menu, “Suimon Original Blend Tea,” is a black tea with pulp that allows you to enjoy seasonal fruits.

A blend of domestic fruits and tea leaves.

Using several kinds of tea leaves and freeze-dried fruits, the sweet scent of fresh fruits spreads softly even before you pour it into the tea cup. Float the fruit prepared on the spoon in the tea.

For the first summer, three types are offered: peach, grape, and fig. (Fruits vary depending on the season.)

The point is the natural gentle sweetness extracted from fruits and tea leaves. Recommended to accompany meals and desserts, or as a companion for a break.

-What kind of shop do you want it to be in the future?

Ms. Itami: "I would like to make the café a 'familiar presence in daily life,' 'a place where one can casually drop in alone,' and a 'spiritual home' for people of all ages. I would like to create a more comfortable space by incorporating a lot of customer feedback. I plan to add new menu items in the future, so please look forward to them.

Also, I have plans for events and store openings, so I would like to challenge myself to do more things at the pace of this store, little by little, while cherishing 'now'."

Cafe Suimon is run by Ms. Itami, who has a wonderful smile and is full of kindness. The air that flows through the cafe is somewhat warm and peaceful. If you are wondering what to eat today, please try the mom's cooking.