Saturday, June 6, 2009

cafe ミュー




almost my favourite cafe in kyoto.  coffee shop ミュー
モーニングサービス 450 yen (morning set meal) with choice of butter toast, cheese toast, egg toast, coffee or tea. lovely. the last photo is the bill, written on a found piece of scrap yellow paper. the owner was always a bit surprised when i turned up for breakfast, i think it is largely a regulars place. my breakfast companion had an impromptu theory about this kind of 'filth cafe'; that the layers of dirt and grime, grease on the ceiling, and piles of dog-eared manga and books are cultivated, like a garden, purposefully creating, celebrating and maintaining a kind of filth aesthetic.  for me, i kind of hope this place has grown naturally; it has a pure, unpretentious charm that drew me to it when i first rode by and kept me coming back.  a history of time spent, tea drunk, meals cooked, books read, re-read, posters of places visited and dreamt of - life is slowly building its layers here. a place i think you could posit would exist nowhere but in japan, cultivated or un-cultivated is open for discussion.






12 comments:

  1. This place reminds me so much of another cafe that I used to go to. It was run by buddhist nuns and was really close to the kamo river but on the north east side. Just as crazy and grotty inside but with the added texture of resident cats climbing over everything!

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  2. Anonymous01:06

    I would be equally drawn to this place. It reminds me that life is about more than order and presence. It is time and change and visible marks.
    Thanks once again!

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  3. ah, procrastination. i should be doing my translation work but will always be distracted by bloggy business:)
    i think i know that place kylie! i used to go there as well - really good vego curry rice. and the cats! unbelievable. so true, thanks for reminding me, they are really similar. and thanks jo for your lovely poetic comments once again, so beautiful.

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  4. ii ne - yes that's the same place you're thinking of - I remember their vego curry :)

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  5. Is that a blanket on the floor? Blankets on the floor are going to be the next big thing. I can't even begin to express how great this place is.

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  6. hi yaroslav, am glad you like it! and kylie - yep, that's the one, i smile now to remember those cats dripping off all level places in that place - from bookshelves to the serving area to piles of magazines:) hi lindsay, yes, i think it is a light blanket-type -situation covering the floor.that is very interesting about the next big thing, is this something you have found in NYC or other travels? i am really glad you like this place.again, happy to pass on details if you ever head to kyoto sometime soon.

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  7. it looks very homely and rustic with aged character. i like it!

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  8. glad you like it aron! very homely for sure - you could spend many an hour reading and sipping in the big windows at the front there:)

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  9. Anonymous19:35

    i feel like i wandered in there, wandering kyoto one day. the piles of books.. the bill..but maybe there are lots of similar places in kyoto.

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  10. hi bathe! ooh, i hope you did indeed wander in there - it is on shirakawa dori - up north near the ginkakuji temple.

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  11. Amazing. I love places like this, they have so much character and heart. Thanks for sharing!

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