Tokyo Weekender - September 2017

SERENDIPITY 3
THE STORY A fairytale in the making, this
coffee house boutique started with the
serendipitous meeting of three dance class
students in 1950s New York City with barely
300 dollars between them. Over 60 years
later, already named a “legendary dessert
destination” in the Big Apple, they opened
their Japanese flagship store halfway across
the world.
WHY WE LOVE THEM The interior is a
playful mix of nostalgic old-timey ice cream
parlor and Mad Hatter’s art gallery, giving it
a fun, whimsical feel.
WHAT TO TRY Both the Matcha Ice Cream
Frrrozen Hot Chocolate and the Cherry Pie
Sundae are Japan-only offerings, and are
perfect choices for making people back home
feel jealous.
3F Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, 4-30-3
Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, serendipity3.jp/en
BALLON D’ESSAI
GALLERY AND CAFÉ
THE STORY This latte specialty
shop-meets-art gallery is a cozy
hideaway from the busy streets of
Shimokitazawa. Over the last few
years, they’ve branched out to offer
exclusive barista-made kakigori, all
year-round.
WHY WE LOVE THEM Not only do
they serve great coffee, they also
provide a venue for the meeting of
minds, where people can come together
and discuss art – both of the
latte and the traditional kind.
WHAT TO TRY The espresso shaved
ice is a sensory experience. Pour
freshly brewed espresso over the
milk-flavored ice flakes and watch
it soak up the caffeinated black gold
before your eyes, as the aroma fills the
room. As if that weren't enough, a rich
coffee jelly treat awaits at the bottom.
2-30-11 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku,
ballondessai.com
ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY
THE STORY This New York-style ice cream shop opened in
June this year and has become a fast favorite for Harajuku-
bound youngsters looking for an Instagrammable treat.
WHY WE LOVE THEM With four ice cream flavors,
20 mix-in ingredients, 10 sauces, and more than 40
toppings to choose from, every visit is a new flavor
experience.
WHAT TO TRY Use your imagination and make your
own special combo – that’s the beauty of this place. For
those who find it difficult to make decisions, choose
one of the shop’s recommended combinations. We like
Yokan Whisper, which is a full-on Japanese flavor explosion
of green tea ice cream, shiratama, yokan, kinako
and kuromitsu.
4-28-12 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, rollicecreamfactory.com
TOKYO WEEKENDER | SEPTEMBER 2017 | 15