喫茶店(きっさてん)

きっさてん
noun
coffee shop
1. coffee shop, café
A traditional Japanese-style café serving coffee, tea, and light meals.
喫茶店(きっさてん)でコーヒーを飲(の)みました。
I had coffee at the café.
この喫茶店(きっさてん)は静(しず)かで落(お)ち着(つ)きます。
This coffee shop is quiet and relaxing.
友達(ともだち)と喫茶店(きっさてん)で待(ま)ち合(あ)わせました。
I met my friend at the coffee shop.
駅前(えきまえ)の古(ふる)い喫茶店(きっさてん)で、コーヒーを飲(の)みながら本(ほん)を読(よ)むのが好(す)きです。
I like reading a book while drinking coffee at the old café by the station.
昔(むかし)ながらの喫茶店(きっさてん)は最近(さいきん)少(すく)なくなりましたが、若(わか)い人(ひと)の間(あいだ)で人気(にんき)が出(で)ています。
Traditional coffee shops have become fewer recently, but they are gaining popularity among young people.

喫茶店(きっさてん) are traditional Japanese cafés, often with a retro atmosphere.

ETYMOLOGY:
喫茶(きっさ) (drinking tea) + 店(てん) (shop) = tea/coffee shop

CONTRAST WITH カフェ:

  • 喫茶店(きっさてん): traditional, often owner-operated, retro atmosphere
  • カフェ: modern, often chain stores (Starbucks, etc.)

TYPICAL MENU:

  • コーヒー, 紅茶(こうちゃ): coffee, tea
  • ナポリタン: Napolitan spaghetti (ketchup-based)
  • サンドイッチ: sandwiches
  • 軽食(けいしょく): light meals

CULTURAL NOTE:
喫茶店(きっさてん) culture peaked in the Showa era. Many feature 純喫茶(じゅんきっさ) style (no alcohol), offering a quiet space for reading, working, or conversation. Recently, retro 喫茶店(きっさてん) have regained popularity among young people.

ABBREVIATION:
Sometimes shortened to 喫茶(きっさ) in compound names.

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Added 2026.1.7 21:16 · Revised 2026.2.24 10:54
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