カフェ

かふぇ

noun

cafe; coffee shop; coffeehouse

building food

1. cafe; coffee shop; coffeehouse

Loanword from French, often implies a stylish or trendy establishment.

駅前(えきまえ)のカフェでコーヒーを飲(の)んだ。

I had coffee at the cafe in front of the station.

この街(まち)にはおしゃれなカフェがたくさんある。

There are many stylish cafes in this town.

友達(ともだち)とカフェで待(ま)ち合(あ)わせした。

I met up with a friend at a cafe.

カフェ is a loanword from French "café," referring to a coffee shop or similar establishment. In Japanese it typically implies a modern, stylish atmosphere.

Common collocations

カフェに行(い)く: to go to a cafe
カフェで過(す)ごす: to spend time at a cafe
カフェで勉強(べんきょう)する: to study at a cafe
カフェ巡(めぐ)り: cafe hopping

Types of cafes in japan

猫(ねこ)カフェ: cat cafe
ブックカフェ: book cafe
メイドカフェ: maid cafe
古民家(こみんか)カフェ: cafe in a renovated traditional house

CONTRAST WITH 喫茶店(きっさてん):
カフェ suggests a trendy, modern space, often serving light meals and desserts. 喫茶店(きっさてん) evokes a traditional Japanese coffee shop with a quieter, more old-fashioned atmosphere. Both serve coffee, but the connotation differs.

Related Words

Compare: 喫茶店(きっさてん) (traditional coffee shop)

Compare: 喫茶室(きっさしつ) (tea room)

Compare: 甘味処(かんみどころ) (Japanese sweets shop)

Compare: 茶店(さてん) (teahouse, coffee shop)

Compare: 純喫茶(じゅんきっさ) (traditional coffee shop (no alcohol))

Compare: 茶房(さぼう) (tea room)

Compare: 喫茶(きっさ) (tea drinking)

general

Added 2026.1.18 15:56 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

06500/06767_kafe