Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store

One weekday afternoon, while walking around Shinsaibashi, I thought, “I’m starting to get hungry for lunch…” So I searched on Google Maps, and Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store came up on the list. It had a high rating of 4.6 stars on Google Maps, and apparently it had even been selected for Tabelog’s “Top 100 Cafes of 2022”… “If that’s the case, it’s got to be good!” I thought, so I decided to head straight there, relying on Google Maps. So, what was this Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store actually like…?

It has a luxurious, lounge-like atmosphere where you can relax in peace… That’s Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store.

I arrived at Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store around 11:30 a.m. Since it seemed to be a very popular cafe, I was surprised to find that there weren’t many customers at that time of day, so I was able to get a seat right away. When I stepped inside, I was a little taken aback—it had a luxurious, lounge-like atmosphere and was incredibly quiet. It wasn’t quite the kind of cafe I’d imagined, but for me, it was a pleasant surprise.

The café has a total of 27 seats, including 12 at the counter. All the chairs, including those at the counter, were upholstered in leather. Mellow jazz played in the background, and time seemed to pass slowly inside this place. There was Wi-Fi available (Note: No power outlets), and a few of the other customers at the time had brought their laptops and were working. Since they didn’t offer a lunch menu, my original plan fell through, but I think I’ll pull out my laptop and use this as a workspace too…

My lunch plans didn’t quite work out… but how did the “Premier Black” and the cheese and chicken hot-pressed sandwich at Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store actually turn out?

Well, unfortunately, my lunch plans didn’t work out, but on this day at Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store, I ordered two items: the “Premier Black”—their darkest roast hot coffee—and the cheese and chicken hot-pressed sandwich from the food menu. About 10 minutes after ordering, the coffee and sandwich were brought to my table—here’s what they looked like…

While it might not be enough for a full meal, the portion size is just right for a snack while working. As for the prices, the Premier Black is 820 yen (tax included), and the cheese and chicken hot-pressed sandwich is 700 yen (tax included). However, if you order the sandwich on its own, it seems there’s an additional 200 yen charge on top of the menu price.

Now then, as for this “Premier Black”—touted as the shop’s No. 1 dark roast—how did it actually taste? It’s definitely a dark roast with a solid bitterness. The bitterness lingers on the tongue for a while even after it goes down, so it’s the kind of coffee you can savor for a long time. That said, if they’re going to call it their No. 1 dark roast, personally, I think it could be a bit more bitter… But then again, that’s just because I happen to like bitter coffee.

As for the cheese and chicken hot-pressed sandwich, the cross-section looks like this—it’s packed full of lettuce. Both sides of the bread are toasted to just the right degree, giving them a nice, toasty aroma, and the tangy dressing generously poured between the melted cheese and lettuce floods your mouth. In contrast, the chicken was barely noticeable… Well, I didn’t order it as a full meal, so it’s fine, but honestly, it might be just as good without the chicken.

So, that’s how I spent a little over an hour at Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store, sipping coffee and nibbling on a sandwich—it was a really pleasant experience. Thanks to that, I got a lot of work done, too. I feel really lucky to have found such a great spot in crowded Shinsaibashi! Well, it was a weekday this time, so I’m not sure what it’ll be like on the weekend…

Other Menu Items at Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store (Prices include tax)

• Clubhouse Sandwich: 1,100 yen
• Egg and Bacon Sandwich: 950 yen
• Hot Dog: 750 yen
• Teriyaki Chicken Dog: 750 yen
• Cheese and Ham Hot-Pressed Sandwich: 700 yen

Note: The prices above are for orders paired with a drink (add 200 yen for a la carte orders).

They also offer great-value coffee tickets… Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store is a 5-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, the nearest station.

At Le Premier Cafe Shinsaibashi Main Store, they sell coffee tickets that let you order coffee at a discount. There are two types of tickets available: the Full-Time Ticket, which comes in a pack of 10 for 6,400 yen (tax included) and can be used anytime during business hours; and the Happy Hour Ticket, also a pack of 10 for 5,200 yen (tax included), which is valid for visits until 3:00 PM. However, please note two important restrictions: these tickets cannot be used for specialty coffees like café au lait, and they cannot be used to pay for your bill on the same day you purchase them. For example, with the “Premier Black” I ordered this time, you’ll save as much as 300 yen per order, so if you’re a regular at this café, you definitely won’t regret buying these tickets!

Now, here are the details about the café…