Tokyo Premium B
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This city has a thriving coffee scene filled with cozy independent cafes, beloved hometown chains and even locally-owned drive-thru options for a caffeine fix. That’s why it’s a bit of a surprise that only one Denver cafe made Yelp’s new list of the 100 Top Coffee Shops. But Yelp reviewers are onto something, because that single spot is a great choice for coffee and much more.
In recent years, many globally-inspired cafes have joined the scene, but Tokyo Premium Bakery was ahead of that trend when it debuted in the Platt Park neighborhood in 2018. Owner Manri Nakayama moved to Denver from Japan specifically to open a bakery, and his pastries, which are as tasty as they are eye-catching, were a quick hit. In 2020, Tokyo Premium was our Best of Denver pick for Best Bakery, a standout for both sweet and savory options such as red-bean doughnuts, baguette sandwiches filled with rum-raisin cream, and matcha green-tea twists.
You can also score loaves of milk bread, but it’s best to call ahead or show up early, as that item tends to sell out fast.
Molly Martin
But now Yelp is praising its coffee — and tea — program, too. Tokyo Premium landed at number 71 on the list and got a shoutout for its hojicha latte: The roasted version of matcha is a potential new coffee shop trend, Yelp says. The cafe also offers a traditional matcha latte, a wide variety of espresso drinks, chai and more.
Not surprisingly, this spot is a popular pit stop during the South Pearl Street Farmers’ Market, which takes place every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 9.
Yelp made its picks by ranking businesses in its Coffee & Tea category “using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews.” Tokyo Premium Bakery has a 4.8 rating on Yelp with 495 reviews. As one user wrote, “You can’t go wrong with anything here.”
Tokyo Premium Bakery is located at 1540 South Pearl Street and is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit tokyopremiumbakery.com. See the full list of Yelp’s Top 100 Coffee Shops on yelp.com.
