Combine: Lounging by the river in Nakameguro

Sure, there are about a zillion places in Tokyo to swap stories over coffee with friends about how cool your flat's new mod furniture is, but the café and bar, Combine, in Nakameguro should be on the top of your hit list.

Set along the Meguro river in Nakameguro, Combine has a beat-poet vibe with one wall stacked high with design-centric books, and the other opening up to a front-porch terrace (only open in non-winter months so you don't melt). If you happen to stop into Combine in April, cherry blossom trees turn the cafe into a pink paradise -- we think quite perfect inspiration for any good blog post or Facebook update.

Word of warning: Daytime hours tend to be 'flexible,' so don't make definite lunch plans for Combine without a backup or calling beforehand.