SunnyHills quite literally sticks out among its neighbouring buildings in the backstreets of Aoyama. It’s a sampling café and store for SunnyHills pineapple cakes that hail from Taiwan.
Designed by famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the organic, latticed wooden structure relies on ancient Japanese building techniques, rising out of the ground like a giant basket (or pineapple?). The building is great from the inside too, with several levels to explore within the latticed frame.
In addition to enjoying the architecture, you can try a complimentary pineapple cake and cup of tea in the understated second floor café. It’s a quiet, serene space designed so that you can take in the flavours while admiring the building from within. Be prepared to wait for a table as only a small number of guests are accommodated at any given time.
Most importantly, the cakes themselves are delicious – small and brick-shaped, filled with densely-packed candied pineapple.
There’s a discrete store on ground level too, so you can pick up some cakes to take home with you on your way out.
Address: 3-10-20 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Getting there: 6 minute walk from Omotesando Station Exit A4 (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda, Ginza and Hanzomon Lines)
Nearby: Cafe Kitsune, Flying Tiger, Nezu Museum, Spiral, Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum, Watari Museum of Contemporary Art
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