Ratio is the newest creation from Sakao-san, the owner of Onibus which we introduced earlier. The shop is also host to a communal office and bike seller, which brings in an eclectic crowd of people. The large space also provides a good atmosphere to work, so you often see customers who set up shop for an entire day of work.
With the same beans as ONIBUS, any of the drip coffee flavors will make for a great cup of coffee. Regular customers dominate the crowd and it seems like the staff is on a first name basis with everyone.
The surrounding area is filled with world famous brands and up and coming fashion lines of Tokyo. If you walk left out of the store, after taking another left at the stoplight, you can enjoy a pleasant walk back towards the Harajuku and Omotesando area. This is one of my favorite streets in Tokyo. Within a one kilometer radius, this area has become a mecca for coffee. You can find the famous Blue Bottle Coffee, the delicious caffe latte of Lattest, and the store that approaches drip coffee like a science, Mame-ya. Other honorable mentions of the area are Dues Ex Machina, Streamer, and The Roastery by Nozy.
The staff suggest checking out the nearby Watri-um art Museum which is a store that sells books, CDs, and of course art. For amazing food, check out the nearby Shanwei. This store is on the second floor of an unimposing building, so it may be hard to find, but it is surely worth the search. They serve Chinese style food. For lunch it only costs 890 yen, but you can help yourself to greens, vegetables and fruit in a buffet style, with the main dish passed to you from the kitchen. For dinner it is a bit more spendy but like lunch, the flavors are so good it may bring tears to your eyes.
Close to our On The Trip company office, I have become a regular customer of Ratio, and I approach the store in a similar manner to the regulars I witnessed across the other locations in the guide. The staff is always quick to say, “Cory-san, how have you been? Where are you off to today?”
Frequenting this store enough to complete a stamp card, I have found myself developing a deeper connection with this cultural and social hub. I guess you could say it has become my own coffee shop. My experience is not unique, I am not drawn in just for the beans, I come for the people.
Name：Ratio & C
Address：Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Gaienmae 3-1-26
☎︎ ：03-6438-1971
Hours: Monday-Friday (Closed Wednesday) 8:30~19:00
Saturday-Sunday 10:00~19:00
Name：Watari-um art museum
Address：Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Gaienmae 3-7-6
☎︎ ： 03-3402-3001
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00~19:00
Name：Shanwei
Address：Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Gaienmae 3-7-5
☎︎ ： 03-3475-3425
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:30~14:00 18:00~23:00