[Kobe City] A beautifully renovated old post office building becomes a popular cafe that evokes nostalgia

• Table of Contents
• Renovation of the former Osawa Post Office building
• The monthly lunch course is popular
• I want to try the sweets menu too
• Selling delicious vegetables and rice
• basic information

Renovation of the former Osawa Post Office building

An atmospheric building built about 87 years ago

Kobe City, Kita Ward, Kobe. Located in an area with a difficult-to-read character name, "Oozou," this cafe is a renovated version of the former Osawa Post Office building, which was built in Showa.

It opened in 2014. The owner, Takanari Maeda, used to run a restaurant bar in Shinchi, but changed careers after turning 50. He has always been a foodie and enjoys going to different restaurants to eat. He started a blog in 2004 to keep a record of his experiences.

He had always wanted to open a cafe, but initially he was looking for a place in Sanda or Tamba Sasayama, where he lives. He also had a potential property in Kasai, but the talks didn't move forward. After he came across this building in November 2013, he closed his bar in Shinchi at the end of the same year, and talks were progressing smoothly towards opening a cafe.

The wood stove also has a strong presence.

The warmth of wood is apparent in the interior

The building was built in 1936 (Showa 11) and was in use until about 40 years ago, but the interior was in a pretty dilapidated state, and his wife, Akiko, was initially very against the idea. The couple decided to build it themselves, even making their own tables and chairs.

The restaurant considered combining the small, divided rooms into one floor, but decided to keep the atmosphere as it was. There are 20 seats inside and 12 on the terrace.

The terrace table and chairs are also DIY

This is the popular terrace seating. The tables and chairs here are also handmade. You can enjoy delicious food and cafe menu items while looking out at the idyllic rural scenery.

The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Maeda

The owner, Takanari Maeda, and his wife, Akiko. The door on the left is the old post office entrance, and in front of the counter is the office space for postal workers.

Initially, they planned to use this door as the entrance to the store and build a kitchen at the Oku, but they came up with a different idea and remodeled the lobby area that was used by post office customers into a kitchen, making the back the entrance.

Entrance at the back of the store

The telephone room door is also used as a toilet door.

Nostalgic documents and other items are still preserved as they were at the time.

The "telephone room" was located in the space on the far right side of the lobby, which is now used as a kitchen. The door to that room was reused as the door to the restroom near the back entrance. The board with the counter hours and documents used at the time have also been left as they are. It brings back memories.

The monthly lunch course is popular

The handmade menu is also cute.

There is only one lunch course, made by Maeda, a former Western cuisine chef, and it costs 1,850 yen. This course, which changes monthly, is very popular and there are many regulars who come to eat there every month.

Assortment of 3 kinds of hors d'oeuvres

The three-item menu of tomato jelly, liver pate, and onion toast is sure to make you want to order some alcohol. All of the dishes are mild and delicious.

Today's Soup

This is mushroom soup. It is a cream-based soup with bacon, enoki mushrooms, and shimeji mushrooms.

Colorful seasonal salad

As the name suggests, it is colorful and full of vegetables. On the day, 12 kinds of vegetables were used, including eggplant, zucchini, daikon, paprika, carrot, tomato, and turnip. It was my first time to eat yacon, a type of potato. It was also my first time to eat raw eggplant. This is because the vegetables are fresh, isn't it?

The homemade soy sauce-based dressing was also delicious, and really brought out the flavour of the vegetables.

Main dish

And the main dish was "Special Hamburger Steak with Demi-glace Sauce." The meat was soft and juicy. It was authentic, but somehow had a nostalgic taste. Maybe it was because of this atmosphere? The rice served in the bowl was also very delicious, and I wanted to have seconds.

The repertoire of main dishes is diverse, including sole meunière, gratin, doria, hash brown, and pan-fried white fish, and meat and fish are served alternately. The main feature of this course is that it is carefully handmade, mainly using local and home-grown vegetables.

"There are some people who come every month and have been there for a perfect year," says Maeda. The lunch course is limited to 20 meals, so reservations are guaranteed. Drinks and sweets can also be added as options.

I want to try the sweets menu too

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"Dessert Plate" 600 yen

The sweets menu, which is overseen by his wife Akiko, is also popular. The "Dessert Plate" is a three-item assortment of brulee, pound cake, and soy milk rare cheesecake, which also has a light, comforting taste.

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"Seasonal Tart" 600 yen, "901 Blend Coffee" 500 yen

The "Seasonal Tart" is topped with seasonal fruits. At the time of the visit, it was a strawberry tart, made using strawberries from nearby areas. The coffee is an original blend from Cabin, a coffee shop that roasts its own beans, and is served in a large cup that can hold about two cups.

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"Homemade Aka shiso squash" 500 yen

The syrup made from Aka shiso leaves harvested from the fields is frozen, so this dish can be served all year round. It is a popular dish that is lightly sweet, refreshing, and easy to drink.

Selling delicious vegetables and rice

Selling vegetables and rice

In the space just inside the back entrance, delicious local vegetables and the rice used in the dishes are sold.

Handmade processed goods and Tamba ware are also sold.

Next to the cash register, there are also handmade processed foods and homemade dressings on display. You can tell they're delicious even without trying them.

Cutlery rests and coasters made by customers

The cutlery rests, chopstick rests, and coasters made by customers are all lovely, and it's easy to see why this restaurant is so loved by everyone. The ingredients and food are delicious, of course, but the personalities of the owners, the nostalgic and comfortable feel of the building, and the surrounding countryside all add to the restaurant's charm.

(Writer Utami)

*This article is current as of June 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may be subject to change.

basic information

kobe ​​ozo cafe 901

Address: 901 Nakaosawa, Hyogo Prefecture , Kita Ward , Kobe City

Phone number: 078-223-7678

Business hours: 11:00-17:00

Closed: Thursdays and Fridays

Access: Approximately 7 minutes by car from Osawa IC on the Rokko Kita Toll Road

Parking: 7 spaces

HP: http://blog.livedoor.jp/kobeozocafe901/

Social Media: Instagram