CAFE Legato Shibuya - Affordable Dining And A Stunning View Over Tokyo

CAFE Legato in Shibuya used to be known as Legato Sky Lounge. It offers a stunning view over Shibuya from the 15th floor of the E. Space Tower, an upscale atmosphere and high-quality meals that are delicious and affordable at the same time.

Legato Sky Lounge Becomes CAFE Legato 

The Legato Sky Lounge opened in December 2002. For sixteen years it operated an upscale restaurant combining Italian and Japanese cuisine.  Answering the ever-growing demand for high-quality yet affordable restaurants, the Legato Sky Lounge was completely rebranded in 2018 and changed its name to CAFE Legato.

Even though CAFE Legato appeals to a more casual audience with their renewed menu and prices, the interior hasn't changed. The dim light antique style seats and chairs radiate a sense of luxury and comfort.

One of the most enticing parts about CAFE Legato is that it's located on the 15th floor of Shibuya's E. Space Tower. It has large window fronts on every side from which you can overview large parts of Tokyo.

They offer private rooms as well. On clear days you can see Mt. Fuji from these private rooms as well as from some of the window seats.

If you want to be seated in one of the private rooms or at window seats make sure to make a reservation beforehand. The window seats and private rooms are popular so you will have to spend at least 20000 yen* for food and drinks if you request one of them.

* 2000 yen refers to the total bill including everyone on the table

CAFE Legato's New Lunch Menu

Photo courtesy CAFE Legato

CAFE Legato offers affordable lunch sets and lunch courses on weekdays. You can choose between pizza, pasta, and burgers. CAFE LEGATO belongs to the Global Dining group and they teamed up with GOOD LIFE FACTORY to offer four of their salad bowls on the lunch menu as well. The price depends on the main dish you choose.

You can choose between A-SET and B-SET. A-SET comes with salad, bread and a soft drink with a free refill for  an additional 350 yen. B-SET adds a salad and a soft drink with a free refill to your main dish for an additional 250 yen.

If you are gluten intolerant or just prefer a low gluten diet you can exchange the noodles in all the pasta dishes to gluten-free soba pasta for 180 yen extra. This option is available for the pasta on the general menu as well.

Top Food and Dessert Choices at CAFE Legato

Photo courtesy CAFE Legato

When I visited CAFE Legato I tried four of their most recommend dishes. This selection offers something for every budget and taste.

1. Dry-Aged Beef - Tender and Deep in Flavor

Let me introduce you to one of the stars of the restaurant, dry-aged beef. This beef is aged in a climate and bacteria controlled environment for thirty to fifty-five days. During this time water evaporates from the meat and the enzymes break down the connective tissue in the meat, making it more tender and richer in flavor. 

The color of the meat and fat will deepen during this process. Other than the name might suggest it is not dry at all. It has an incredibly deep meat flavor and is so tender that it melts on your tongue. The flavor and texture are indescribable and I highly recommend trying it at least once if you like meat.

2. Mexican Hanger Steak Pizza - Casual but Unique

Hanger steak is a high-quality steak cut that also used to be known as butcher's steak because it is of such nice quality that butcher rather would keep it for themselves than selling it. 

In the case of the Mexican Hanger Steak Pizza it is combined with tomatoes, onions, cayenne pepper, and chipotle mayonnaise. If you have been to Japan you might have realized that putting mayonnaise on pizza is a common thing. Often it used instead of the cheese topping, like in this case.

This pizza definitely offers a unique mixture of flavors and textures. It reminded me a little bit like a steak sandwich reinvented as pizza.

3. GOOD LIFE FACTORY's Salads - Healthy, Delicious and Filling

We have already introduced GOOD LIFE FACTORY in the article GOOD LIFE FACTORY - Healthy And Delicious Food And Drinks Near Shibuya. They are a salad bar type restaurant which focuses on filling salads and smoothies that are delicious and affordable.

CAFE Legato offers four of their salads during lunch time and two on their normal menu, Vitamin Beauty and Iron Girl. I ordered Iron Girl which has a quinoa and green salad base topped with grass-fed lean beef steak, hijiki ( a type of seaweed) and edamame (green soybeans), cherry tomatoes, boiled egg, broccoli, and red cabbage. It comes with a pickled plum dressing. GOOD LIFE FACTORY's portions are known to be very big and Iron Girl is a stand-alone meal that doesn't need any side dishes.

Vitamin Beauty is the lighter of the two choices with a green salad base of kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, nuts, and dried fruits. It is topped with marinated fresh salmon, cherry tomatoes, red cabbage, broccoli, avocado, and feta cheese. The dressing is a vivid pink beet and yogurt dressing. 

Vitamin Beauty would make a great addition to the dry-aged beef or the pizza.

4. Baked Alaska Ice Cream Cake - Great for Sharing

Last but not least we have the Baked Alaska Ice Cream Cake. A creamy vanilla ice cream base topped with browned meringue. Meringue is a type of dessert often used as cake topping made of egg whites and sugar. 

The Baked Alaska is served in its pure form and then set on fire by pouring burning almond liqueur on top of it. Once the flame has gone out and the meringue has nicely browned, it is topped with a rich chocolate sauce.

TheBaked Alaska Ice Cream Cake is huge. It would make for a nice celebratory dessert to be shared on a special day.

Dine in Style and Enjoy the View

CAFE Legato surprises with its breathtaking atmosphere. Its main charm point is definitely the view but the food is also extremely delicious and surprisingly affordable which shouldn't be left unmentioned.

If you are in the Shibuya area and want some delicious food and a great view, why not give CAFE Legato a try?

In cooperation with CAFE Legato and Global Dining

Legato

3-6 Maruyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0044 E ・ Space Tower 15F