REAL DEALS
Yukon and Alaska Air/Hotel, 7 Nights, From $1,820
Answer the call of the wild by traveling from Whitehorse (Canada's "Wilderness City") to towns and mountain villages made famous during the Yukon Gold Rush, and then back.
Chic, Affordable Tokyo Cafes
For those who take their coffee with a spoonful of style.
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March 2006 issue
The two major misconceptions about dining in Tokyo: There's nothing but Japanese food, and it all costs a fortune. Aoyama, home to many luxury boutiques, is a place where you're likely to want a quick, cheap bite.
Conveniently, the neighborhood has a number of stylish cafés serving good, simple food.
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Caffè @ Idée
The Idée brand of interior design is a Tokyo institution, and the flagship Aoyama shop houses a café serving a substantial menu of sandwiches, pastas, and more. Minami-Aoyama 6-1-16-3F, 011-81/3-3409-6744
Café Les Jeux
Most drinks are a bit pricey--but it's worth trying one to sample some unusual uses of coffee. One of the most creative is the Sourire Glacé ("iced smile"): Milk is poured over crushed ice cubes made out of coffee ($5.50). Minami-Aoyama 5-9-5-2F, 011-81/3-3499-6297
Café Crépuscule
Even without a café on the premises, the NADiff shop located off Omotesando would be worth a visit. Its carefully curated art books, magazines, CDs, and accessories are a joy to browse while sipping one of Crépuscule's many Belgian beers. Jingu-mae 4-9-8-B1F, 011-81/3-3423-0760
Café Plus Minus Zero
The ultrachic Plus Minus Zero brand of accessories and electronics was started a few years ago by toymaker Takara, in conjunction with designer Naoto Fukasawa. Behind the Aoyama shop is a minimalist café, with a pretty patio. Kita-Aoyama 3-12-12, 011-81/3-5778-5380
Dragonfly Café
Follow the sign pointing up to the second floor, past the cow statue (indicating a branch of Cow Books). The seating arrangements divide the small café into a couple of distinct spaces: a large communal table with a funky green top, two quiet side rooms, and a terrace with a view of the surrounding greenery. Minami-Aoyama 3-13-14-2F, 011-81/3-5412-7527
Office
The name takes a cue from the furniture--desks, tables, and chairs that would be equally at home in a conference room. But make no mistake: This evening-only option (it opens at 5 p.m.) is a surprisingly relaxing place to hang out and flip through style/design magazines. Kita-Aoyama 2-7-18-5F, 011-81/3-5786-1052
Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
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