Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Midas Tümülüsü (Tumulus MM)
The Devil's Column
Weightlifting Hall of Fame
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
3 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
4 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
5 days ago
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Tokyo Milonga Nueva
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Milonga Nueva

This retro café is a remnant of Japan’s post-war Argentine tango craze.

Tokyo, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Milonga Nueva, August 2024.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Milonga Nueva, August 2024.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Matchboxes adorn the wall.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Enjoy your coffee to the tango music from a bygone era.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The interior circa November 2022, before the relocation.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Coffee of the day.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The interior, in 2023, after the relocation.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Coffee, beer, and tango are all on the menu.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The menu at the cafe.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The cafe is also known for its pizza, curry, and international beer.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The original Milonga’s sign in the alley.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Milonga Nueva is one of Jimbocho’s best cafes.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Milonga Nueva, right after its reopening.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The interior is littered with musical jewels.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A cup of Viennese coffee with orangettes.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Jimbocho district of Tokyo is known for its decades-old cafés. Viennese coffee was first introduced to the Japanese public in 1953 at the Ladrio, one of the java joints situated in a narrow alley. The rich, potent concoction quickly became a favorite spot of countless authors, artists, publishers, bibliophiles, and college students, who liked it as it stayed hot underneath the thick layer of whipped cream as they sat discussing for hours on end.

That same year, the café opened a sister location right across the alley named “Milongo,” which advertised itself as an Argentine tango café. It may seem like a niche genre today, but post-war Japan was in the midst of a dance craze at the time. Its influences are also evident in some of the popular music of the later Shōwa era.

Milonga has maintained its musical theme over the years, even after the fever all but died out elsewhere. To this day, it keeps on playing Argentine tango music on vinyl, filling the warmly lit room with comfortable Latin crooning and phonographic crackles. 

The café underwent a major renovation in 1995 and renamed itself as Milonga Nueva: the new Milonga. It was now home to charcoal-roasted coffee and numerous brands of beer from around the world, even while the music remained. To this day, the interior is decorated with an impressive collection of vintage LP records, books, bottles and coasters.

In 2023, the Milonga Nueva had to relocate due to the original brick-walled building growing deteriorated from age. Fortunately, it did not stray much farther, spiritually or physically. Even though it's now housed in a newer building, the vibe hasn't changed drastically; Argentine tango still plays all day, and the menu boasts smoky coffee and a good selection of beer, along with its famous pizza, Japanese-style curry, and biscotti. 

Related Tags

Music History Music Cafe Coffee

Know Before You Go

The cafe is closed on Wednesdays.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

August 30, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Milonga Nueva
Kanda Jinbocho, 1 Chome−3−3
Chiyoda City
Tokyo, 101-0051
Japan
35.696966, 139.756264
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Jimbōchō Book Town

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Meiji University Museum’s Criminal Materials Department

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Gold Bug Guardian Statue

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tokyo

Tokyo

Japan

Places 220
Stories 13

Nearby Places

Jimbōchō Book Town

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Meiji University Museum’s Criminal Materials Department

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Gold Bug Guardian Statue

Tokyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tokyo

Tokyo

Japan

Places 220
Stories 13

Related Stories and Lists

Try Historical Food at These 52 Culinary Timewarps

List

By Diana Hubbell

Related Places

  • Meridian, Mississippi

    Jimmie Rodgers Museum

    This small museum showcases the Singing Brakeman's yodeling prowess, railroad roots, and country music stardom.

  • The Plain Folk Cafe takes up both of the schoolhouse’s original two rooms.

    Pleasant Plain, Ohio

    Plain Folk Live Music Cafe

    A local cafe and concert venue occupy a 1913 school house.

  • Edna Nicole commands the room.

    Clarksdale, Mississippi

    Red’s

    Pay your respects at this juke joint founded by a blues legend of the Mississippi Delta.

  • This intersection played a critical role in blues history.

    Moorhead, Mississippi

    Where the Southern Cross the Dog

    W.C. Handy, sometimes known as the Father of the Blues, drew inspiration for one of his biggest hits from this spot.

  • Lunch arrives via pneumatic tube here.

    Christchurch, New Zealand

    C1 Espresso

    Get your meal delivered via pneumatic at this former post office.

  • Kent, England

    The Glimmer Twins

    Two members of the Rolling Stones frozen forever in bronze.

  • Instruments on display in the church.

    Bologna, Italy

    Museo San Colombano – Collezione Tagliavini

    Historic harpsichords, clavichords, organs, pianos, and more inside a deconsecrated church.

  • Toronto hip-hop history on display at Friar’s Music Museum.

    Toronto, Ontario

    Friar’s Music Museum

    A free museum of Toronto’s untold music history hidden inside a drugstore.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.