El Greco

Ivy-draped retro kissaten (coffee house) that has stood next to the Ohara Museum of Art in Kurashiki's Bikan Historical Quarter since 1959, making it as much a landmark as the museum itself. The interior is a time capsule of dark wood paneling, stained glass accents, and worn leather seats where you can linger over hand-dripped coffee and a slice of cheesecake. Named after the Spanish painter whose work hangs in the adjacent museum, the cafe draws a contemplative crowd that appreciates both the art connection and the unhurried pace. It sits right on the canal, so a window seat offers views of the willow-lined waterway and white-walled storehouses that define this historic district.