Located right outside JR Shinjuku Station, GAP Cafe inside Shinjuku Flags offers an easy, Instagram-friendly stop between shopping trips.
The café blends GAP’s American-casual vibe with drinks like denim-inspired creations, branded latte art, and an on-site customization corner where you can add patches, embroidery or prints to GAP items.
This guide covers location, hours, menu highlights, how customization works, and a hands-on taste report from a Saturday visit.
目次-table of contents
- What is GAP Cafe? (Concept & highlights)
- Access, hours & practical info
- The café space: seats, power outlets & atmosphere
- Menu & prices
- Latte art & printed lattes (what to expect)
- On-site customization: patches, embroidery, prints
- Experience report — Saturday visit (time-stamped taste log)
- How to use GAP Cafe for a meetup or short work stop
- Who is this café best for?
- Conclusion
What is GAP Cafe? (Concept & highlights)
GAP Cafe is the brand’s concept café inside the Shinjuku Flags flagship store — billed as the world’s first GAP cafe — that pairs shopping with a café experience.
It’s designed so you can shop, customize an item, and relax with a branded latte or a cute dessert all in one place.
Access, hours & practical info
Address: Shinjuku Flags 1F, 3-37-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Typical opening hours: 11:00–22:00
Payments & reservations: card/e-payment accepted; reservations are typically
The café space: seats, power outlets & atmosphere
The café sits inside the GAP store area with a casual, bright vibe.
There are many seats, but popular times (weekends, lunch, and evenings) fill up fast.
A few shared tables include power outlets and the café offers Wi-Fi, but outlets are limited — large communal tables may have only a couple of sockets.
Menu & prices
GAP Cafe offers a wide menu from coffee to fruity/seasonal drinks, kid-friendly sweet “Babyccino” options, and ice cream.
- Coffee (Hot / Iced) — ¥400
- Cafe Latte (Hot / Iced) — ¥490
- Salted Caramel Latte (Hot / Iced) — ¥540
- Matcha (Green Tea) series:
- Matcha Latte (Hot / Iced) — ¥500
- Matcha Lemonade (Iced) — ¥500
- Tropical Soda / Fruit Soda — Seasonal tropical carbonated drinks (price varies)
- Latte Art: Choose a GAP original latte art design when you order a cafe latte
- Babyccino series:
- Caramel Babyccino (Iced) — ¥500
- Denim Blueberries Babyccino (Iced) — ¥500
- GAP ORIGINAL: Cute bear-shaped donut — ¥360
- Ice cream — available (single/double options; price varies)
All menus may change seasonally. Takeout available.
Latte art & printed lattes (what to expect)
GAP Cafe features branded latte art and printed lattes using a foam-printer system — choose from several (around ten) GAP designs such as logos or the Brannan Bear.
These are a major draw for photos and social posts.
Note: latte art/prints are for hot lattes.
On-site customization: patches, embroidery, prints
A highlight: the customization corner lets you personalize GAP buys with patches, embroidery, or prints while you wait.
Typical flow:
- Pick an item in store
- Fill out an order sheet
- Pay at the GAP register
- Drop the item at the café counter for processing.
Customization time varies (often ~10–30 minutes, sometimes longer when busy), and popular slots can close later in the day — plan early if you want this service. Typical pricing examples (subject to change): patches ≈ ¥500 / embroidery ≈ ¥600 / prints ≈ ¥700 per location.
Experience report — Saturday visit (time-stamped taste log)
3:30PM — I stopped by GAP Cafe at Shinjuku Flags on a Saturday afternoon.
The shop had a handful of empty seats (about five available), perfect for a short break between shopping.
I ordered an iced Salted Caramel Latte and the GAP Original bear-shaped donut and started sipping.
Salted Caramel Latte (Iced) — tasting notes
- First sip : The latte strikes a pleasing balance — not overly sweet, with a subtle caramel aroma. The milk base is creamy but not heavy.
- Top layer: The whipped cream with caramel drizzle is noticeably sweeter; if you prefer less sugar, ask for “less whip.”
- Texture & finish : Even iced, the drink keeps a creamy mouthfeel and is refreshing on a warm day. It’s light enough to finish but satisfying enough to double as a mini dessert.
GAP Original Bear Donut — tasting notes
The donut is irresistibly cute — definitely photo-worthy.
- Taste & texture: The ears are coated with a slightly firmer, sweet chocolate; the surface chocolate is rich and American-style (sweet and cocoa-forward). The dough itself is soft and airy; a custard filling inside adds creamy sweetness. Overall, it’s sweet but well balanced — a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
After a short, cozy snack break, I felt pleasantly full and ready to continue shopping.
Note: during my visit, the customization counter had already closed for the day at 4:00PM, so if you plan to personalize purchases, arrive earlier. (Observed on that Saturday visit.)
How to use GAP Cafe for a meetup or short work stop
- Meetups: Perfect for quick meetups — you’re right at Shinjuku Station, so coordination is easy.
- Work/check email: Short tasks OK — outlets and Wi-Fi exist but are limited, so don’t expect a full remote-work session.
- Avoid long waits: Peak windows are typical lunchtime, early evening, and weekend afternoons; visit weekdays morning or late evening to reduce waiting.
Who is this café best for?
- Instagram seekers & shoppers: If you love brand experiences and photoable drinks/desserts, this is for you.
- Families with kids: Kid-friendly drinks like babyccino variants are available.
- Shoppers who want customization: Try the patches/embroidery/print service to personalize a new GAP piece.
- Not ideal for: People needing quiet, long work sessions with guaranteed plug access.
Conclusion
GAP Cafe at Shinjuku Flags is a fun, well-placed stop for shoppers, Instagram fans, and anyone curious about on-the-spot fashion customization.
If you’re in Shinjuku, drop by for a quick latte and a sweet — and try to arrive before the customization counter closes if you want a patch or embroidery added on the spot.
For up-to-date hours or special items, check the store/facility page before you go.
