Taiyo Sun

About Taiyo Sun

Tiny kissaten-style Japanese cafe tucked at the base of a St Georges Road apartment block in Fitzroy North — easy to walk past. Owner Tats Kawabata runs a minimalist 12-seat room with Merri Creek views through north-facing windows, thick-cut shokupan from Brioche by Philip, and a short menu of Japanese-leaning brunch toasts, dry curry fried rice, omurice and soba after 11am, plus a deep tea list (matcha, lapsang, blossoming jasmine). Signature hollowed shokupan holds curry-and-cheese fillings; azuki-butter and tamago toasts are regular draws. Coffee from Wide Open Road. Instagram brands the venue as kissaten with periodic Thursday–Saturday evening shochu-bar service; walk-in only with very limited seating. Listed among Time Out Melbourne's best cafés (Autumn/Winter 2026).