Cafe Ranban is a restaurant in Tanukikoji, Sapporo.
A Tanukikoji-area kissaten across two stories with second-floor counter seating, working a range of single-origin coffee blends. At Chuo-ku.
Why locals love it: Tanukikoji kissaten with two-story counter; vinyl coffee selection and a quiet upstairs.
Tip: Quiet on weekday afternoons; the second-floor counter is the retreat seat.
Address: Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0063, Japan
A Tanukikoji cocktail bar with the concept cocktails as liquid cuisine. Hokkaido-foraged ingredients and a Hokkaido blue cheese cocktail series.
Why locals love it: Fourth-floor cocktail counter no street sign points to; Hokkaido-foraged ingredient cocktails.
Tip: Counter only; reservations recommended for Friday or Saturday. Closed Tuesdays.
A Tanukikoji cocktail bar with the concept cocktails as liquid cuisine. Hokkaido-foraged ingredients and a Hokkaido blue cheese cocktail series.
Why locals love it: Fourth-floor cocktail counter no street sign points to; Hokkaido-foraged ingredient cocktails.
Tip: Counter only; reservations recommended for Friday or Saturday. Closed Tuesdays.
Chef Akira Tanaka's Maruyama-area omakase counter, opened 2003. Counter only; reservations only through the restaurant's official website. At Chuo-ku.
Why locals love it: Nine-seat Maruyama-area omakase counter on single 500-year-old Kiso hinoki; reservation only.
Tip: Counter only; reservations only through the restaurant's official website.
Saera has run an Odori basement coffee-and-sandwich counter since 1975. The red king crab salad sandwich and the fruit sandwich are the postcard combinations.
Why locals love it: A 1975-vintage Sapporo Odori basement counter most visitors walk past; over 100 sandwich combinations on a hideaway-like floor.
Tip: Sandwich plus drip set lands under 1,500 yen; cash and card accepted. Choose two fillings from the 100-plus combination menu.
Chef Hidetaka trained at the Michelin-starred Sushi Zen and opened a quieter eight-seat hinoki counter in Susukino. At Chuo-ku. Booking recommended.
Why locals love it: Eight-seat hinoki counter in Susukino, Sushi Zen alumnus; needs a six-week reservation.
Tip: Counter only; reservations open six weeks ahead. Cash or card accepted.
