Imagine a relaxed place where, as a woman, you can be yourself and feast on freshly made desserts ranging from crepes to shakes and soft serve ice cream without having to be apologetic about it. No need to wish very hard - such a place actually does exist! Welcome to Silkream in Shibuya, a place set up to serve (mainly) women. The first page of the menu reads “We want to create this café where the female customers can spend relaxing and comfortable time. This is the wish of four female workers in our company”. There you go. Build up an appetite, call your girlfriends, grab your wallet and you’re ready for Silkream.
The shop’s interior is set to give you that typical cozy feeling – it looks like one of those pictures published in a home and garden magazine: a bright space with light colors, lots of wooden furniture, an open kitchen where beautifully arranged desserts are lined up on the counter and a large standing clock is centered in the room. The operators of Silkream have clearly put much thought into the idea of creating a space where one would feel at home and for this purpose specifically designed three different areas within the shop: the “kitchen and dining” area, the “living room” and the “terrace” area.
Once you’re settled in comfortably, be prepared to get very absorbed by the mouthwatering descriptions and pictures on the menu. Starting with the lunch menu, fixed sets are offered at 800 yen, of which the salad and soup sets and the meatballs lunch set come with unlimited servings of bread, a small cup of salad or soup and an ice cream dessert afterwards. The vegetable curry comes with the same side dishes, but excludes bread. From 15:00 onwards a tapas menu is offered consisting of appetizers and small dishes starting at 500 yen (dishes include a.o. potato gratin, prosciutto and oven-baked mushrooms). The dinner menu is not that extensive but includes all of the above, plus hearty crepes (around 800 yen).
Don’t forget to leave some space for dessert, since that is THE reason you should come to Silkream in the first place. The desserts list includes a section on ice cream creations (such as sorbets, pie or charcoal cheesecake served with Bavarois and vanilla soft ice cream, starting at 780 yen), various sweet crepe options (starting at 680 yen) and the lighter yogurt and fruits flavored soft ice cream options (offered in four flavors a.o. mixed berries and rosemary ruby grapefruit, all 680 yen). If by then you’re still in an exploratory mood, try one of the shakes (soft ice cream mixed with pudding and tapioca which are offered in four exotic sounding flavors, all 780 yen).
Despite Silkream’s “women-friendly” environment and business mantra, a few men are spotted here and there as well enjoying the delicious and eye-catching desserts. Obviously, at the end it is not the gender issue that gets people’s attention but unquestionably the quality and variety of the sweet treats!
