01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked into a residential enclave a short walk from Nakano Station's south exit, Una Camera Livera occupies the 1st floor of an apartment building, operating as a shared cafe where the host and the menu change depending on the day. Its white walls double as gallery space for exhibitions and creative showcases, allowing guests to take in art while enjoying home-style cooking and sweets made by each day's host.
The evolving menu is one of the main appeals of visiting. On days hosted by a rice-bread baker, for instance, you might find baguette sandwiches made from rice flour—crisp on the outside and chewy within—filled with tender chicken breast confit or cumin-spiced chickpea hummus with carrot râpées. Accompanied by a vegetable-packed soup, these sets make for a satisfying yet light meal. On other days, the kitchen may pivot to Burmese home cooking, from gently spiced curry plates served with Thai jasmine rice to kway teow-style noodle soups like kyar zan hingar, balancing spice and acidity.
For a post-meal tea or an afternoon break, the drinks and sweets include a soy chai brewed with 5 spices, organic soy milk, and black tea, alongside chewy apple cake topped with caramelized Jonathan apples or a simple brownie made from cacao and tofu. Seating options include a garden-facing terrace as well as an indoor area where shoes are removed, and Wi-Fi is available. Payment is cash only, so planning ahead ensures a smooth visit.
