Nichibei Coffee Co., Ltd., an established coffee roasting and wholesale company approaching its 100th anniversary in 2032, will open its directly operated cafe Meriken Dori Prologue in Kobe's Minato Motomachi area on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
The Story Behind Prologue's Revival
Last September, the beloved cafe Prologue, which had long been cherished in Kobe's Minato Motomachi area and preserved the ambiance of the Showa era, closed its doors amid expressions of regret from many patrons.
As a company deeply connected with this establishment since its founding, Nichibei Coffee came to strongly believe that this space, where the cultural value of a community-rooted "kissaten" (traditional cafe) and countless memories breathe, should be carefully carried into the future.
To ensure the stories embedded in the name Prologue, where so many people's memories overlap, are not lost, Nichibei Coffee will take its first steps as a directly operated establishment on January 24, 2026, respecting the history while carefully preserving both the shop name and the atmosphere of bygone days.
While honoring the past and maintaining the familiar warmth and comfort, Meriken Dori Prologue will welcome visitors with just a touch of fresh breeze, carrying forward the kissaten culture.
A Retro Warmth Infused with Kobe's Spirit
This place, where people have gathered, conversed, and spent everyday moments over many years, holds a warmth beyond that of a mere shop. While carefully inheriting this atmosphere, the space incorporates subtle elements that evoke Kobe's character, creating a comfortable environment for both those familiar with the old Prologue and first-time visitors alike.
Look for the Blue Awning
The blue awning that has become a familiar part of the streetscape remains unchanged. The shop will continue to live in memory as "the place with the blue awning."
The cafe offers both table seating and comfortable sofa seating for relaxing visits.
Preserving Prologue's Signature Coffee Blend
Nichibei Coffee believes that preserving an unchanged flavor means inheriting a legacy. The main blend coffee served at Meriken Dori Prologue uses the same coffee beans that were beloved at the original Prologue.
The beans are carefully roasted at the company's roasting facility. The roaster in charge is a former high school baseball player who once chased the white ball with passion. That dedication, once devoted to baseball in his youth, now focuses on coffee beans, conscientiously attending to the quality of each individual bean. Using fresh beans roasted by his hands, each cup is served with pride as a coffee specialty shop. In it, the history of Prologue and the stories of people who have devoted their lives to coffee quietly breathe.
White Coffee Pancakes: The New Signature Menu
The cafe introduces "Meriken Dori White Pancakes" as its signature menu item.
Fluffy souffle pancakes are generously topped with pure white specialty cream.
Despite its appearance, the dish offers a rich coffee aroma that fills your mouth.
This cream is finished using a unique method that maintains its white color while allowing you to taste the coffee flavor.
By generously pouring enough to nearly conceal the souffle pancakes, the dish achieves a mellow, deep flavor.
Roasted coffee beans are added as a topping, providing an accent in both texture and aroma.
Born from the question "Can you eat coffee beans?", this playful element adds to the dish's charm.
The menu was developed with the involvement of a craftsman who worked as a patissier at a famous Kobe confectionery shop. His skills and passion, drawn to this new challenge for a kissaten, are embodied in this dish.
Regardless of the season, the "Meriken Dori White Pancakes" offer a gentle, comforting flavor.
Together with coffee, it's a dish to enjoy at a leisurely pace.
Classic Kissaten Menu Items
Morning Set: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
From opening until 11:00 AM, the cafe offers a "comforting morning set" characteristic of retro kissaten. Rather than using standard bread, they've deliberately chosen koppepan (Japanese-style hot dog buns), layering the simplicity of Showa-era cafes with Kobe's downtown culture in a nostalgic morning menu.
Morning Menu
Koppepan varieties (all served with coffee or tea):
- Plain
- Anko & Butter
- Ham & Egg
- Wiener
- Pizza
Daily Lunch: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the cafe offers a daily lunch special packed with kissaten charm.
With "hearty classics" as the lunch theme, the menu provides satisfying dishes.
Enjoy the quintessential Showa kissaten set meal experience.
Food Menu: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Last Order 5:30 PM)
The regular menu, available anytime, features an array of kissaten classics including teppan napolitan, omuraisu (omelette rice), and curry rice. The extensive lineup allows you to choose based on your mood, whether you want a light snack or a full meal. Experience the flavors of a retro kissaten that combine satisfaction with gentleness, and take your time enjoying them.
Food Menu
- Teppan Napolitan
- Omuraisu
- Curry Rice
- Thick-Cut Katsu Curry
- Aji Fry Curry
- Hyogo Prefecture Basil Genovese
- Japanese-Style Mentaiko Pasta
- And more
Set Meals (served with rice and miso soup)
- Prologue Special
- Seafood Fry Set Meal
- Hamburg Steak Set Meal
- Tonkatsu Set Meal
- Karaage Set Meal
- And more
Shop Information
Name: Meriken Dori Prologue
Location: 3-6-14 Sakaemachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City
(Along Tower Road, look for the blue awning)
Access:
- 6-minute walk from JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station West Exit
- 1-minute walk from Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line Minato Motomachi Station
Phone: 078-871-2222 (Opening Preparation Office)
Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Last Order 5:30 PM)
Closed: None
Seating: 46 seats (table seating and sofa seating)
Opening Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Website: http://www.nichibeicoffee.co.jp/
Toward a 100th Anniversary Story
The home base of Nichibei Coffee, which nurtures kissaten culture, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2032.
To strengthen the foundation toward this centennial milestone, the company opened Golden Cup Kobe, a retro-modern kissaten in Kobe Motomachi, in April 2025. Following that, Meriken Dori Prologue will open on January 24, 2026. In spring of the same year, preparations are underway for Golden Cup Kobe SORA at the Kobe Airport International Terminal.
These concentrated openings in this small area embody the desire to "be a kissaten that blends into daily life as part of Kobe's coffee town landscape." While looking ahead to the 100th anniversary milestone, the company will carefully nurture "a continuing kissaten culture" that weaves together tradition and innovation.
First, please visit Meriken Dori Prologue.
Kobe Coffee Meister Cafe
6-2-20 Nada Minami-dori, Nada-ku, Kobe City
Phone: 078-871-1189
http://kobecoffeemeister.com/
Golden Cup Kobe
3-4-7 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City
Phone: 078-331-7639
https://www.goldencupkobe.com/
Golden Cup Kobe SORA
Inside Kobe Airport International Terminal (scheduled to open in spring 2026)
