The Strings Omotesando (3-6-8 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; General Manager: Hiroyuki Miyata) is introducing a limited-time afternoon tea at its first-floor restaurant, Cafe & Dining ZelkovA, from Wednesday, September 16 through Monday, November 2, 2026. Called the "Purple Bloom Afternoon Tea," the set evokes the feeling of gently opening a purple jewelry box, showcasing autumn sweets built around sweet potato, chestnut, and Kyoho grapes.
Purple-Hued Sweets and Savories Built Around Sweet Potato, Chestnut, Kyoho Grapes, and Other Autumn Flavors
The stand is filled with 11 dishes dyed in a purple palette that reads as autumn to both the eye and the palate. The sweets side brings seven items, including a refreshing glass dessert layering fragrant Earl Grey with juicy Kyoho grapes, a Kyoho grape eclair, a Mont Blanc pie piped with rich purple sweet potato paste and hiding chestnut inside, a smooth, sweet-tart cassis mousse topped with a delicate butterfly, and a violet macaron with the gentle sweetness of purple sweet potato. Between the sweets, four hearty savory dishes mark the "season of appetites," including a purple sweet potato soup, a tartlet layering umami-rich salmon with crisp beni-shigure daikon, a coleslaw pairing roast beef with crunchy purple cabbage, and a mini croissant accented by tart cassis sauce.
Optional Drink for Savoring Autumn Flavors: "Kyoho Grape Tea Mocktail"
A season-limited mocktail pairs crisp Ceylon iced tea with rich, juicy Kyoho grape ade. Juicy sliced Kyoho grapes are piled generously on top of the purple gradient that spreads through the glass. The tea's refreshing finish layered with the sweet-tart burst of Kyoho grapes makes for a satisfying drink to enjoy alongside the afternoon tea.
Free-Flow Cafe Menu, Including TWG Tea and The Strings' Original Blend Coffee
Guests can enjoy as much as they like from a full cafe menu of 16 items, including teas from the Singapore-founded luxury tea brand TWG Tea and The Strings' original blend coffee.
A Mini Afternoon Tea Course for Those Who Want to Focus on a Full Meal
For guests who want a proper meal alongside their sweets, a special course is also available, pairing a prix fixe of appetizer and main dish with four sweets selected from the afternoon tea for dessert. It suits those who want to enjoy a full lunch or dinner together with the colorful sweets.
Takeout Now Available for Afternoon Tea at Home
A takeout version of Cafe & Dining ZelkovA's afternoon tea set lets guests enjoy the same lineup at home. Served in an original takeout stand, the set turns into a festive tea party the moment the box is opened, whether at home or on the go.
"Purple Bloom Afternoon Tea" Overview
- Period: September 16 (Wed) – November 2 (Mon), 2026
- Venue: Cafe & Dining ZelkovA, The Strings Omotesando, 1F
- Hours:
- Afternoon Tea: 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last order)
- Mini Afternoon Tea Lunch Course: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM (last order)
- Mini Afternoon Tea Dinner Course: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (last order)
- Takeout Afternoon Tea: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Price (tax and service charge included):
- Afternoon Tea: ¥5,600 weekdays / ¥6,000 weekends and holidays
- Optional drink, Kyoho Grape Tea Mocktail: ¥1,380
- Mini Afternoon Tea Course: Lunch ¥5,800 / Dinner ¥6,800
- Takeout Afternoon Tea: ¥9,000 (one set serves two people)
- Reservations & Inquiries: 03-5778-4566 (Cafe & Dining ZelkovA direct line)
Menu
Afternoon Tea (also available for takeout)
Savory:
- Purple Sweet Potato Soup
- Smoked Salmon and Beni-Shigure Daikon Tartlet
- Roast Beef and Purple Cabbage Coleslaw
- Mini Croissant with Cassis Sauce
Sweets:
- Earl Grey and Kyoho Grape Jelly
- Kyoho Grape Eclair
- Violet Macaron
- Purple Sweet Potato Mont Blanc Pie
- Purple Sweet Potato Mousse Tart
- Cassis Purple Butterfly Mousse
- Fromage Blanc with Cassis Glaçage
Mini Afternoon Tea Course
Lunch:
- Appetizer
- Soup
- Main dish
- 4 afternoon tea sweets (Earl Grey and Kyoho Grape Jelly / Kyoho Grape Eclair / Cassis Purple Butterfly Mousse / Fromage Blanc with Cassis Glaçage)
Dinner:
- Appetizer
- Soup
- Pasta
- Main dish
- 4 afternoon tea sweets (Earl Grey and Kyoho Grape Jelly / Kyoho Grape Eclair / Cassis Purple Butterfly Mousse / Fromage Blanc with Cassis Glaçage)
Optional Menu (dine-in only)
- Kyoho Grape Tea Mocktail
Restaurant Chef: Yuta Izawa
Chef Izawa, a young and adventurous talent, specializes in menus built on aging and fermentation techniques that draw out the ultimate umami in each ingredient. Part of the enjoyment lies in seeing how his chosen cooking methods bring out an ingredient's appeal in the finished dish. Expect boundary-pushing plates full of surprise and discovery.
Pastry Chef: Yuji Takahashi
Drawn to making things since childhood, Takahashi found his way into the boundless world of pastry. After graduating from culinary school, he spent five years building a foundation in bread and pastry at the bakery of The Capitol Hotel Tokyu, then worked as a junior sous chef at The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo. He became Pastry Chef at The Strings Omotesando in May 2017, where he creates sweets that highlight seasonal ingredients while paying close attention to form, silhouette, and even the choice of serving ware, aiming for entertaining desserts that anyone can enjoy.
Cafe & Dining ZelkovA
The name ZelkovA takes its meaning from "keyaki" (zelkova tree). The restaurant's lobby continues from the zelkova-lined avenue of Omotesando, leading to a terrace where sunlight filters through green leaves. Set in a space that captures the spirit of Omotesando, the restaurant serves international cuisine inspired by New York, a city where food from around the world comes together.
- Address: 1F, The Strings Omotesando, 3-6-8 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Phone: 03-5778-4566 (Cafe & Dining ZelkovA direct line)
- Website: https://www.strings-group.jp/omotesando/restaurant/zelkova/
