Overview
CIBI Café is more than just a café—it’s a soulful fusion of food, design, and philosophy. Founded by Meg and Zenta Tanaka in 2008, CIBI occupies a spacious converted warehouse on a quiet Collingwood side street, where high ceilings, natural light, and clean timber aesthetics set a serene tone. It’s a space that encourages slowing down, savouring the moment, and enjoying quality in every detail.
The café menu reflects this ethos, focusing on simple, nourishing meals inspired by Japanese home cooking. Popular options include the signature CIBI breakfast plate—a colourful spread of grilled fish, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette), brown rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables—as well as Japanese-style curries, onigiri, soba salads, and seasonal specials. Each dish feels wholesome and lovingly crafted, celebrating produce and balance.
CIBI also serves specialty coffee, matcha, Japanese teas, and fresh juices, often enjoyed alongside a slice of matcha cake or yuzu tart from the counter. Service is kind and unobtrusive, complementing the peaceful flow of the space.
Attached to the café is CIBI’s concept store—stocked with artisan ceramics, Japanese stationery, textiles, pantry goods, and design-led kitchenware. It’s a beautiful blend of lifestyle and hospitality, rooted in Japanese values of simplicity, beauty, and usefulness.
CIBI offers a unique, memorable dining experience—one that’s calm, creative, and quietly transformative.
Last update July 2025
