the sun coffee and bake (instagram.com/thesun_coffeeandbake) is a small cozy coffee and baked-goods shop in Suma Ward, Kobe. It is a short walk from JR Suma-Kaihin-Koen Station, in an area close to Suma Beach and Kobe Suma Sea World. The shop opened on July 2024, and was founded by Aoi Kawamoto-san, who had previously worked on launching stores for Blue Bottle coffee brand. Kawamoto chose Suma because the area had been an important place since childhood, and the shop was created around the idea of providing a place where people could take a break and feel as though “the sun is rising in their heart.”

Coffee is a central part of the shop, with specialty single-origin beans supplied by IMAGINE.COFFEE in Matsue. The menu includes drip coffee, Americano, café latte and cappuccino, along with tea and fruit drinks. The shop also makes its own baked goods, including carrot cake, chocolate chunk cookies, maple bacon muffins and seasonal pound cakes. Seasonal offerings have included coconut-pineapple pound cake, pumpkin cheesecake and fruit-based desserts, with the selection changing throughout the year. From time to time, the owner also prepares curry lunch plates, adding a savory option to the café’s selection of coffee, sweets and baked treats.

The interior uses white surfaces and unfinished natural wood as its main materials, with a high ceiling giving the compact space a more open feeling. The simple, natural design creates a bright and relaxed atmosphere. The shop has seating for 12 consisting of two tables for 4 and 2 small wall tables for 2.

The main attraction of the sun coffee and bake is the lovely combination of specialty coffee, homemade baked goods and a relaxed seaside atmosphere. From time to time, the café also serves delicious curry plate lunches, making it a nice spot to stop for something more substantial. Located close to Suma’s coastline and Suma-Kaihin-Koen, it is an enjoyable place to take a break, have a good coffee, and enjoy something freshly made in a bright and welcoming setting.