{"id":1444,"date":"2016-02-20T07:00:18","date_gmt":"2016-02-19T22:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=1444"},"modified":"2018-05-26T15:36:46","modified_gmt":"2018-05-26T06:36:46","slug":"shizuoka-cafe-parking-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/shizuoka-cafe-parking-public\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: PARK\/ING PUBLIC caf\u00e9\/bar"},"content":{"rendered":"
Being a tourist and looking for a nice caf\u00e9 or bar for an afternoon pick-me-up can sometimes be strenuous, and more often than not you may feel the need to resort to what is most recognizable to you (crowded, tourist-filled Starbucks come to mind). But coming across a hidden gem beloved by locals is a much more satisfying experience, and very much worth the effort for the unique menus and the less harried atmospheres.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n Upon first moving to the Hamamatsu area, one of the first things I wanted to do was to find such a gem. I wanted to find a trusty hangout spot where I could lazily spend my afternoons sipping coffee or my evenings sipping wine, a spot where I could meet up with friends that is neither too quiet nor constantly stuffed to the brim with bodies, a spot I could recommend to friends visiting from out of town that could make them think \u201cHey, Hamamatsu isn\u2019t so bad after all!\u201d.<\/p>\n My search has led me to PARK\/ING PUBLIC CAF\u00c9 BAR – a quirky, public park-themed caf\u00e9 and bar. Located a short 10 minute walk from Hamamatsu station, PARK\/ING is easily accessible by foot and removed from the pedestrian chaos of the crowded, nearby Happy Street. Inattentive travelers may even skip past this locale mistaking it for a parking garage, but the careful pedestrian will spot an enticing coffee menu etched on a blackboard outside the entrance, inviting you in for a siesta.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Alas, the whole look of the caf\u00e9 seems to suggest it is something it\u2019s not: a pair of sliding glass doors open up to the main seating area, irregularly decorated with branched plants, wooden details, and the ever-present and expected string lights for that extra bit of hipster ambiance. The pavement is decorated to look like a road running through the middle of the main area as it leads to an open back section reminiscent of a public park, plastic outdoor furniture and vine covered walls included to stay in line with the theme.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The caf\u00e9 is busiest on weekends and though you usually need not wait long, during peak hours you may find yourself waiting for longer periods of time. For the Nihongo (Japanese) illiterate, an English menu complete with colorful pictures is available.<\/p>\n