The Thousands

It doesn’t matter that CIBI is at the sneaker-warehouse end of Smith Street, or that it’s hidden in a backstreet between overgrown houses and factories. This spacious café/design-nerd paradise could be poking out from any industrial suburb and it’d still be poking out with pride.

CIBI is a big space, split into two areas. And one is filled with tiny works of art. There’s a collection of wind-up robots made by the only tin toy manufacturer left in Tokyo. There’s a weighty pile of Japanese denim, blow-up paper fish and bottles that look just like light bulbs. Anyone interested in Norwegian furniture will probably cry hand-carved tears of joy at the pieces CIBI stocks.

In the other half, jumbles of furniture all-sorts are available for your lounging. Each chair, table and wall hanging has been carefully chosen to fit in with CIBI’s attitude towards design: ‘A sense of style that appeals to the eye and intellect.’ And even when you thought they had everything your heart desired, CIBI gives you a light, yet satisfying menu of breakfast, lunch, coffee and green teas, too.