Marshmallow : The Bottom Line
Would I recommend travelling to Kozu just to get to Marshmallow? Not at all. Would I recommend going here if you’re in the area? For sure – as long as you’re hungry and got some money to splash. There is a decent range of beers on tap here, as well as a fridge full of them by the entrance. I went at lunch time, and while the outside area was closed during that time, it does look like a nice little area, as shown in the cover photo. The whole place is non-smoking and has no table charge, and is both dog friendly and has some free wifi to use.
Marshmallow : Background
Marshmallow opened in June 2013, and since then, has been the only place for drinkers to get craft beer in the small beach town that is Kozu. If you haven’t heard of Kozu, I’m not surprised as it’s a tiny little place located on the Eastern part of Odawara city with Marshmallow less than 5 minute walk from the Tokaido line station.
I’ve been trying to get here for a while now – I’ve cycled past this place numerous times, but I’ve either been too early, and not wanted to wait until opening, or I’ve been past too late and missed the last ordering time. This time around, I got here at 1pm, and with me taking the train home, I could grab a beer.
Marshmallow : Atmosphere & Interior
As you approach Marshmallow, you’re greeted by a large open terrace area that is perfect for some outside drinking, when it’s open. On the day I went here, there wasn’t enough people to justify it being open, so unfortunately I was placed inside. There is space for 16 people on the outside terrace area, and there’s space for around 20 people inside, at some counter seats by the kitchen area, and also some low tables dotted around the bar.
The whole space is non-smoking and there is also some free wifi that customers can use, with the information handily presented to you when you sit down. Marshmallow is also dog friendly, though you do have to sit outside on the terrace – I don’t blame them really, especially with all the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen, dogs would be hard pressed to behave themselves.
Marshmallow : Beer & Tap Information
Marshmallow has five taps of craft beer, with breweries from across Japan. The beers come in two sizes : half (240 ml) from ¥710 and regular (473 ml) from ¥1,230 on the day I went. Not the cheapest but then we’re pretty much in the middle of nowhere, with just Country Pub Desture just up the road. There is also a four beer flight of 140 ml beers at ¥1,280 so that would be a worthwhile option.
By the front door, there is also a large fridge of craft beer, with both domestic and imports on sale. The prices include the corkage fee, though you can get beers to takeaway – just in case for that long train journey back into Yokohama or further north into Tokyo.
Marshmallow : Food & Menu Information
There are plenty of choices to eat at Marshmallow, though I do recommend the burgers over the other stuff on the menu, which includes pastas, pizzasa, and salads. The menus do have English on them, so you can easily order with the staff also trying to use English with me on the day that I went. All of the prices include tax so there’s no hidden surprises at the end.
If there was anything bad to say about the burger that I had, it would be to ease off on the toppings, but it was delicious and I would have happily had a double burger, if only I had had enough cash on me to buy one.
Marshmallow : Bar Details
- Open : Daily 11:30 – 16:00 (L.O 15:15) 18:00 – 22:00 (L.O 21:30)
- Closed : Thursdays / Third Wednesday of every month
- Happy Hour : –
- Phone : 0465-44-4546
- Homepage (in Japanese) : https://marshmallow-odawara.com/
- Social Media : Facebook / Instagram
