Best Bars In Tokyo For Classic Flavours, Creative Twists And Exceptional Experiences
PUBLISHED July 21st, 2023 06:00 am | UPDATED July 22nd, 2024 03:33 pm
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is known for its vibrant bar scene and innovative techniques. Fusing the best of Japanese culture into cocktails, Tokyo is not only home to the top bar in Japan and the fourth best in Asia, but it also presents a variety of bar experiences and creative concoctions. So, remember to bookmark this page when you visit Japan for the Best Bars in Tokyo for classic flavours, creative twists, and exceptional experiences.
Bar BenFiddich
There’s no knowing what you’ll get here since there’s no menu, but the number four on Asia’s 50 Best Bar 2023 gets to where it is by crafting one-of-a-kind cocktails customised to your desired palate. Helmed by Hiroyasu Kayama, a farmer by day and bartender by night, the “farm to glass” bar infuses the essence of nature and fresh botanicals into its cocktails. Don’t be surprised to find a twig spoon in your drink or ice balls filled with homegrown hops. The mixologist’s next project includes distilling alcohol from wood alongside juniper and other fruit trees from the BenFiddich Forest.
Bar Benfiddich is located at 9F of Yamatoya Building, 1 Chome−13−7, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. Open Mon- Sat 6pm -1am. Closed Sun.
Virtù Tokyo
Perched on the 39th floor of Tokyo’s Four Seasons Hotel, the charming bar, Virtù, offers a stunning view of the city and the iconic Tokyo Skytree through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Together with its view, the number 20 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 list also serves up exquisite cocktails that celebrate the best of French flavours with Japanese techniques. Sip on the Virtù Martini (￥3,200), which blends Japanese gin and vodka with French vermouth, and have a Japanese twist on Old Fashioned in the Smoked Ume Fashioned (￥3,300).
Virtù Tokyo is located at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi, 39F. 1 Chome-2-1 Ōtemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan. Open Mon -Wed 6pm -12am, Thu -Fri 6pm -1am, Sat 1pm -1am, Sun 1pm -12am.
Bar Trench
With its small outfit and predominantly black decor, Bar Trench offers an urban hideout to connect or recharge. Although the bar is tiny, it has made a large enough impression to reach number 92 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 list. Dapper bartender Vaz shakes up a selection of classic and seasonal cocktails like the Sazerac Highball (￥1,540) mixed in with Horse with no name bourbon, VSOP rouge and absinthe. Together with a dedicated section for absinthe, the menu also includes innovative concoctions like swapping champagne for sparkling sake in Trench 75 (￥1,540), a play on the classic French 75.
Bar Trench is located at DIS Building, 1 Chome−5−8, Shibuya City, Ebisunishi, Tokyo 150-0021, Japan. Open daily 6pm -2am. Table charge of ￥500/ person applies.
Gen Yamamoto
With one man, eight seats, and three menu options, the eponymous Gen Yamamoto is one of the world’s first to serve cocktails, omakase-style. Your intimate experience starts at ￥6,200 for four cocktails, ￥8,000 for six, and ￥8,900 for seven, featuring seasonal creations of locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Every cocktail is meticulously stirred and measured by eye, then presented in a unique piece of glassware alongside carefully selected flowers. In an authentic omakase manner, Yamamoto-san serves and explains the stories behind each cocktail you drink. Not a place for quick drinks, be prepared to spend about 90 minutes for the entire experience.
Gen Yamamoto is located at 1F of Anniversary Building, 1 Chome 6-4 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0045, Japan, p. +81 03-6434-0652. Open Tue -Sat 3pm -10.30pm. Cover charge of ￥1,000/ person applies. Please call for reservations at least seven days in advance.
Bar High Five
Located in the basement within the luxe Ginza district, Bar High Five offers a cosy, intimate space with a back bar boasting a smorgasbord of spirits, infusions, bitters, and more. Their meticulous blending of ingredients, precision of bartending, and thoughtful customisation of cocktails keep tipplers returning for more. Working without a menu, they interact with guests to understand their preferences before crafting the ideal concoction for each one. After 15 years of delighting cocktail enthusiasts, the bar sits at number 45 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 list and remains the go-to place for exquisite Japanese bartending and classic cocktails.
Bar High Five is located at Efflore Ginza 5 Building, 5 Chome−4−15, B1F, Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061 Japan. Open Mon -Sat 5pm -11.30pm. Closed on Sun. Table charge of ￥1,00/ person applies.
The SG Club
From the renowned Shingo Gokan, The SG Club pushes the boundaries of Tokyo’s cocktail scene with its fusion of Japanese and American bartending and its unique “one bar, three experiences” concept. “Sip” spirit-forward cocktails and shine your shoes at the basement, “Guzzle” creative concoctions on the first floor, or enter the second floor to “Savour” artful libations in the cigar and cocktail pairing. Some crowd-pleasers to try at the 14th best bar on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 list include the Bathtub Yuzu Drop (￥2,400) made with Jasmine gin, lychee, and Yuzu at Guzzle. Or have the No.1 Cup (￥1,320) with Bombay gun, sake, and soda at Sip.
The SG Club is located at 1 Chome-7-8 Jinnan, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0041, Japan. Open Sun- Thu 5pm -2am, Fri -Sat 5pm -3am. Cover charge of 10% of total bill applies.
Gold Bar at EDITION
56 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 is the swanky bar adorned with white and gold which boasts a glowing Spanish black marble bar and a fireplace accentuated with a gold leaf artwork. Sophisticated and chic, Gold Bar at EDITION almost feels like a private room to enjoy classic American cocktails in its modern Japanese iteration. Their cocktail menu, “Two Faces”, draws on the duality in life. On one page is Psychedelic (￥2,400), Picasso’s favourite absinthe stirred with peach and aloe. Shine a black light on it to reveal the colourful Revolutionist (￥2,400), a rum, beetroot and herbal liqueur concoction, a nod to the artist’s influence on modern art.
Gold Bar at EDITION is located at 1F of The Tokyo Edition, 4 Chome−1−1, Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan. Open Tue- Thu 6pm -1am, Fri -Sat 6pm -2am. Closed Sun and Mon.
The Bellwood
With its dark woodwork stained glass furnishings, The Bellwood is reminiscent of an old-fashioned Japanese-style cafe -Kissaten. It even categorises its menu like the traditional multi-course meal “Kaiseki”, with cocktails representing the different courses, from Grilled and Fermented to Rice. Built on a base of brown buttered Eristoff and sweet corn, the Grilled Corn Bloody Mary (￥1,900) is finished with parmesan cheese and shoyu. Go for timeless classics like G&T for Hipsters (￥1,900) enhanced with gyokuro tea and celery. The number 49 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 also houses a hidden four-seat sushi bar that serves exquisite omakase.
The Bellwood is located at 41-31 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0042, Japan. Open daily 6pm -2am.
Mixology Salon
Step into your urban retreat at Mixology Salon. Fashioned as a modern Japanese tea space, cocktails at the Mixology Space centres around tea and fruits. Bringing the tranquillity of tea into cocktails, this small urban hideout, which seats just eight, serves “Teatails” in sencha, hojicha, oolong tea, and jasmine tea flavours in a wine glass. Enjoy the sweetness of green tea in the clarified Gyokuro Martini (￥1,800), made with homemade gyokuro vodka.
Mixology Salon is located at 13F of Ginza Six, 6 Chome-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061, Japan. Open Mon -Sat 1pm -10.15pm. Closed Sun.
Little Smith
Behind the thick wooden door is Little Smith, one of Ginza’s top bars embodying a sense of timelessness. After more than 25 years in the business, the bar is still as warm and welcoming as when it first opened. The bar offers a small menu of standard cocktails (from ￥1,300) and original cocktails from competitions like Ibuki (￥1,500), the winner of a cocktail competition made with Yuzu liqueur and Japanese green tea. But for the best experience, let their bartenders concoct something special with your favourite spirits and flavours.
Little Smith is located at B2 of KN Building, 6 Chome 4-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061, Japan. Open Mon -Fri 6pm -3am, Sat 6pm -1am. Closed on Sun. Cover charge of ￥1,500/ person applies; includes light appetizers.
Ishinohana
Classy yet friendly, the cocktail haven nestled in the basement of a building in Ginza finds its speciality in seasonal mixology. Led by bartender Shinobu Ishigaki, Ishinohana concocts unique cocktails using a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The bar features monthly recommendations based on what is in season. Try the refreshing Mango Moscow Mule (￥1,790), which sees Sobieski Vodka stirred in with Fresh Mango, orange and lime. Or the absinthe version of Daiquiri (￥1,580) with Flor de Cana, fresh lime, and absinthe.
Ishinohana is located at B1 of Yagi Building 2, 3 Chome 6-2 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0002, Japan. Open Mon-Tues, Fri- Sat 5pm-12am, Sun 4pm-11pm. Closed Wed-Thu. Cover charge of ￥500/ person applies.
Bar Centifolia
The smart-looking Bar Centifolia stands along the streets of Azabu-Juban, where aristocrats and samurai once lived. Even with a cover charge of ￥1,000, the 2014 Suntory The Cocktail Award champion keeps the tipplers returning with their innovative fusion of showmanship and great-tasting cocktails. At ￥4,000 per drink, try favourites like Mojito, which comes with Ted sitting inside a bunch of mints, or enjoy the theatrics of their seasonal cocktails, served with smoke and fire. Ask for counter seats during reservations to get the best view of their performances.
Bar Centifolia is located at 6F of La Muse Azabu-Juban Building, 1 Chome−6−5, Minato City, Azabu-juban, Tokyo 106-0045, Japan. Open daily 8.30pm -3am. Cover charge of ￥1,000/ person applies.
Top Image bar Trench
