How to Enjoy Bars in Tokyo and 15 Best Bars
The OMAKASE editorial team, an official partner of Michelin, will introduce bars in Tokyo.
The History of Bar
Bars originally developed in Europe as cafes and pubs, offering light meals, coffee, and alcohol. During the American frontier era, they emerged as simple drinking spots providing whiskey to settlers. The term "bar" is said to come from the horizontal counter (bar) that separated customers from staff. Later, during the Prohibition era in the U.S., illegal drinking spots known as speakeasies (Speak Easy) secretly appeared, characterized by inconspicuous exteriors and heavy doors. These hidden bars influenced the modern concept of bars. Today, there are various types of bars, such as dining bars with extensive food menus and authentic bars specializing in cocktails and drinks.
Characteristics of Bars in Tokyo
Tokyo has many great dining bars, but it also has many wonderful authentic bars that specializing in cocktails crafted by skilled bartenders and premium whiskies. Many of these bartenders have won the World Bartender Championship, held annually, and their bars are located in Tokyo. These bartenders have a wonderful taste of cocktails, and their actions to make cocktails are very beautiful. In addition, Tokyo has many bars specializing in gin and whiskey, as well as wine bars serving wine and light meals to match.
How to Enjoy Bars in Tokyo
Many people would feel they want to enjoy cocktails first when they go to a bar. However, many people do not know what kind of cocktails to order because they do not know the types of cocktails. In reality, there are countless types of cocktails, and every year, new original cocktails are created in all over the world. In addition to mastering many types of cocktails, excellent bartenders are able to create original cocktails on the spot by having a thorough knowledge of the characteristics of various liquors and fruits. In fact, many bars in Tokyo do not have menus.
How to Order a Cocktail
When ordering cocktails at a bar, you can definitely choose your favorite ones. However, if you don’t know specific cocktail names, you can simply describe your preferences: alcohol strength, flavor profile (sweet, sour, bitter, refreshing, or rich), fruit-based or creamy, and glass type (long glass or stemmed cocktail glass). By combining a few of these preferences, the bartender will surely be able to make a cocktail that suits your taste. If you enjoy it, don’t hesitate to compliment the bartender with a "Delicious!" In Japan, with its four distinct seasons, many bars offer cocktails using fresh seasonal fruits, so asking, "Do you have any cocktails with fresh fruit today?" is a great idea. The same applies to whisky or gin-focused bars—take your time discussing your preferences with the bartender. The process of deciding your order with the bartender is also part of the bar experience.
15 Bars in Tokyo
1. Cofuku (コフク) / Shimbashi
Located in Shimbashi, Tokyo, this wine bar offers an impressive selection that even wine connoisseurs admire. While it’s a membership-based bar, reservations can be made through OMAKASE. The wine list ranges from ultra-rare bottles to affordable options, including a wide array of aged Burgundy wines, making it a paradise for wine lovers. The bar also offers dishes perfectly paired with wine, available à la carte. Whether you choose wine to match your food or food to match your wine, the experience is delightful. Don’t hesitate to consult the sommelier for recommendations.
- Operation hours
- 6:00 PM - 01:00 AM
*Food L.O. ;Weekdays 10:00 PM, Saturdays 9:00 PM - Regular holiday
- Sundays, Public Holidays
- Price range
- Dinner: USD 37.43 - USD 144.94
- Address
- B1F, Roygent Shimbashi, 5-7-7, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Nearest station
- Shimbashi Station
- Directions from station
- 5 minutes walk from Shimbashi Station
- Payment methods
- Cash and Credit card（Visa, Master, Amex, Diners, JCB）
- Seats
- Counter 8 Seats, Table 5 Seats
2. P.M.9 / Shimbashi
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
Located in a narrow alley in Shimbashi, this small bar is located in an area known for its famous sushi restaurants and long-established, unique eateries. The bar has been selected as one of the Best 100 Bars by a major Japanese gourmet review website. In addition to delicious cocktails, the bar offers an impressive selection of whiskies. The owner and bartender is a relative of the famous sushi restaurant owner, and many guests enjoy a cocktail here after dining at the sushi restaurant. The bar, named P.M. 9, opens at 4:30 PM, allowing guests to enjoy an aperitif before their meal.
3. Bar Caelum (バーカエルム) / Shimbashi
This is an authentic bar with a solid reputation in Shimbashi, Tokyo. The owner bartender, Noritaka Watanabe, is the son of the owner of the long-established bar "EST!" in Yushima, Tokyo. Both father and son are renowned bartenders. The mint used in the "Mojito," a representative of summer cocktails, is grown in the garden of the "Est!" master, and is decorated with cocktails when the mint flowers are in season. It is a production unique to home-grown mint. Unusual for an authentic bar, it features a terrace seating area, allowing guests to enjoy exquisite cocktails under the night sky on pleasant evenings.
4. Bar Tiare / Akasaka
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
This authentic bar is owned and operated by Yasuhiko Mizusawa, who won the title of Japan’s top bartender in the 2004 cocktail competition. The bar has also been selected as one of the Best 100 Bars by a major Japanese gourmet review website. Mizusawa is a renowned bartender who has supervised bar scenes for numerous TV dramas and films. While the standard cocktails are exceptional, his seasonal cocktails made with fresh fruits are also outstanding. During the season when tomatoes are at their best, the bar offers a limited number of servings of a cocktail called the "Golden Mary." While the classic Bloody Mary is red in color, the Golden Mary is something entirely different. You'll have to visit the bar to see for yourself.
5. Algernon Sinfonia (アルジャーノンシンフォニア) / Akasaka
At an authentic bar in Akasaka, the owner and bartender, Erika Oguri, won the "Nadeshiko Cup" in 2017, a competition to determine Japan's best female bartender. The cocktails created powerfully by her small body are very delicious. In addition to the standard cocktails, a selection of the day's recommended original cocktails is written on a small blackboard, which makes for an excellent choice to order. Ms. Oguri is also a certified Tequila Maestro, and the bar boasts a wide range of premium tequilas. It's highly recommended to enjoy the tequila while listening to her expert explanations.
6. He ＆ Bar (Heiando Bar) / Roppongi
Located in Roppongi, this authentic bar combines the glamour of Roppongi with a touch of Japanese tradition. The owner is a company that produces and sells lacquerware, and they opened this bar to introduce lacquer culture to the world. The red lacquered counter creates a glamorous yet dignified ambiance, perfectly matching the red-themed interior. Just like the bar’s atmosphere, the cocktails are unique yet authentic and delicious. As is typical of Roppongi, which has many foreigners, the martini glasses are American-sized and generously provided.
7. Radio / Omotesando
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
Located in Omotesando, this legendary bar was opened in 1972 by Koji Ozaki, a bartending icon who authored cocktail books considered essential reading for bartenders worldwide. Sadly, Ozaki passed away in 2021, but his disciples continue to run the bar, which has been selected as one of the Top 100 Bars on Japan’s major gourmet review website. The disciples faithfully uphold and further develop Ozaki’s teachings in their cocktail-making. The bartenders, who embody the spirit of Japanese tea ceremony, and the bar’s atmosphere represent the essence of Japanese bars.
8. Bar Ishinohana (石の華) / Shibuya
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
The owner bartender is Shinobu Ishigaki, the winner of the 2005 World Championships. Mr. Ishigaki is a talented person who produces many events and cooperates in the development of alcoholic beverage products. There are many original cocktails, and the original cocktails that are recommended every month are especially popular with women because of their colors and ingredients that capture the seasonal atmosphere. Seasonal fresh fruit cocktails are also delicious. It has been selected as one of the best 100 bars on a major Japanese gourmet review site, and it is a restaurant that can satisfy both young people and experienced people who are accustomed to bars.
9. Le Parrain (ル・パラン) / Shinjyuku
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
Located in Shinjuku-sanchome, this bar has been selected as one of the Best 100 Bars by a major Japanese gourmet review website. The heavy door creates a hidden, intimate atmosphere. The lighting is dim, making it a "bar for adults." The interior feels like a scene from a movie, and "Le Parrain" is actually the French title of the movie "The Godfather." The bar recreates a Prohibition-era speakeasy inspired by the film. As your eyes adjust to the darkness and you look around the room, you might notice a figure sitting in the corner, just like a character from "The Godfather." It’s a place where you can enjoy both a fantastic atmosphere and delicious cocktails crafted by skilled Japanese bartenders.
10. Sanlucar Bar (サンルーカルバー) / Kagurazaka
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
This authentic bar in Kagurazaka is ranked among the top three on Japan’s major gourmet review website’s Best 100 Bars. The owner bartender, Kiyoshi Shinbashi, trained at the famous bar "Ginza Tender." The cocktails he creates, inspired by his mentor's style of shaking, are smooth and delicious, even those with a higher alcohol content, with flavors that spread beautifully across the palate. The restaurant is open from 2 pm, so you can enjoy the best cocktails from the daytime. With just seven counter seats and one table, the bar offers a platinum seat experience. In principle, reservations are not possible, but reservations are accepted only for those who arrive exactly at 2 pm. The bar is smoke-free.
11. Est! / Ueno
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
Located in Yushima, close to Ueno, this long-established authentic bar was opened in 1973 by Akio Watanabe. It has been selected as one of the Best 100 Bars by a major Japanese gourmet review site. Currently, his second son, Munenori Watanabe, who trained at a renowned bar in Sapporo and is also the owner-bartender of the Atrium bar in Shimbashi, stands behind the counter in place of his father. Munenori’s brother is the master of the popular bar "Caelum" in Shimbashi. This family truly represents the heart of the bartending world. This bar teaches the philosophy that "whiskey with water is a cocktail." The amount of water and the way it is mixed are adjusted according to the whiskey's characteristics, making it a perfect drink to enjoy as your first one. During certain seasons, fresh mint grown in-house is displayed on the counter. When you see it, be sure to order a cocktail made with mint.
12. Bar Flamingo (バー フラミンゴ) / Asakusa
This long-established authentic bar, founded in 1962, is located in Asakusa, a popular tourist destination in Japan that is now also loved by foreign tourists. The neon sign of a flamingo along the International Street marks its location. Upon entering the bar, you’ll notice the sparkling ceiling, inspired by the Milky Way. The bottles lined up on the back bar reflect the bar's commitment to meeting any customer’s request. In fact, there is no menu. It’s best to talk with the bartender about your preferred flavors or base spirits to create the perfect drink. With a collection of over 3,000 jazz records, enjoying a drink while listening to jazz is a truly relaxing experience. Glancing behind the counter, you’ll see a doll of the retired founder, still welcoming guests in spirit.
13. Ginza Tender (銀座 テンダー) / Ginza
This authentic bar is owned and operated by Kazuo Ueda, a prominent figure in the bartending world who has mentored numerous renowned bartenders. Kiyoshi Shinbashi, the owner and bartender of the famous Sun Luka Bar in Kagurazaka, one of Japan’s top five bars, also trained here. Ueda is a famous bartender who has created many original cocktails and authored several cocktail textbooks. Even at over 80 years old, he still stands behind the counter. His intense, powerful shaking, known as the "hard shake," is his signature, and he is regarded as the pioneer of this technique. The cocktails crafted from his shakes have a smooth texture that captivates anyone who drinks them. While the Gimlet is a classic cocktail, we highly recommend ordering it, especially when made with Ueda’s hard shake.
14. Bar Naito (Bar 内藤) / Ningyocho
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
Located in Ningyocho, an area long known for its theaters and thriving eateries, this bar is one of the Top 100 Bars on Japan’s major gourmet review website. Opened in 2014 by Mr. Naito, who previously managed Bar Opa Monzen-Nakacho, the bar is underground but surprises visitors with its high ceilings and towering back bar. When you taste a cocktail while looking up at the back bar, you are given a very relaxing time. The carefully crafted cocktails have a soft taste and soothe the soul.
15. Bar Opa (Bar オーパ) / Monzen-Nakacho
Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)
A branch of Bar Opa Ginza, which is also listed among the Top 100 Bars on Japan’s major gourmet review website. It is a rare achievement for a branch to also be included in the Best 100. Many renowned bartenders have started their own bars after training here, including Bar Naito in Ningyocho. Like the Ginza location, the cocktails here are meticulously crafted and exceptional, with seasonal fresh fruit cocktails being a highlight. In addition to being an authentic bar, it offers a wide range of food options, including pasta, making it a great dining bar. It’s a convenient spot to enjoy a meal while savoring cocktails from a Top 100 Bar.
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