Japan’s Best Bars: Tokyo

1. New York Bar

On the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, 235m up in the air, sip a cognac or glass of California wine up here and you’ll feel like James Bond at large in Japan. Rated by Wallpaper magazine as one of the best roof-top bars in the world, it’s done up in dark wood, with ebony chairs, walnut floors and floor-to-ceiling-windows offering a view of Koshu-Kaido, Takashimaya Times Square, and Shinjuku Gyoen below.

On clear days you can see Mount Fujiyama and as night falls the neon lights up Shinjuku like something out of Bladerunner. Food includes New York-style grilled sirloin and mash or wild mushroom, truffle brie and thyme pizza, while murals of Radio City Music Hall and the Rainbow Room will make Manhattan-ites feel at home.

And the cocktails are great: New York Bar offers Burbon and whiskey, classic and original cocktails, and the largest selection of American wines in Japan. The barmen are ready to serve almost any drink; if they don’t know the recipe for your favourite, they will mix it according to your directions. They have more than 40 liqueurs, 15 cognacs and a huge variety of whiskies, gins, rums and tequilas from which you may choose.

Address:
52 Floor, Park Hyatt Hotel
Nishi-Shinjuku 3-7-1
Tokyo

 

2. Castillo

Colourful multi-purpose cavern in Roppongi with tinsel walls and twinkling ceilings that light up like Christmas trees even in July.

Bar staff and management wear weird costumes and play the fool but they get serious over cocktails from margaritas to martinis. DJs play retro tunes, paintings of past patrons hang on the walls and the more refined order pricey Cuban cigars and sit back and watch.

Address:
1F Dai 2 Aoi Bldg 6-1-8 Roppongi Minato-ku
Tokyo

 

 

3. Bandol

Stylish, yet unpretentious, Bandol’s wine list makes for impressive reading. Vintages from France, Italy, Spain and the New World rub shoulders with an extensive cocktail menu on which you can find old favourites along with more unusual concoctions like ‘Ontology’ and ‘Fantasy’.

Address:
2-12-16 Minami-Aoyama
Tokyo

 

 

4. Bourbon Street

One has to admire a bar that aims to offer a ‘taste of New Orleans in Tokyo.’ But this quirky, cozy bar with its homely, accessible atmosphere really pulls it off. Ideal for those feeling a tad lost in translation, those who want to slow down and chill out after a spell in the frantic Japanese capital.

The bar has live music most nights, mostly blues and jazz in keeping with the theme of the place. Drinks are also redolent of the Big Easy with a huge selections of bourbons (with a name like that, this was kind of obligatory) but also a large selection of wines by the glass.

Address:
7-8-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tokyo

 

 5. XEX

Pronounced Zecks, it’s an ultra-modern space, with a baby grand and majestic floor-to ceiling-windows in its main room; and an extraordinary terrace with reflecting pool, lanterns and mini-waterfall beyond. The dusty tones and sleek low-slung furnishings and cushions resemble a Schrager design hotel in a desert, although you’re two floors up in the heart of Tokyo and in one of the plushest places in town.

It would have "WOW" factor even if it wasn’t music, but with lounge singers and jazz stars playing classics, standards and soul tunes, you get much more than you bargained for.

Address:
1-11 Sarugaku-cho
Tokyo