Our Picks
Tokyo's Best Cocktail Bars
Sponsored
Cocktails
Bar High Five
Hidetsugu Ueno's counter bar on the 5th floor is considered the finest cocktail bar in Asia. Only 10 seats with bespoke drinks made using impeccable Japanese technique. Reserve 4-6 weeks in advance for weeknights.
Sponsored
Cocktails
Ben Fiddich
Hiroyasu Kayama grows his own botanicals on a small farm and brings them into the bar for seasonal cocktail creation. The absinthe is made in-house. The menu changes with the agricultural calendar.
Cocktails
The SG Club (Sober)
Shingo Gokan's prohibition-era ground floor speakeasy serves long drinks, highballs, and classic cocktails with Japanese twists. The intimate 20-seat experience requires reservation for the best seating at the long counter.
Cocktails
Gen Yamamoto
Omakase cocktail kaiseki with only 8 seats. Four or six seasonal cocktails built around single Japanese ingredients. Book months ahead for this most considered drinking experience in the city.
Cocktails
The Bellwood
Gokan's second Shibuya bar focuses on spirit-forward drinks and high-quality ice programs. A younger crowd and a slightly more accessible tone than his speakeasy upstairs. Walk-ins welcome until 9pm.
Cocktails
Bar Trench
Absinthe, amari, and bitters-led cocktails in a 1920s Paris apothecary setting. One of Tokyo's most distinctive bars with a focus on historical drinks and unusual spirits. Great for couples and cocktail explorers.
Cocktails
Tender Bar
Kazuo Uyeda and his legendary hard shake technique define this 12-seat, dimly-lit Ginza institution. Deliberate pacing and classic bartending at its finest. Every drink is a demonstration of perfect technique.
Cocktails
Mixology Salon
A seasonal concept bar built around a rotating aromatic theme with a 600-bottle archive. Dark wood, leather seating, and an atmosphere designed for intelligent conversation. Knowledgeable staff guide your selections.
Cocktails
Bar Orchard Ginza
Gin Suzuki's fruit-forward cocktails made with Japanese seasonal produce. Yuzu, white peach, and strawberry cocktails with beautiful presentations. A celebration of Japan's fruit culture through the lens of cocktails.
Cocktails
Bar Rogan
Japanese spirits focus with shochu, awamori, and whisky treated with equal reverence. Quarterly changing menu with tasting flights available. A masters class in Japanese distilling traditions.
Cocktails
LAMP Bar
Michihito Kawakami regularly appears at Tokyo pop-up collaborations. When in Tokyo, he is consistently one of the most technically gifted bartenders in Japan. Watch their social media for Tokyo dates and locations.
Cocktails
Low-Key Bar
A natural wine and low-ABV cocktail bar by the Meguro River. For those who want the craft without the alcohol intensity. Small menu with high quality standards throughout.
Cocktails
Bar Y
An unmarked door near the Tsutaya bookshop leads to an 8-seat counter bar with a rotating menu of cocktails built around Japanese botanicals. The crowd is creative and literary.