Whether with dates, friends, or on your own, you should choose a bar with a great atmosphere and incredible drinks. These Tokyo bars deliver on every occasion!
諸橋 美佳 - Staff Writer•
Table Of Contents
- Tokyo bars ranked amongst Asia’s 50 Best Bars
- Tokyo bars where you can enjoy great music
Tokyo’s vast size and vibrant nightlife means you’ll never be too far from a bar, but if you want to make your night truly special, we’ve rounded up some of the the best bars in Tokyo to visit. Some have been voted amongst the best bars in Asia, whilst others offer great music and good times. Whatever the case, you’re sure to find your ideal spot here.
Tokyo bars ranked amongst Asia’s 50 Best Bars
Asia’s 50 Best Bars are voted on by 260 members of the bar industry, media, and mixology experts from across Asia. In the last ranking announced on July 18, 2023, the following five bars from Tokyo scored highly.
1. Bar Benfiddich
Ranked #4 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, this bar in Nishi-Shinjuku is a great place to meet new people. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2023, and followed up with that top-five finish in Asia soon after. There are many restaurants that claim to be farm to table, but Hiroyasu Shikayama, a farmer-bartender who owns his own farm, is a proponent of “farm to glass”.
9F Daiwa-ke Bldg., 1-13-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
2. The SG Club
This is the first bar in Shibuya in Japan to be opened by Shingo Gokan, who founded SG Group in 2014 after winning the Bacardi Legacy co*cktail Competition of 2012. The SG Club is an acronym for “Sip” and “Guzzle” (and they’re also the initials of the owner). Each of the three floors offers a slightly different drinks menu, and it took 14th place on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
1-7-8 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
3. VIRTÙ
Located on the 39th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi, the bar’s theme focuses on the intersection of French and Japanese drinking cultures. The Art Deco interior and a 10-meter, 16-seat communal table in the centre of the restaurant create a cosy atmosphere. All this, plus a great lineup of drinks, helped it earn the #20 spot amongst Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi 39F, 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
4. High Five
High Five first made the “World’s 50 Best Bars” list in 2011. A truly international joint, there are always three or four languages spoken in this Ginza bar. The current mixologist is Kari Kurakami, who holds a venenciador certification from the Spanish government and therefore knows his sherry very well. It ranked #45 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023.
Efflore Ginza 5 Building B1F, 5-4-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
5. The Bellwood
Open from 9:00a.m. to 9:00 p.m., this Shibuya bar also offers morning and lunch hours, so you can enjoy food as well. In the back of the restaurant is a four-seat sushi bar, where head chef Ayaka Terai serves creative nigiri along with co*cktails that are not on the bar’s main menu. At #49 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, it just made the cut, but should never be underrated.
41-31 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo bars where you can enjoy great music
Some long-established music bars have an atmosphere that makes it difficult for anyone but regular customers to enter. The appeal of the five bars recommended here is their friendly, easy-going atmosphere and the vinyl record music played on their carefully selected sound system. As some of the most welcoming bars in Tokyo, they’re recommended for newcomers looking for a new favourite.
6. A10
A modern record bar opened in 2021, marked by coin-operated lockers in front of the Lawson Ebisu-Nishi 1-chome store. Downstairs, you will find a space that’s perfect for a date with soul and jazz playing in the background. Enjoy expertly-mixed co*cktails and music from the bar’s vast collection of vinyl records.
Bios Building B1F, 1-12-11 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
7. epulor
A music café bar located a 5-minute walk from Nakameguro Station. In a space where jazz, rock, electro, and classical music is played on vinyl records, customers can enjoy specialty coffee from carefully selected roasters during the day and wine at night. There is also a gallery corner for art lovers.
Senario Aobadai 1F, 1-19-10 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
8. GINZA MUSIC BAR
A bar in Ginza by Shinichi Osawa, a music producer who produces and remixes for artists in Japan and abroad, and Nobuhiro Toba, a coffee producer. You can enjoy over 3,000 analog records, including not only rock, jazz, and soul, but also hip hop, techno, and more, on a top-of-the-line sound system.
Brown Place 4F, 7-8-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
9. No Room For Squares
As the name “No Room For Squares” suggests, this Shimokitazawa jazz bar is easy to enter for beginners. Jazz music is played from vinyl records on weekdays, and live jazz performances are held every weekend. There is no drink menu; instead, tell the bartender your taste and mood, and they’ll find the perfect drink for you.
Housing Kitazawa Building II 4F, 2-1-7 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
10. MUSIC BAR berkana
MUSIC BAR berkana is an excellent bar located at the BRICK END section of Yebisu Garden Place. The 11-meter bar counter extending all the way to the window overlooks the JR Yamanote Line. The atmosphere of an authentic bar is also appealing, with eight varieties of craft beer, mostly domestic, available at any given time.
Yebisu Garden Place Brick End, 1-13-4 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Check out our guide to even more places in Tokyo to listen to live music.
