Wine bar-restaurants
This section introduces wine-oriented restaurants and wine bars where the emphasis is on wine by the bottle rather than by the glass. Please see the wine bar page for places with a number of wines by the glass.
This wine bar with a view offers lunches from Y1500 and prix-fixe dinner menus from Y5000. The all-French wine list is quite extensive, ranging from Y4,000 - 99,000 per bottle.   Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-1, Sunshine 60, 59F. Open 11am-11:30pm daily. | |
A well-stocked wine shop with a decent cheese selection. There's a pretty good selection of wines by the glass at the tiny, five-seat bar area. Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-2, Sunshine City Alpa 1F. Open 10am-10pm daily. | |
An impressive selection of wines from around the world, varying from the reasonably priced to the very extravagant. They also do up a nice cheese platter. The atmosphere is more formal than average. Shinjuku 3-25-9, More Bldg. 5F. Open 6pm-4am. Closed Mondays. The smart interior here is a very Tokyo-exotic mix of baked-mud walls, heavy wooden furniture, and organic-looking extra-terrestrial lighting fixtures like something from the set of "Alien". But you're really here for the wine - over 100 different varieties, from all regions of Australia and New Zealand. [See FULL REVIEW.]  Shibuya 2-9-11, Aoyama City Bldg. B1F. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays. | |
UN Cafe (Omotesando - French). 5469-0275 A casual cafe where you can drop in anytime for a drink, a sandwich, or a full-course meal. The menu is California-style French, with both European and Asian touches. There's also a well-thought-out selection of wines at good prices. Jingumae 5-53-67. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO; 7pm Sundays) daily. One of Tokyo's older French wine bar-restaurants (now relocated to newer quarters), with a decent selection of French dishes to go with your chosen bottle. Minami-Aoyama 5-1-25, Kitamura Bldg B1F. (on Aoyama-dori a few doors down from Andersen) Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Az Finom (Jingumae 2-chome - Hungarian). 5913-8073 Well-prepared Hungarian food and an excellent selection of around 40-50 Hungarian wines, mostly under Y10,000 and mostly served by the glass. The dining space has an old-fashioned European air about it, with a big wide counter area, three tables and a tiny private room off to one side. Well-prepared Hungarian food and an excellent selection of around 40-50 Hungarian wines, mostly under Y10,000 and mostly served by the glass. The dining space has an old-fashioned European air about it, with a big wide counter area, three tables and a tiny private room off to one side.
Lunches are Y1200 (main course) and Y2500 (three courses), and feature dishes like sauteed sea bass, stuffed cabbage and chicken stew. There's a wider menu at dinner, with starters like foie gras, Hungarian salami, stuffed mushrooms and beef tartar, plus assorted soups. Budget around Y6000 for food and a few glasses of wine. [Show more] [Show less]  Jingumae 2-19-5, Azuma Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Arossa (Shibuya - Italian). 3469-0125 One of Tokyo's first Australian-only wine bars, with one of the largest selections of rare and expensive wines from that country. The food is mainly Italian, and consistently good. [See FULL REVIEW.] | |
This very popular after-work stand bar offers decent food and inexpensive wines. The atmosphere is lively and fun, although it can get rather smoky in the wintertime when the doors are closed. Sakuragaokacho 2-3. Open 5-11pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Diverta (Shibuya - Wine bar). 5468-0055 Small tapas dishes from Y300 and surprisingly good-value boutique wines from Y2000/bottle make this spacious bar a tempting spot to drop in for a quick drink and snack. Shibuya 3-26-25. Open 11:30am-midnight daily. | |
The owner of Grape Choice has an encyclopedic knowledge of wine, and his list covers France, Italy, Australia, California, Washington and even Japan, starting around Y5000-6000 and climbing rapidly. Food includes grilled meats and fish, and unusual items like pig's-foot croquettes, squid fritters and cheese fondue with organic vegetables. Budget around Y7000 for dinner with a few glasses of wine. It's a bit of a trek from the station to this dining bar on the border of Ebisu and Hiroo, but wine lovers will find it well worth the walk. The wine list boasts over 250 varieties from around the world - Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and even one from Lebanon - including an impressive selection from California and the Pacific Northwest. Prices by the bottle range from moderate (Y4800 for NV Sokol Blosser Evolution No. 12) to extravagant (Y210,000 for '79 Petrus). Around six wines are available by the glass; selections change daily.
The food menu bills itself as "Japanese-French," and features a number of tasty dishes to accompany the wine. Crispy croquettes filled with oozy, gelatinous pig's feet offer a delightful contrast of textures (Y600). Charcoal-grilled Hoei pork from Hokkaido comes with a small dish of mild vinegar and fresh organic vegetables. The fat from the succulent lamb chop with thyme is removed and grilled separately. Meat can be ordered in two sizes: regular or half portions.
The space is elegant and intimate, service professional but unpretentious. The small private rooms seem to be the default option for seating; there's also a comfortable counter overlooking the kitchen area plus a few more tables. [Show more] [Show less]  Hiroo 5-22-3, Hiroo Nishigawa Bldg B1F. Open 6pm-2am (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Tucked into a quiet Ebisu back street, Aotea Rangi is one of the few places in town where you can experience the charms of genuine New Zealand cuisine. At first glance the small restaurant looks like an Italian trattoria with terrace seating, but once you're inside the atmosphere seem more like a casual cafe-bar. The lighting is soft and the mood is relaxed. Service is attentive, and the staff is more than ready to help you with the extensive New Zealand wine list. [See FULL REVIEW.] Ebisu 1-21-18. Open 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays. | |
Le Lion (Ebisu - Wine bar). 3445-8131 With its red leather upholstered seats and wood and brass fixtures, Le Lion offers a little slice of Lyon on the backstreets of Ebisu. Welcoming staff, covered terrace seating, and excellently prepared brasserie - or, rather, bouchon - fare make this cafe/wine bar a lovely place for a casual meal or late-afternoon tipple. With its red leather upholstered seats and wood and brass fixtures, Le Lion offers a little slice of Lyon on the backstreets of Ebisu. Welcoming staff, covered terrace seating, and excellently prepared brasserie - or, rather, bouchon - fare make this cafe/wine bar a lovely place for a casual meal or late-afternoon tipple.
Wines are available by the glass (selections change daily) from around Y700 and the bottle from Y4600. They serve drinks and light bites like creamy rillette (Y600), decadently silky goose liver pate (Y800), and fluffy stuffed omelets (Y850-) all day.
Dinner service starts at 6pm, when they bring out the chalkboard announcing the specials of the day. Portions are hefty and meant for sharing; individual dishes come out one at a time, so it's best to come with a small group and a big appetite. [Show more] [Show less] Ebisu 1-21-16. Open noon-11:15pm (LO; -5:15pm Sun ). Open every day. | |
 Amandine (Ebisu - International). 5728-4552 This comfortable, luxuriously spacious restaurant is designed around a "Napa Valley" theme and offers a big list of Napa wines. The food is first-rate international cuisine, and while many other wine-oriented restaurants in town focus heavily on the higher-priced bottles, C'zon offers a big selection of wines in the Y3000-6000 range as well as more expensive choices. No smoking in the main dining room. (Formerly named C'zon.) [See FULL REVIEW.] Ebisu-Nishi 2-10-10, Elegante Vita Nacora 2F. Open 11:30am-midnight daily. | |
Cicada (Nishi-Azabu - Mediterranean). 5447-5522 Mediterranean-inspired foods and drink from Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco, from TY Harbor chef David Chiddo. Enjoy one of Tokyo's friendliest wine lists; the bar is open late. [See FULL REVIEW.] | |
Hearty, authentic French country-style cooking. There's a small wine bar at the entrance where you can stop for a glass or two along with snacks like raw oysters and venison carpaccio. [See FULL REVIEW.] Hiroo 5-17-11. Open noon-2, 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays. | |
Modern French cooking and an impressive wine cellar (not just French). Three-course dinners from Y3,900; wine by the glass Y600-1,200, bottles from Y5,000. Takanawa 2-5-6. Open 6-11:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays, some Sun. Service is friendly, and staff are ready to help you choose from among the twenty wines by the glass, mostly from Roussillon, Langedouc and other southwestern French regions. The bar menu offers wine-compatible nibbles like a tasty rillette sandwich, or you can explore the more serious restaurant menu. [See FULL REVIEW.] Azabu-Juban 2-14-2. Open 11:30am-3, 6-11pm (LO) daily. | |
Decanter (Akabanebashi - Steak house). 4588-0675 Decanter is an international steakhouse with a distinctively modern sensibility. Chef David Ueno's menu is smart and engaging, with entertaining appetizers and first-rate steaks and chops. The gorgeous setting feels more like a stylish lounge or club than a tradtional stuffy dining room - there's sophisticated lighting, cool music on a professional sound system, and a very impressive city view. [See FULL REVIEW.] Azabudai 2-1-2. Open 6-10pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Very casual bistro-style fare and a good variety of wines from southern France - they import their own wines and many are available by the glass. The chef is Philippe Batton, formerly of Le Petit Bedon in Daikanyama, and the atmosphere is authentically French. [Go to branch review] Toranomon 2-1-1. Open 11:30am-3, 6-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Grilled seafood and steaks from Oregon. Charcoal-grilled dry-aged steaks start at Y3800; there's also a nice selection of Oregon wines. [See FULL REVIEW.] Higashi-Shimbashi 1-5-2, Shiodome City Center 42F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily. | |
Arossa (Ginza - New Zealand). 5524-1146 This New Zealand wine bar and restaurant is a branch of the popular Australian wine bar in Shibuya. The cellar offers more than 200 different New Zealand wines, and the kitchen focuses on grilled grass-fed lamb and beef as well as traditional Maori "hangi" dishes. Lunch from Y1000, prix-fixe dinner Y5000, plus a la carte. [Go to branch review] | |
The small, bistro-style ground-floor dining room serves a Y4,800 prix fixe dinner until 10pm (last order). There's also a second-floor wine bar with an a la carte snack menu available till 2am. Saturday lunch starts at Y1800. Ginza 2-5-6. Open 5:30pm-2am (noon-midnight Sat.). Closed Sundays. | |
"French barbecue" is the specialty here - basically kushiyaki with French names. Charcoal-grilled pork and chicken parts on skewers are served alongside excellent pate, foie gras, and pot-au-feu (amusingly described as French oden). The respectable in-house French wine list is supplemented by the book-size menu from sister restaurant Aux Amis des Vins just around the corner. Wine prices range from budget-friendly to stratospheric, and the multi-course set dinners (Y2800/Y4000) are a good deal. Seating is at the counter, with one small table in the back. Ginza 4-3-4. Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
Cardenas (Ginza - International). 5537-5011 After branching out into charcoal-grilled meats, Chinese fusion and seafood, Cardenas has gone back to their California-inspired roots with this high-rise branch, a welcome addition to late-night Ginza dining. Upmarket French wines and excellent country-style French cooking; chef Masashi Hadachi (formerly of Aux Bacchannales in Harajuku) is in charge of the kitchen. The bistrot-style setting is casual, occasionally cramped. Y4500 prix-fixe for three courses in the evening. Their afternoon cafe menu (2-6pm), featuring sandwiches, steak frites and other light fare, is worth knowing about if you're in need of a late lunch in this neighborhood. Marunouchi 3-3-1, Shin-Tokyo Bldg. 1F. Open 8am-midnight (from 11am weekends). Open every day. | |
French-style Japanese kushiyaki (or is it the other way around?) - charcoal-grilled pork and other meats, with some French dishes like pot-au-feu. The French wine list is very large. Marunouchi 3-3-1, Shin-Tokyo Bldg. B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
A souped-up branch of Aux Amis des Vins, one of Ginza's best French wine bars, with a high-octane view. Dinnertime set menus start at Y6300, lunches from Y1800. | |
Sant Pau (Nihonbashi - Spanish). 3517-5700 Serious Catalan cuisine in this fancy Tokyo branch of Chef Carme Ruscalleda's famous Barcelona restaurant. The tasting menu is Y21,000, and main dishes run around Y7000 each. (The lunchtime "quick menu" is Y8000.) There's a more informal wine bar downstairs, with some 350 varieties of mostly Spanish wines and a light tapas menu. (Wine bar open to 1am; on Sundays only the wine bar is open.) | |
Da Salice (Yotsuya 3-chome - Wine bar). 6457-8983 This small neighborhood counter-only bar offers over 200 French, Spanish and Italian wines by the bottle. There's also a good daily selection of wines by the glass, priced from Y600. The Italian-inspired food menu includes light antipasti, daily meat, fish and pasta dishes, and a special uni spaghetti; budget around Y2000-3500 for food at dinnertime. Weekday-only lunch is Y850. Arakicho 1-2. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
A tapas bar with Spanish wines. Kagurazaka 3-1. Open 5:30pm-4am. Closed Sundays. Bistro-style food from Petit Bedon chef Philippe Batton (including perfect duck confit and world-class roast potatoes), plus an eye-opening selection of wines from southern France, with many choices available by the glass. [See FULL REVIEW.] Kudan-Kita 1-10-2. Open 11:30am-3, 6-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Exciting, well-centered modern American cuisine - drawing on European and middle Eastern and Asian influences - from this bayside brewpub. The wine list is fantastic, with good values at every price level. This bayside brewpub features some of the most exciting food in town - well-centered modern American cuisine drawing from European, middle Eastern and Asian influences.
Service is attentive but also personal. The stylishly decorated dining room features an ever-changing art collection, and it's positively cavernous (by Tokyo standards) and mostly tobacco-free. There's also an outdoor terrace looking out over a picturesquely urban canal, with heating in winter.
The Y980 sampler of four microbrew beers is a fun way to start off, but don't neglect the excellent wine list, which offers very good values at every price level. Dinner with drinks ranges from Y4,000-Y8,000 per person. [Show more] [Show less] | |
Sympa (Ogikubo - Wine bar). 3220-2888 This wine-bar restaurant is run by the chef from the old Dominus wine bar (which used to occupy this space) along with a new sommelier. Ogikubo 5-16-23, B1F. Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Wednesdays. Teppen (Sangenjaya - Italian). 6805-5773 This friendly wine bar has a lively atmosphere and a neighborhood feel. Although interior is fairly large (and certainly bigger than it appears from the entrance), the counter setup with its display of tapas-style daily specials gives it a cozy feeling. This friendly wine bar has a lively atmosphere and a neighborhood feel. Although interior is fairly large (and certainly bigger than it appears from the entrance), the counter setup with its display of tapas-style daily specials gives it a cozy feeling.
The daily menu features well-prepared Italian-Mediterranean trattoria fare like home-made ratatouille, escabeche of sardines, steamed mussels, and an acqua pazza of the day. There's a selection of organic wines from Italy, France and Japan, with around ten by the glass.
The dining room is non-smoking until around 12:30am; after that it's "bar time" with a more limited food menu until 4am. [Show more] [Show less] Sangenjaya 2-14-19. Open 6pm-4am (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Trois (Sangenjaya - French). 3419-0330 Trois offers a good selection of reasonably priced wines from around the world, including many organic and biodynamic varieties. The food menu offers country-style French dishes like lamb chops and pork spareribs served cassoulet-style, and a very meaty Venison Parmentier stewed in red-wine sauce and served with mashed potatoes. Trois offers a good selection of reasonably priced wines from around the world, including many organic and biodynamic varieties.
The food menu offers country-style French dishes like lamb chops and pork spareribs served cassoulet-style, and a very meaty Venison Parmentier stewed in red-wine sauce and served with mashed potatoes. The interior is chic in a minimalist way, with big windows providing a good view of the comings and goings in Sangenjaya's nighttime drinking zone. [Show more] [Show less] Sangenjaya 2-15-14, ABC Bldg 110. Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
Zizi (Yokohama Sta. - Wine bar). 045-311-6770 A small Italian wine bar with food. Full-course dinners are Y3000. Sengencho 1-4-9. (About 10 minutes from Yokohama station) Open 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
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