Sumptuous is the word for the Mandarin Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Nihonbashi. The interior by Ryu Kosaka, with richly tactile accents by textile designer Reiko Sudo, is chic and inviting, dominated by seductive earth tones. The scale of everything here, from the bathtub-sized chairs with gargantuan cushions to the fireplace that stretches nearly two floors to the ceiling, feels playfully large. The bar itself is rather spacious, with two main seating areas on either side of the central bar.

The extensive drinks menu - the wine list is its own separate tome - features original, mostly fruity, cocktails from Y1800. The Ancient City, a blend of tequila, Cointreau, and passion fruit, lacked impact but was greatly improved by an additional shot of tequila. There are flavored martinis to suit everyone's fancy, but the classic and dirty martinis (Y2100) can't be beat.

Malt whiskey by the glass (Y1995 - Y4000) and bottles of sake like Okunomatsu 88 Tokubetsu Junmai-shu (Y5040) and Tatsuriki Junmai Ginjo (Y12,600) are also available. Snacks from adjacent restaurants Sense and Signature can be ordered until 11:00.

The Mandarin Bar fills up after 8pm, so you may have to wait for a table. A live jazz band performs nightly for the relaxed and casual crowd, a mix of locals and visitors. No cover charge. [data]

The experience of walking into the bar at Peter, the Peninsula's much talked-about fusion restaurant, defies expectation. Design team Yabu Pushelberg has created a 21st-century fantasy of the '80s, a post-modern atmosphere filled with shiny surfaces and accents that seem lifted from the pages of a Bret Easton Ellis novel. Patrons lounge on pod-shaped seats beneath polished chrome trees, while ambient electronic music mingles with the soft glow of lavender neon from behind the black marble bar.

The drink menu lists beers from Y1100 - Ebisu draft and an organic pilsner from Hokkaido brewed exclusively for the hotel - and about twelve wines by the glass starting at Y1800. A range of malt whiskies (Y2600-) will please traditionalists, but those with a taste for fruity cocktails (Y1800-Y2200) will not be disappointed. The Yuri is a refreshing combination of sake and lychee-flavored Dita with a twist of green suidachi; this season's featured cocktail, the Tokyo Joe, is a mixture of Bombay Sapphire Gin, umeshu, Drambuie, and cranberry juice, named after the 1949 Humphrey Bogart flick. Nibbles can be ordered from the bar menu.

Friendly service and the absence of a cover charge are a plus, making Peter: The Bar a fun place for a drink and a great view of the city. [data]

Located in the lobby of the Conrad Hotel, TwentyEight is an oasis of muted monochromes with discrete edges. The bar's sleek design displays a tight graphic crispness, while linen shades and leather upholstery in shades of cream and brown impart a contrasting softness. When planning the interior for the Conrad, G.A. Design envisioned a garden of urban tranquility, and TwentyEight, with its soaring ceilings, angled skylights, and excellent views of Tokyo Bay, proves to be a relaxing spot in Shiodome.

Teatime is popular here, and the afternoon tea set (Y3500) arrives arranged on a frosted glass platter like an assortment of sweet and savory petit fours. A miniature scone with clotted cream and raspberry jam is light but satisfying, as is the grilled chicken canape with avocado cream.

Those in search of something stronger than tea can find signature cocktails from Y1700 like the Tei-en, an unusual combination of vodka mixed with cucumber, shiso, kiwi, and cardamom seed, and the French 28, a pleasant champagne-based number spiked with Tanqueray and lime leaf, in addition to Bombay Sapphire martinis (Y2000). Tapas like zuwaigani crab cakes and marinated beef shins with cucumber are available after 5:30 (Y2000 for a set of three).

Dusk is arguably the best time to visit TwentyEight; calm settles over the space as the sunlight fades and votive candles flicker to life. The scene gets busier in the evenings, when the after-work crowd rolls in and the live band strikes up, but beware the Y1800 seating charge after 8pm. [data]

Perched high above the city on the 45th floor of Tokyo Midtown's Ritz Carlton Hotel, the Lobby Bar overlooks Tokyo Tower and the surrounding area. Nestled in overstuffed chairs with pillows covered in candy-colored pastel silk, visitors can enjoy spectacular views while listening to live Bossa Nova from 2:30-midnight. The interior, designed by Frank Nicholson, is modern but traditional, with impressively high ceilings and amber wood walls illuminated by giant inverted-gumdrop lamps.

The decor may be understated, but the menu brims with over-the-top luxury. Although nothing says indulgence quite like the Diamond Is Forever Martini, a Belvedere vodka martini poured over a one carat diamond for Y1,800,000; the Lobster Martini topped with caviar and creme fraiche (Y7800) and WOW Burger made with 100% black Kobe beef (Y13,450) appear to speak a similarly decadent language.

More practically minded patrons can choose from beer at Y1200, wines by the glass starting at Y1800, cocktails from Y2000, and light bites like mixed pork and chicken skewers.

Arrive on the early side if you want a window seat - they are usually taken by 6pm. An entertainment charge of Y2500 applies after 8pm. [data]