"Chilling in Tokyo" bar and cafe listings for the Ebisu area.
Ebisu east side
Salads, ethnic-style dishes and other light fare are served along with coffee and cocktails. Located in the Liquid Room concert space, the cafe also hosts small musical events of its own. Free wi-fi access.   Higashi 3-16-6, Liquid Room 2F. Open 11:30am-11:30pm daily. | |
Coci (Ebisu - Italian). 3442-5151 This stylish two-story cafe-bar looks like a ski chalet that's been sliced along the diagonal, with big windows looking out over the picturesque (at least at night) Shibuya River. Stop in for a late-night drink (there's plenty of reasonably priced wine by the glass or bottle) or a full meal. No cover charge.This stylish two-story cafe-bar looks like a ski chalet that's been sliced along the diagonal, with big windows looking out over the picturesque (at least at night) Shibuya River. Stop in for a late-night drink - there's plenty of reasonably priced wine by the glass or bottle - or a full meal.
The menu is a mix of creative Mediterranean (brussels sprouts stuffed with seafood; pork-belly rilettes) and Thai classics (Isan sausage; green papaya salad). No cover charge; budget around Y3500 for dinner. [Show more] [Show less] | |
A second branch of the popular cafe, with late-night hours, good food, and good prices. (Formerly called Lenox Saloon.) Voco (Ebisu - Wine bar). 3447-8929 Wood-fired thin-crust pizzas for Y500 and wines by the bottle from Y1900 at at this sister shop of Shibuya's Cona. | |
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. | |
This tiny Ebisu standing bar looks as though it's been plucked from the backstreets of Barcelona. Choose from a variety of tapas like bacon-wrapped dates or jamon iberico to snack on as you sip on a glass of wine (Y500-) or fino sherry (Y600-). Ebisu 1-12-5. Open 5:30pm-midnight (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.] | |
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] | |
Ippo (Ebisu - Izakaya). 3445-8418 If it weren't for the illuminated sign advertising "Fish and Sake" in English, you might have trouble finding this second-story hideaway in Ebisu. The interior is modestly appointed with a few small tables around a long wooden counter. This understated approach to decor reflects the bar's no-frills philosophy. They specialize in two things: fresh fish and sake. If it weren't for the illuminated sign advertising, "Fish and Sake" in English, you might have trouble finding this second-story hideaway in Ebisu. The interior is modestly appointed with a few small tables around a long wooden counter. This understated approach to decor reflects the bar's no-frills philosophy. They specialize in two things: fresh fish and sake.
The fish comes directly from Tsukiji every day. Seasonal specials change frequently, but standards like the fuwa-fuwa satsuma age (Y650), fried fish cakes, and the namero (Y950) - raw fish minced with herbs - are available all year round and come highly recommended. The fluffy and delicate satsuma age release a tiny puff of air as you bite into them. The namero offers a contrast of intense flavors - bright versus briny - in each mouthful.
The sake menu (in Japanese and English) features over fifty varieties and changes with the seasons. Along with big names like Kudoki Jozu and Hiroki are lesser-known producers like Shinkame, and even smaller producers like Mutsuhassen. The friendly but unobtrusive staff can help you make you make a selection. Sake is available in two sizes, 120ml (Y500-) and 180ml (Y750-). If, for some reason, you decide not to have sake, the bar also serves shochu and awamori (about twelve varieties). [Show more] [Show less] Ebisu 1-22-10, Kamasuya 2F. Open 6pm-1am (LO) daily. | |
Teras (Ebisu - Cafe). 5420-7204 This quiet spot, with its Spanish tile tables, wooden-framed glass doors, and cream-colored walls, resembles a Balinese resort. Sink into a wicker chair and sip on a cool glass of fresh fruit juice. Ebisu 4-8-10. Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
A very French-style multi-story cafe with a relaxed atmosphere; they serve light food items and desserts as well as coffee and drinks. | |
This airy, open-plan bar serves several wines by the glass, four beers on tap (including the excellent Edelpils), and a limited menu of raw oysters (Y1000 for 3), shrimp cocktails, sausages and ceviche. Ebisu 4-20-4, Yebisu Garden Place Glass Square B1F. Open 3-10:30pm (LO), from 11am Sat/Sun daily. | |
At first glance this looks like an ordinary museum cafe, but Claire is worth knowing about for their surprising selection of Belgian beers, one of the best in Ebisu. The cafe is split into two sections on separate floors of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography; the upstairs section is a bit nicer. Meguro-ku, Mita 1-13-3, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. Open 10am-8pm. Closed Mondays. | |
Ebisu west side
 Amandine (Ebisu - International). 5728-4552 The atmosphere at this California wine bar and restaurant is one of relaxed sophistication. The bar area near the entrance, with its salmon-tinted walls and white couches, puts you in mind of a beachside resort. The (non-smoking) dining area is tastefully appointed with wide wicker seats and sleek, dark wooden tables facing the open kitchen. The glass-encased wine cellar offers a glimpse of more than 200 varieties of wine, while a blackboard along one wall announces the specials of the day. The menu includes an array of wine-friendly appetizers like homemade country pate with foie gras, and several kinds of salumi. The extensive wine list features wines mostly from California and the Pacific Northwest. More than ten are available by the glass (Y750 -), and prices by the bottle are quite reasonable, starting at Y3000. [See FULL REVIEW.] Ebisu-Nishi 2-10-10, Elegante Vita Nacora 2F. Open 11:30am-midnight daily. | |
Enjoy the mini-forest of bonsai trees while you relax with a cocktail or a New Zealand wine in this tiny, charmingly quirky early-evening bar. Ebisu-Nishi 2-8-9, Daikanyama Takara Bldg III, 4F. Open 8pm-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
Cafe Heavens serves up solid bistro fare at friendly prices all day (lunch 11-4, dinner til 11) in a fun and lively atmosphere. The drinks list includes a good selection of organic wines. Large, colorful paintings adorn the walls, and the space has an airy, northern California feel. | |
The atmosphere at this legendary hipster hangout is funky to the extreme, with raggedy old sofas barely visible in the dim light through a haze of incense. The music is great though - experimental jazz, contemporary electronic and everything in between, depending on the DJ and the night. No cover or table charge. Ebisu-Nishi 2-9-9, 2F. Open 1pm-2am (-4am Fri/Sat). Closed Mondays. | |
It's easy to appreciate the beauty of Bar Guapos, where Y1500 is enough for a glass of tinto or blanco and one or two tasty tapas. There are about fifteen Spanish wines on the drink list, plus a number of Sherries. It's easy to appreciate the beauty of Bar Guapos, where Y1500 is enough for a glass of tinto or blanco and one or two tasty tapas. A complimentary dish of grana cheese, scooped directly out of the gigantic wheel on the counter, will give you something to nibble on as your contemplate your next order. There are about fifteen Spanish wines on the drink list, plus a number of Sherries.
Check out the daily specials written on a blackboard at the back of the bar, or stick with the favorites on the regular food menu. Stuffed mushrooms arrive sizzling in their ceramic dish; adorable ham croquettes come topped with a dab of tomato sauce. Burnt-orange walls and flamenco music add to the Iberian flavor, but you don't have to habla Espanol to get a drink: the affable bartender speaks very fluent English. There are a few seats, but it's mostly standing. [Show more] [Show less] | |
A mere two minutes from Ebisu station, this comfy hide-away will make you feel right at home. Retro velour-covered sofas and a row of giant airplane windows overlooking the street below add a splash of nostalgia. Open til 4am on weekends. Ebisu-Nishi 1-8-2-207. Open 11:30am-midnight (4am Fri, Sat) daily. | |
This stylish little late-night stand-up bar serves a nice variety of hot and cold Spanish tapas and pinchos (small snacks on bread), along with Spanish wines. Most food items are Y250-500, with wines from Y400/glass. | |
Buri (Ebisu - Bar). 3496-7744 This stand-up bar specializes in one-cup sake from around the country; the selection perhaps isn't as exciting as a regular sake bar, but the atmosphere is convivial and the shop makes a good first stop on an Ebisu tour. | |
Whether you're an abstemious vegetarian or a shameless hedonist, a meal at Asante Sana will leave you feeling positively virtuous. Attached to a store selling Asian imports, all-natural soaps, and organic food items, this tiny cafe off the beaten track near Yebisu Garden Place takes a holistic approach to natural living. [See FULL REVIEW.] Meguro-ku, Mita 2-7-10-102. Open 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays. | |
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: Good view
: Outdoor/ open-air seating
: Dogs allowed
: Notable decor
