"Chilling in Tokyo" bar and cafe listings for the Shibuya area.
Shibuya (west)
Moph (Shibuya - Cafe). 5456-8244
A stylish cafe at the base of Parco serving Spanish-style tapas, coffee in the daytime and Spanish wines in the evening.
Udagawacho 15-1, Parco Pt. I, 1F. Open 10am-midnight daily.
Frames (Shibuya - Cafe). 6415-6822
They bill themselves as an oasis of quiet in the midst of Shibuya's shopping neighborhood, with pretty good food and late-night hours.
[Go to branch review] A spacious, stylish cafe with a refreshingly grown-up atmosphere in Shibuya, serving organic food and wine. Fifteen wines are available by the bottle, priced Y2800-7800, along with nine varieties of sake and a big selection of liqueurs and cocktails. You can also find flavored lattes and teas, plus sandwiches, desserts and light snacks.
Udagawacho 2-1, Shibuya Homes B1F. Open noon-11pm. Closed Mondays.
This stylish basement bar has one of the best selections of US microbrews in Japan. You'll also find some good Japanese craft beers and an impressive selection of bourbon whisky. Nineteen beers are on draft, with many more by the bottle. The food menu is light and casual bar fare, but well above average. Background music is a bouncy mix of hiphop and R&B. (Open from 3pm weekends.)
Jinnan 1-13-10, B1F. Open 5pm-midnight. Closed Mondays.
Tucked away on a quiet side street near the Ward Office, Zarigani has a hip, Bohemian atmosphere far removed from the department-store shopping scene just a few blocks away. The music is bouncy and energetic, and the casual menu includes interesting original curries (we can recommend the green curry) as well as cocktails, teas and coffee.
Udagawacho 6-11. Open noon-11:30pm daily.
This modern Japanese dining bar, styled after an Englishman's abode, is still more Tokyo lounge than Nottingham cottage, despite the oversized leather sofas and antique typewriter. The vibe is chill, and at night the lighting is dim enough to flatter just about anyone.
Udagawacho 17-1, Shibuya Plaza Bldg 7F. Open noon-5, 6pm-1am daily.
BiOcafe (Shibuya - Cafe). 5428-3322
Organic coffee and tea, breads made with 100% natural yeast, and a completely smoke-free environment - Bio Cafe provides body and mind a bit of respite in junk-food-glutted Shibuya. With its soft-spoken staff and walls that fade from fuchsia to pearly pink, this quiet little cafe along Spain-zaka attracts a stylish, almost exclusively female crowd. Organic coffee and tea, breads made with 100% natural yeast, and a completely smoke-free environment - Bio Cafe provides body and mind a bit of respite in junk-food-glutted Shibuya. With its soft-spoken staff and walls that fade from fuchsia to pearly pink, this quiet little cafe along Spain-zaka attracts a stylish, almost exclusively female crowd.
The front of the shop is a bakery selling fresh breads and pastries. In the afternoon, the cafe is full of ladies who come for the quick and healthy business lunch plate (Y980, until 3pm). At night, the dinner menu brims with salubrious intentions, featuring prix fixe menus designed to beautify the skin (Y3100) and prevent metabolic syndrome (Y3400).
If all the tofu dips, fresh juices, and low-cal desserts start to make you feel like a sinner among saints, fear not. The drink menu offers a selection of reasonably priced Italian wines (Y1900-5000 per bottle) and mixed drinks, like the vitamin-packed organic tomato cocktail (with blood orange juice and Cointreau, Y750) and the mojito-garnished with organic mint (Y650). [Show more] [Show less] This cozy Shibuya hangout has a homey feel - literally. The cafe's six sections are all decorated to look like the rooms of a house. Make yourself comfortable in the bedroom, kitchen, or children's room and have a drink or a bite to eat.
Viron (Shibuya - Bakery). 5458-1770
Great French cafe-style sandwiches, quiches and pastries to take out; there's also a pleasant cafe upstairs.
Udagawacho 33-8. Open 9am-10pm daily.
French-style cafe beverages and pastries. The courtyard seating is unusual in that you're in the basement of the Bunkamura complex, but still out under the open sky. (Indoor seating also available.)
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.]
Shoto 1-26-22. Open 6pm-2am daily.
Dexee is known for their good, inexpensive food as well as the drinks selection. There's a big library of magazines to browse through.
Shoto 1-4-8. (on the back road that runs from Tomigaya to Tokyu Honten, a couple of blocks before Tokyu) Open noon-4am daily.
Despite its tiny size (just seven seats) and hard-to-find location, Los Barbados offers an impressive list of premium rums and a surprisingly diverse food menu, along with an excellent Afropop soundtrack. Despite its tiny size (just seven seats) and hard-to-find location, Los Barbados offers an impressive list of premium rums and a surprisingly diverse food menu, along with an excellent Afropop soundtrack.
The food menu features nicely prepared, down-home dishes from Cameroon and Senegal, Morocco and Lebanon, Portugal and the Caribbean - everything from kofta kebabs and Basque-style omelettes to Senegalese peanut-fish stew with fufu. If you're not in the mood for rum you can choose from inexpensive wines (priced from Y1500/carafe), sherry, port and Basque liqueurs. [Show more] [Show less] Udagawacho 41-26, Papier Bldg #104. Open 11:45am-1am. Closed Sundays.
Cona (Shibuya - Wine bar). 3770-5729
It's hard to beat the prices at this casual wine bar in Shibuya. All of the 70+ varieties of wine are available for Y1900. Choose your own bottle from the small glass cellar, or ask for recommendations from the knowledgeable young staff. It's hard to beat the prices at this casual wine bar in Shibuya. All of the 70+ varieties of wine are available for Y1900. Choose your own bottle from the small glass cellar, or ask for recommendations from the knowledgeable young staff.
Thin-crust pizzas come with a variety of toppings (garlic and chorizo, bacon and asparagus, prosciutto and soft-boiled egg) and all can be had for Y500. The space is small and it's standing room only, so try their sister shops Kuni or Voco if you want to sit. Drinks are half price during happy hour from 2pm - 6pm. There's no charge before 6pm, but after that it's Y300 per person. (Open from 4pm weekends.) [Show more] [Show less] Kuni (Shibuya - Wine bar). 6415-4592
A slightly more upscale relative of the wine bar Cona that features a standing area on the ground floor, a wine bar on the second, and table seating on the third. All pizza and pasta dishes are Y1000.
Legato (Shibuya - International). 5784-2121
This international restaurant includes a spacious and popular bar with a good wine list and an excellent nighttime view of Shibuya.
Buchi (Shibuya - Izakaya). 5728-2085
This is the original gourmet stand bar that started the trend - they serve premium sake in attractive one-cup containers along with a huge menu of well-prepared food, all at reasonable prices. There's a sit-down restaurant down in the basement if you start to get wobbly.
[Go to branch review] Madrid (Shibuya - Spanish). 5459-5507
A two-story late-night Spanish bar and restaurant, with your choice of bar snacks and wines or a complete Spanish meal. The upstairs restaurant has a nice selection of charcoal-grilled meats.
If you're thirsty for a cachaca cocktail in the wee hours of the night, follow the circle-stamped road past Mark City to Blen Blen Blen. This bone fide Brazilian bar, tucked into a faded white seventies-style building in Dogenzaka 1-chome, seats a maximum of thirty and stays open til 4am.If you're thirsty for a cachaca cocktail in the wee hours of the night, follow the circle-stamped road past Mark City to Blen Blen Blen. This bone fide Brazilian bar, tucked into a faded white seventies-style building in Dogenzaka 1-chome, seats a maximum of thirty and stays open til 4am.
Despite its difficult-to-find location and somewhat forbidding exterior, the space is cute and relaxed, decorated with colorful posters and knick-knacks of all sorts. The Brazilian flag hangs proudly on one wall, while shelves stacked with vinyl records stand beside the bar.
Take a seat and have a chat with Blen Blen Blen's gregarious master, Jukukuchi-san, while you snack on cocinias (Brazilian style chicken croquettes) or grilled chicken and corazon (hearts) and sip on your drink.
The Caipirinhas here are refreshingly tart, and the musical mix of Brazilian, soul, hip-hop, and R&B is fun and funky. The bar hosts DJ and movie events on weekends. [Show more] [Show less] Mary Jane (Shibuya - Jazz kissaten). 3461-3381
You'll hear all sorts of jazz here, with an emphasis on the lastest CDs from American and European musicians. Besides the great music you can also enjoy good food - they serve delicious soups and risotto at dinnertime, and five different pastas at lunch (Y1000 including coffee or tea). You'll hear all sorts of jazz here, with an emphasis on the lastest CDs from American and European musicians. Besides the great music you can also enjoy good food - they serve delicious soups and risotto at dinnertime, and five different pastas at lunch (Y1000 including coffee or tea).
The spacious room is furnished with stylish green sofas, and this is a pleasant place to dine while listening to jazz. There's a Y500 table charge at dinnertime. Three minutes walk from the south exit of Shibuya station. [Show more] [Show less] Sakuragaokacho 2-3, 2F. Open noon-11pm (Fri -midnight) daily.
Cantik (Shibuya - Cafe). 5728-6228
Tiki-torch lights, wooden patio furniture, and covered terrace seating conduce to a beach-bungalow atmosphere at this dog-friendly cafe. The "Healthy Plate" for dogs (Y480) includes a chicken and vegetable main dish, some soft beef jerky and a milk-flavored bone for chewing on. C
The food here is basic Italian-International fare, and lunch (served till 3pm) includes a buffet of side dishes - Y1000 with main course, Y1500 with main, dessert and coffee. The dinner menu includes rotisserie-grilled meats, pastas and pizzas.
Tio Tio (Shibuya - Spanish). 5458-4188
This cute and casual tapas bar is popular with the after-work crowd in Shibuya. Start with a glass of fino sherry or a copa de cava for Y500 and ask the staff to shave a few slices off the joint of Jamon Serrano proudly displayed on the counter. Wines by the glass change daily. A few seats are available around the bar, but the front is standing room only.
Sakuragaokacho 16-7, Suzuki Bldg 1F. Open 5:30pm-2:30am. Closed Sundays.
Cabotte (Shibuya - Wine bar). 3462-7790
Well off the beaten track in Sakuragaokacho, this cozy little wine bar is a nice place to share a bottle with friends on a rainy evening. There's no wine list - the owner will choose something for you based on your preferences and budget. Wines by the glass are available from Y800, bottles from Y4200. Well off the beaten track in Sakuragaokacho, this cozy little wine bar is a nice place to share a bottle with friends on a rainy evening. There's no wine list - the owner will choose something for you based on your preferences and budget. Wines by the glass are available from Y800, bottles from Y4200.
Food is limited to snacks and small bites: assorted charcuterie, marinated vegetables, potato and tuna salad. While dishes such as garlic-sauteed shrimp and grilled chicken wings (seasoned differently to pair with red or white wine) are surprisingly tasty, they emerge from the tiny kitchen with glacier-like speed. [Show more] [Show less]
East Side
The Buri group run a couple of popular standup sake bars (Buchi in Shibuya, Buri in Ebisu), and now they've opened a standup French bistrot, with similarly inexpensive food and 100 different wines. If you get tired of standing there's also a sit-down restaurant in back; snacks up front average around Y700, with main courses in the restaurant averaging Y1500. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Respekt (Shibuya - Cafe). 6418-8144
Cheap prices, stylish decor, good music and a bustling atmosphere have drawn crowds of hip young patrons to this sprawling cafe space in a trendy corner of Shibuya. The kitchen offers entertaining variations on standard cafe fare - Vietnamese sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, rice bowls, and salads - along with some decent California wines by the bottle and a big cocktail list.
This stylishly retro watering hole in Shibuya serves original cocktails crafted with precision and panache. Bartender Shinobu Ishigaki has a winning way with unusual flavor combinations and mixes fruits, vegetables, and herbs into his drinks.This stylishly retro watering hole in Shibuya serves original cocktails crafted with precision and panache. Bartender Shinobu Ishigaki has a winning way with unusual flavor combinations and mixes fruits, vegetables, and herbs into his drinks.
Ishigaki puts a fresh twist on the standard gin and tonic with the addition of cucumber slices, and he finishes his Cosmopolitans with rose petals. Martinis get a spicy lift from basil or gingerbread syrup. Although an evening at Ishinohana is not cheap - drinks cost Y1,500 on average - Ishigaki's flawless technique and gracious hospitality make the experience worth every yen. [Show more] [Show less] Shibuya 3-6-2, B1F. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
As the name indicates, vintage designer chairs are the defining feature of this funky cafe situated between Shibuya and Aoyama. They serve crepes, sandwiches, and a variety of pasta and rice dishes, but it's worth a visit just to perch for an hour on that Eames or Le Corbusier that you've always wanted but could never afford.
Shibuya 3-1-9. Open 11:30am-10pm. Closed Saturdays.
Belgo (Shibuya - Belgian rest/beer bar). 3409-4442
A comfortably cozy little hideaway bar with multi-level seating nooks. Pick your own bottle from the big selection of Belgian and German brews in the refrigerator case. The food menu is limited to light snacks.
Shibuya 3-18-7, Shibuya Ichigokan Bldg. B1F. Open 5:30pm-2am. Closed some Sundays.
Diverta (Shibuya - Wine bar). 5468-0055
Small tapas dishes from Y300 and surprisingly good-value boutique wines from Y2000/bottle make this a tempting spot to drop into for a quick drink and snack.
Shibuya 3-26-25. Open 11:30am-midnight daily.
