Very stylish, with a terrific view from the 49th floor of the Sumitomo Building, this modern izakaya serves an array of creative tapas, some (panko and Parmesan crusted chicken with a balsamic reduction) more successful than others (paella Valenciana flavored arancini). Budget around Y4000 - Y5000.[feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 2-6-1, Shinjuku Sumitomo Bldg. 49F. Open 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.

California wines, fabulous cocktails, and live music every night starting at 8pm. Y2000 cover charge after 8pm.[feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 3-7-1-2, Park Hyatt Hotel 52F. Open 5pm-midnight daily.

Enjoy chic cocktails in a bamboo grove high in the sky at the Park Hyatt's internationally famous bar and lounge. They also serve afternoon tea, desserts and light snacks. Cocktails start at around Y1600.[feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 3-7-1-2, Park Hyatt Hotel 41F. Open 11am-10:30pm daily.

This elegant, very relaxed bar features gigantic fishtanks filled with exotic tropical fish from Okinawa and environs. The menu includes tasty original cocktails and light food items. There's a Y700 per person table charge. [feedback]

Minami-Aoyama 5-13-3. Open 6pm-2am daily.

A very stylish venue for a quiet late-night drink, Sono Ni stocks more than 700 brands of malt whiskeys, bourbons and liqueurs, along with around forty wines and a full range of cocktails. The gorgeous modern interior is plush and dimly lit, and the entrance is dramatic - down a set of concrete stairs, past a waterfall and over a short bridge traversing a carp-filled pool. In addition to drinks there's a light menu with cold meats, cheeses, pizza and pastas. [feedback]

Nishi-Azabu 4-10-6, B1F. Open 7pm-4am daily.

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. 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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Akasaka 9-7-1, Ritz-Carlton 45F. Open 2:30pm-midnight daily.

New York's Union Square Cafe has been a serious gourmet destination since the mid-1980s, and this new sister store aims to bring the excitement to Tokyo. Lunches from Y3000, dinners from Y12,000. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Akasaka 9-7-5, Tokyo Midtown Garden Terrace B1F. Open 11am-3, 5-10pm (LO) daily.

Located in the lobby of the Conrad Hotel, TwentyEight is an oasis of muted monochromes with discrete edges. Dusk is arguably the best time to visit; 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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Higashi-Shimbashi 1-9-1, Conrad Tokyo Hotel 28F. Open 9am-midnight daily.

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. 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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Yurakucho 1-8-1, The Peninsula Tokyo 24F. Open 5pm-midnight daily.

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. A live jazz band performs nightly for the relaxed and casual crowd, a mix of locals and visitors. No cover charge. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Nihonbashi Muromachi 2-1-1, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo 37F. Open 11:30am-midnight daily.

This simple but stylish Italian cafe-restaurant turns into a relaxed late-night neighborhood bar after 11pm (Tuesday through Saturday nights), with reasonably priced wines and cocktails. [feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 6-16-7. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5pm-4:30am (LO) daily.

This popular Asian fusion restaurant has a small bar up front where you can choose from Red Hook, Chimay and Bintan beers, assorted tropical-style cocktails, and well selected California and Washington wines.[feedback]

Jingumae 6-3-2. Open 11am-10pm(LO) daily.

A small, friendly little bar that offers lots of live music and art events, including belly dancing. [feedback]

Shibuya 1-6-3. Open 11:30am-11pm. Closed Sundays.

For those who hate leaving work, this popular DJ bar is decorated like an office, with file cabinets, bookshelves, and copier machine. Different DJs nightly, a young crowd, a full food menu, and a good nighttime view down Aoyama-dori.[feedback]

Kita-Aoyama 2-7-18, Yamazaki Bldg. 5F. Open 5pm to 3am daily.

A convenient Gaienmae meeting spot, with music listening booths as well as a coffee and food menu.[feedback]

Kita-Aoyama 2-7-18, Yamazaki Bldg. 1F. Open 8:30am-midnight daily.

An entertaining cave-like space with tiny doors, miniature rooms and lots of nooks and crannies. The menu features tasty and reasonably priced Okinawan, Thai and other Asian dishes along with assorted cocktails.[feedback]

Jingumae 2-31-8. Open noon-2, 6pm-midnight (LO). Closed Sundays.

Perched on top of a very tasteful store selling pottery and plants, this is a stylish cafe during the day and a casual bar at night, with simple but well-prepared food - salads, grilled fish, onigiri, etc.[feedback]

Sendagaya 2-28-5. Open noon-midnight daily.

This bar, attached to the design-conscious Shibuya Grandbell Hotel, serves up reasonable food and drink 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cocktails, draft beer, and wines by the glass start at Y500, with two or three daily drink specials. The "World Beer" list features eleven bottles from various countries - including the non-alcoholic Nova Schin from Brazil. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Sakuragaokacho 15-17, Shibuya Grandbell Hotel 1-2F. Open 24 hours a day.

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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Higashi 3-16-10. Open 11:30am-3, 6pm-2am (4am Fri, 11pm Sun) daily.

A place worth cultivating in late-night Ebisu - the staff is friendly, the hours are accommodating, the music and decor are hip, and the food can be entertaining, although it's more of a drinking spot than a full-fledged restaurant. Food includes Korean items, a big miso section, and various izakaya permutations. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Hiroo 1-33, SPC Japan Bldg. 1F. Open 6pm-3am daily.

The decor here is all earth tones, raw concrete and slabs of wood, with a big tree sitting right in the middle of the floor. Music ranges from reggae to laid-back rock, and the atmosphere is totally chilled-out - people talk in hushed voices, which may be exactly what you need when you stumble in here at 3am. It's "cafe time" from 2-7pm, with coffee and cake. No table charge; no English.[feedback]

Kitazawa 2-14-1, OT Bldg 3F. Open 2pm-5am daily.

A casual bar/ cafe/ restaurant with a very varied but always appealing izakaya-style menu, with dishes like beef cheeks stewed in beer, Vietnamese spring rolls, and a lavishly constructed Salad Nicoise. The drinks list is similarly eclectic, with very reasonably priced wines. [feedback]

Tamagawa 3-23-24, B1F. Open 6:30pm-3am daily.

Tucked into a leafy lane along the Meguro River, Combine feels rather like a hidden gem. Reminiscent of a converted loft, the industrial concrete and aluminum interior is tempered by velveteen chairs that encourage lounging and a marvelous bookcase that dominates the west wall. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Naka-Meguro 1-10-23-103. Open noon-4am (food LO 2am) daily.

It's an early-sixties swinging bachelor pad, with charmingly kitsch decor and a nice collection of vinyl R&B spun on their old-fashioned record player. Drinks are reasonable, and there's a small food menu if you're in the mood for some grub, daddy-o. [feedback]

Kami-Meguro 3-6-12-102. Open 8pm-4am. Closed Sun, 1st and 3rd Mon.

Late-night cocktails, jazz, light meals, and garlic chips in a relaxed neighborhood bar. Some outdoor seating.[feedback]

Takadanobaba 1-31-8. (to get there turn right from Takadanobaba station, turn right again and go up the hill past Big Box, keep walking for 5 minutes, then turn right again just before Suwa-dori - it'll be on the left) Open 5pm-3am. Closed Sundays.

Yes, it's a real live tiki lounge in Tokyo! Party down with giant tropical drinks, entertaining pan-Asian food and amusingly over-the-top decor. Not to mention the Tahitian floor show. [feedback]

Shinjuku 3-4-8, Shinjuku Saison Plaza 4F. Open 5-11pm (LO) daily.

This artsy bar and gallery space serves wines and cocktails, burritos and "fresh herb cuisine" in a colorfully decorated setting. There's a Y2500 buffet dinner Friday and Saturday nights (7-10pm), and many parties and musical events during the week.[feedback]

Shibuya 1-3-18, Villa Moderna. (directly across from Aoyama Park Tower) Open 5-11pm. Closed Mondays.

This comfortable sofa-furnished lounge attracts a Japanese hipster crowd and features jazzy DJs and occasional live performances; there's also a tiny art gallery and chill space upstairs. The hidden entrance is at the back of another bar. [feedback]

Jingumae 2-23-4. Open 8pm-1am. Closed Sundays.

A funky/comfy cafe with mismatched furniture, Okinawan food and a Hawaiian/Tahitian tropical theme. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Jinnan 1-4-2. Open noon-11:30pm daily.

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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Dogenzaka 1-17-12, Nono Bldg 2F. Open 8pm-4am. Closed Mondays, some Sunday.

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. [feedback]

Ebisu-Nishi 2-8-9, Daikanyama Takara Bldg III, 4F. Open 8pm-midnight. Closed Sundays.

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. [feedback]

Ebisu-Nishi 2-9-9, 2F. Open 1pm-2am (-4am Fri/Sat). Closed Mondays.

This tiny second-floor bar has a Buddhist theme - the name in Japanese is "bouzu", or Buddhist priest - with a little shrine in one corner and bartenders dressed in appropriate priestly garb. Drinks include several variations on shochu and plum wine, and there's a small food menu to go with your drinks.[feedback]

Arakicho 6-42, AG Bldg 2F. Open 7pm-midnight. Closed Sundays.

Probably best known in Tokyo for their popular Y6,600 "Champagne Brunch" on Sundays, featuring all the sparkling wine you can drink. (The bar/restaurant area is open later than the main dining room; last order is at 12:30am.)[feedback]

Kioicho 4-1, Hotel New Otani 4F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5pm-12:30am (LO) daily.

This tiny, ramshackle hole-in-the-wall is a late-night Shimo-Kitazawa legend, going strong since 1974. The space behind the bar is filled with mountains of CDs and shelves of vinyl (many of them 70s UK glam rock and local Japanese bands), and the seating area is so small that you have to step outside to let other customers in and out. When you order a drink the bartender telephones the similarly dilapidated sister bar just upstairs (Trouble Peach) and they deliver. (Y400 cover charge.) [feedback]

Kitazawa 2-9-18. Open 8pm-8am daily.

A friendly, casual little spot with some of the better Mexican fare available in town. The bar has a good assortment of tequilas and tequila-based cocktails. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Kami-Meguro 4-10-4. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Wednesdays.

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. [See branch review] [feedback]

Shinsen 9-7. Open 5pm-3am daily.

This self-consciously casual drinking spot offers a wide food menu - everything from Okinawan pork stews and stir-fries to udon noodles carbonara and brown-sugar creme brulee. [feedback]

Akasaka 5-3-1, Akasaka Biz Tower B1F. Open 11am-10:50pm (LO) daily.

A casual French-Italian bistrot-bar, with lots of original tapas-size dishes, wine by the glass and Belgian beers. [feedback]

Marunouchi 1-5-1, Shin-Marunouchi Bldg B1F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

This funky little retro-themed snack bar serves tasty grilled Gunma-raised pork on skewers, beef tongue and motsu nikomi (organ-meat stews) along with beer and a selection of premium sake in one-cup sizes. You can stand around the oil-drum tables up front or sit at a handful of tables in back as you enjoy the old jazz and early Showa-era posters on the walls. Skewers are priced Y160-200. [feedback]

Marunouchi 1-9-1, Kitchen Street (1F). Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff are friendly at this small, well-hidden drinking spot. They specialize in shochu and appropriate snacks - Kyoto-style pickles, Korean chijimi pancakes and uni toast - and there's also a well-chosen selection of five premium sake brands. (No English.) [feedback]

Yaesu 1-4-3. Open 7-11:30pm (LO). Closed weekends.

A neighborhood hangout with jazz on the sound system, dim sum, Chimay beer and cocktails.[feedback]

Takadanobaba 1-23-9. Open 1pm-midnight daily.

Late-night cocktails and snacks, with jazz in the background. Terrace seating is available on the first and second-floor cafe areas.[feedback]

Takadanobaba 1-17-14. Open 6pm-5am daily.

One of Shinjuku's original jazz coffee shops, although they've shrunken in size in recent years.[feedback]

Shinjuku 3-15-12, B1F. Open noon-2am daily.

A real jazz kissaten with thousands of records; their tastes often run towards free and experimental jazz that you won't hear elsewhere. There's coffee and drinks, and a small food menu (mainly spaghetti).[feedback]

Sakuragaokacho 2-3, 2F. Open to 11pm (midnight weekends) daily.