This section introduces chill spots with special features - open-air or outdoor seating; good views, late-night hours, and pet-friendly policies.
Good views
At (Nishi-Shinjuku - Izakaya). 3342-1045
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). Tapas dishes start at Y300; budget around Y3000-4000 for a full meal with drinks.
Perched on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt hotel, the New York Bar makes good on its promise to offer the best view of Tokyo. The interior is a sleek haven of glass and dark wood enlivened by two vibrant Art Deco-inspired paintings on opposite walls. With its ebony chairs and walnut floors, the atmosphere is one of understated sophistication - there's nothing to detract from the stunning cityscape. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
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.
Bills (Harajuku - Australian). 5772-1133
Australian chef Bill Granger is famous for his gourmet breakfast menu; this is his fourth Tokyo-area venture. Breakfast is served from 8:30am through the end of lunchtime, with signature dishes like sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon (Y1400), and ricotta hotcakes with fresh bananas and honeycomb butter (Y1400). Australian chef Bill Granger is famous for his gourmet breakfast menu; this is his fourth Tokyo-area venture. Breakfast is served from 8:30am through the end of lunchtime, with signature dishes like sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon (Y1400), and ricotta hotcakes with fresh bananas and honeycomb butter (Y1400).
At dinnertime you'll find creative international cafe fare - semolina-crusted calamari with aioli (Y1200); prawn and chilli linguine (Y1300); wagyu burger with beetroot, zucchini pickles, herbed french fries (Y2000). Sitting atop the seven-story Tokyu Plaza shopping complex at the crossroads of Harajuku, the restaurant offers a nice view facing south towards Shibuya, with some outdoor terrace seating. [Show more] [Show less] The Nezu Museum's cafe looks out onto a beautiful wooded garden - a lovely, serene setting for a cup of coffee or an afternoon snack. The menu offers coffee, matcha latte and desserts as well as light meals - pastas, sandwiches, meat pies and salad Nicoise.
Office (Gaienmae - Bar). 5786-1052
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.
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.
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. 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. [Show more] [Show less] 
Mixx is among the first bars in Tokyo to wholeheartedly embrace the trend of molecular mixology. Signature cocktails include the Caprese, spiced tomato juice and vodka topped with mozzarella foam and fried basil, and the Oeuf a la coque, a creamy whip of rum, coconut, mango juice, and vanilla ice cream (Y2500 each).Mixx Bar takes advantage of its location on the 36th floor of the ANA Intercontinental Hotel to offer cinematic views of the city. The black-and-white modern interior, with its boxy floating lanterns and shiny-topped tables, recalls the Gotham City of early Batman movies.
Mixx is among the first bars in Tokyo to wholeheartedly embrace the trend of molecular mixology. Signature cocktails include the Caprese, spiced tomato juice and vodka topped with mozzarella foam and fried basil, and the Oeuf a la coque, a creamy whip of rum, coconut, mango juice, and vanilla ice cream (Y2500 each).
The bar food ranges from small snacks like truffle popcorn (Y625) to more sophisticated plates such as the deep-fried escargot brochette, suspended over a fricassee of escargot and vegetables (Y2315). The salmon platter (Y3635) comes with a skewer of smoked salmon and blinis, a finely minced salmon tartar, and plump ikura roe, each served separately in dainty cups.
A table charge of Y1050 applies after 9pm. [Show more] [Show less] This traditional American steakhouse has a small bar up front serving Oregon wines by the glass. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
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.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 brown and cream tones 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. [Show more] [Show less] 
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. 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. [Show more] [Show less] 
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. 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. [Show more] [Show less] In addition to the main restaurant, Canal Cafe runs a separate outdoor self-service cafe next to the boat docks, serving coffee, cakes and some drinks.
Perched high above Tokyo Dome, the Artist's Bar offers great views of the Imperial Palace and northern Tokyo from the bar area. Drinks start at Y700, and there's live music every night (quiet jazz, acoustic bossa) at the adjacent Artist's Cafe.
Located at the top of the very cultural Amuse Museum, Bar Six offers a nice evening view of the illuminated pagoda and temple buildings of nearby Sensoji Temple. Weather permitting, the outdoor terrace seats offer the best view. Drinks include cocktails and a few Belgian beers, and the casual food menu includes tasty snacks like fried chicken.
Outdoor and open-air seating
Late-night cocktails, jazz, light meals, and garlic chips in a relaxed neighborhood bar. Some outdoor seating.
Late-night cocktails and snacks, with jazz in the background. Terrace seating is available on the first and second-floor cafe areas.
Perhaps the best deli counter in town, with a huge selection of cold cuts, pates and salads. Lunches are priced from around Y1000, and breakfast is served on weekdays from 8 to 10:30am. From 6-7pm weekdays they have an open wine bar (Y2500 including snacks). The outdoor terrace seating is pleasant in warmer months. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
This mini-branch of one of our favorite Belgian beer bars sits at the Yoyogi end of Southern Terrace; convenient to Shinjuku station but sufficiently removed from the bustling crowds. Despite the small size they boast an excellent beer list, with a rotating selection of ten on tap, plus a respectable food menu featuring roast Iberico pork, grilled horsemeat and of course mussels and frites. There's some outdoor seating.
Ikiba (Harajuku - Bar). 6447-2457
An experimental venture from the trendy folks who run the Aoyama Farmers Market, this cafe-bar complex has several distinct zones - two separate bars, lots of outdoor seating in the yard, a tiny treehouse-style space up front, and a second-floor library and small exhibition room where cigars and pipes are on display. An experimental venture from the trendy folks who run the Aoyama Farmers Market, this cafe-bar complex has several distinct zones - two separate bars, lots of outdoor seating in the yard, a tiny treehouse-style space up front, and a second-floor library and small exhibition room where cigars and pipes are on display.
The food menu features artfully constructed small izakaya-style dishes and snacks to nibble on, plus curry rice and original onigiri rice balls. In addition to the usual cocktails and beer, six types of Kikusui sake from Niigata are on offer, including the sweet, richly flavored Setsugoro Genrokushu, which is made from a 300-year-old recipe. [Show more] [Show less] Bills (Harajuku - Australian). 5772-1133
Australian chef Bill Granger is famous for his gourmet breakfast menu; this is his fourth Tokyo-area venture. Breakfast is served from 8:30am through the end of lunchtime, with signature dishes like sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon (Y1400), and ricotta hotcakes with fresh bananas and honeycomb butter (Y1400). Australian chef Bill Granger is famous for his gourmet breakfast menu; this is his fourth Tokyo-area venture. Breakfast is served from 8:30am through the end of lunchtime, with signature dishes like sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon (Y1400), and ricotta hotcakes with fresh bananas and honeycomb butter (Y1400).
At dinnertime you'll find creative international cafe fare - semolina-crusted calamari with aioli (Y1200); prawn and chilli linguine (Y1300); wagyu burger with beetroot, zucchini pickles, herbed french fries (Y2000). Sitting atop the seven-story Tokyu Plaza shopping complex at the crossroads of Harajuku, the restaurant offers a nice view facing south towards Shibuya, with some outdoor terrace seating. [Show more] [Show less] A quiet spot hidden on a back street just a few steps from central Harajuku. There's a spacious cafe up front with fresh-baked pastries, a nice outdoor courtyard where dogs are allowed, and a full bar up on the balcony level. In back is a sprawling dining room where you can even get breakfast (9-11am).
The front bar area of the popular Aoyama steak house is a worthwhile destination in its own right, with excellent original cocktails, a good wine list with many choices by the glass, a casual food menu and outdoor seating on the patio if you're so inclined.
A relaxing, quiet space inside a museum devoted to the whimsical works of sculptor Taro Okamoto.
This spacious cafe offers typical cafe fare (pastas, sandwiches) during the day, along with fresh-baked breads and pastries from their in-store bakery. In the evening the menu widens to include grilled meats and fish and other Mediterranean-inspired fare. There's some outdoor terrace seating overlooking the Jingu Gaien promenade.
Cocongo (Jingumae 2-chome - Cafe). 3475-8980
The decor of this cute little cafe is a mix of early-sixties batchelor-pad modern with African and Asian knick-knacks, while the soundtrack covers the range of Afro-pop and world music. There are plenty of cozy seating areas, including a couple of chairs perched in the tiny back garden. The menu features flavored teas, original cocktails, Singaporean chicken rice and Thai curries.
Breakfast is served from 6am here, either in the vast living-room-style indoor space, the sprawling back garden area, or up front where you can watch foot traffic heading to and from Sendagaya station. In the evenings there's a casual cafe menu plus a range of cocktails, herbal liqueurs, inexpensive wines and microbrew beers from Kona Brewery in Hawaii. Breakfast is served from 6am here, either in the vast living-room-style indoor space, the sprawling back garden area, or up front where you can watch foot traffic heading to and from Sendagaya station. In the evenings there's a casual cafe menu plus a range of cocktails, herbal liqueurs, inexpensive wines and microbrew beers from Kona Brewery in Hawaii.
The morning market menu veers towards the health-conscious end of the spectrum, with fruit and vegetable salads; mixed-grain okayu (rice porridge); granola, banana and yogurt bowls; French toast and lots of juice options. Or you can hit the ground running with one of their gourmet burger platters. The morning market salad (Y1100; served all day long) features exotic vegetables like turnips, beetroots and toasted lotus roots, plus a sausage and a fried egg for good measure.
There's also a take-out window up front where you can pick up burgers, salads and drinks to go. [Show more] [Show less] 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.)
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
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] 
Frames (Daikanyama - Cafe). 5784-3384
A very spacious, relaxing place to while away some time. Wine and other drinks are relatively inexpensive, and there are plenty of light dishes to nibble on. Pets are allowed, and dog biscuits and water bowls are available.A spacious cafe with big windows looking onto the street, Frames attracts a fashion-conscious young crowd most of the day and night. (They're located just above a basement club called Air.) A seriously stocked cocktail bar takes up much of the back wall, and there's a full Italian-style food menu - good pastas, carpaccio, salads and that sort of thing. Carafes of Australian wine are very reasonably priced.
Besides its other attractions, this seems to be the center of Tokyo canine society - there are usually dogs of all shapes and sizes scattered through the cafe, mutually sniffing greetings but generally well behaved. Water bowls and dog biscuits are provided (and it's just a short walk up the block to Three Dogs Bakery for more substantial doggy snacks). [Show more] [Show less] Sign (Daikanyama - Cafe). 3780-9570
This relaxed cafe-bar is a perfect meeting spot, right in front of Daikanyama station.
This big, European-style cafe opens onto the street for enhanced people-watching, with lots of outdoor seating when the weather permits. The casual food menu includes pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Drinks include Italian wines, grappa and liqueurs. Set lunch from Y1600.
The restaurant in back is pretentious and overpriced, but the outdoor cafe is a pleasant place to sit during warm weather.
A casual "tea house" serving Chinese teas, herb teas, and several varieties of iced tea along with light snacks. Tea time runs from 2-5pm, but if you're hungry you can take advantage of Doichan's late lunch menu (11am-5pm), featuring curries, donburis and sandwiches for under Y1000. In the evenings you'll find grilled meats and creative Japanese and Western dishes, plus beer, wine, sake and cocktails; budget around Y3000. Pets are welcome on the outdoor terrace.
A cheerful cafe with a nice lunch menu (under Y1,000) and a take-away bakery department.
This picturesque little Italian-style cafe-bar is worth noting for their late-night hours (till 2am Monday-Saturday); stop by for coffee, a glass of wine or a light Italian snack.
Marugo (Marunouchi - Wine bar). 6269-9105
This Marunouchi branch of the excellent Marugo wine bar is less cramped than the original shops in Shinjuku, but it can still get smoky sometimes. The outdoor seating is recommended when the weather is nice. The menu includes eighteen French wines by the glass, hundreds more by the bottle, and a small selection of tasty snacks like pork terrine.
AC's atmosphere and decor are very European in feel, and the large food menu includes surprisingly authentic Belgian specialties like "stoemp" - a hearty platter of mashed potatoes and root vegetables. The bar serves more than 30 Belgian beers, including Leffe Blond and three others on tap. Ample terrace seating is available. Bar open until 4am weeknights, midnight weekends. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Paul (Yotsuya - Cafe). 5368-8823
Good pastries and plenty of outdoor seating.
A bright and airy branch of this French-cafe landmark, located directly in front of the New Otani Hotel. There's a take-out bakery at the entrance, a big cafe area, a smaller dining room for proper French meals, and plenty of outdoor seating, heated in winter. The cafe serves light snacks like quiche, omelettes, salade nicoise and steak frites.
In addition to the main restaurant, Canal Cafe runs a separate outdoor self-service cafe next to the boat docks, serving coffee, cakes and some drinks.
Buri (Ueno - Bar). 5826-5807
You'll find regional sake from small brewers around the country, served in convenient one-cup sizes at this popular stand-bar. Tasty snacks are in the Y400-600 range, including yakitori, homemade satsuma-age (fishcakes), and soy-milk gratin. Some outdoor seating. Open to 4:30am Fridays and Saturdays.
Vinuls (Ueno - Spanish). 5826-5753
Spanish food and reasonably priced French and Spanish wines, with convenient late-night hours.
This casual cafe is run by Asahi Beer, on the grounds of their Philippe Starck-designed headquarters. Drinks include coffees, wine, and various Asahi and Asahi-imported beers, including three microbrews from the on-premises Sumidagawa Brewery. There's a fairly random cafe-style food menu - fried and grilled free-range chicken, Mexican pizza, chorizo sausages and keema curry. Dogs are welcome out on the wooden-deck terrace, where food and water are available.
Belg Aube (Toyosu - Belgian rest/beer bar). 6910-1275
An indoor/outdoor cafe with a nice choice of Belgian beers and enticing food like Iberico ham, duck confit, and of course mussels. In the afternoons they serve chocolate fondue and waffles.
Run by Transit General Office (Sign, Office) and designed by Wonderwall, this cafeteria-style cafe features outdoor terrace seating, a magazine library and wi-fi access.
Aomi 2-7-4, the SOHO 1F. Open 9am-10pm (Sat 10am-6pm). Closed Sundays.
A very casual Italian cafe where you can find wines by the glass (from Y500) along with simple fare like salamis, grilled chicken and organic vegetable salads.
Spibble (Tennozu Isle - Belgian rest/beer bar). 5783-4321
This oddly named "European Beer Terrace" is open only between April and October, and offers pleasant outdoor seating facing the canal at the edge of Tennozu Isle. Most of the beers are Belgian, plus a few German and English selections, with nine or so on tap and another fifty by the bottle. Meat and deli items and simple Belgian dishes like mussels accompany the beer.
Higashi-Shinagawa 2-2-4, Tennoz First Tower 1F. Open 5-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Luxuriously spacious and modern in feel, this combination bakery-cafe is a comfortable place to relax with a coffee and pastry, or a quiche, cup of soup and salad. There's also a bit of outdoor seating overlooking the adjacent canal. Take-out breads include tempting savory creations like gorgonzola-walnut and bacon-rosemary rolls, as well as focacia, whole-grain loaves, bread made with beer yeast (from TY Harbor Brewery next door) and assorted pastries and cakes.
The very artsy cafe includes a gallery space in back where you can catch the latest exhibit while enjoying coffee or cocktails; there's also window seating up front, a few outdoor tables, and a movie theater in the basement. Drinks include Chinese teas, hot cocktails (rum and apple, coffee and cointreau), and eight Belgian beers by the bottle. The food menu is limited to curry rice and a smattering of small deli items.
Fuglen (Yoyogi-Koen - Bar). 3481-0884
Japanese and Norwegian craft beers and artisanal cocktails are served at this very stylish Norwegian bar - the main branch is in Oslo. During the day they serve coffee and tea (but no food). Japanese and Norwegian craft beers and artisanal cocktails are served at this very stylish Norwegian bar - the main branch is in Oslo. During the day they serve coffee and tea (but no food).
Cafe hours are 8am-7pm weekdays and 10am-7pm weekends. The bar is open until midnight Wednesdays and Sundays, 1am Thursdays, and 2am Fridays and Saturdays. [Show more] [Show less] Globe (Ikejiri-Ohashi - Cafe). 5430-3550
A big, sprawling antique shop with a charming little cafe and dessert corner; the best seats seem to be out front, looking out onto the street.
Take your doggy for a leisurely meal at Snobbish Babies, a high-end canine clothing store and cafe along the Meguro River. Choose crepes, beef stew, or the daily lunch plate for yourself, and pick something off the Dog Menu for your four-legged friend. Lunch until 5pm.
This late-night riverfront cafe offers a casual Italian-Mediterranean menu and open-air seating up front.
If you love dessert but also love vegetables, this unique pastry shop is the place for you. Sample tempting creations like avocado cheesecake, buckwheat chai mousse, arugula jelly with black-sesame and soy-milk mousse, and daikon and yuzu mousse wrapped in chocolate. There's a twenty-seat open-air terrace cafe in front of the shop where you can relax with a cup of tea or coffee along with your vegetable-based sweets.
Lobros (Jiyugaoka - Cafe). 5483-4600
If you're having a busy afternoon in Jiyugaoka, perhaps shopping for designer napkin rings and artisanal salt, Lobros is the perfect spot for a refreshing tea break. Located inside Trainchi, the very tasteful housewares shopping complex alongside the Tokyu tracks, Lobros is airy and spacious, with a big outdoor terrace. The music is bouncy vocal jazz, and the decor is California casual, with an open kitchen, candles on the tables and lots of plants. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Pet-friendly
Bills (Harajuku - Australian). 5772-1133
Australian chef Bill Granger is famous for his gourmet breakfast menu; this is his fourth Tokyo-area venture. Breakfast is served from 8:30am through the end of lunchtime, with signature dishes like sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon (Y1400), and ricotta hotcakes with fresh bananas and honeycomb butter (Y1400). Australian chef Bill Granger is famous for his gourmet breakfast menu; this is his fourth Tokyo-area venture. Breakfast is served from 8:30am through the end of lunchtime, with signature dishes like sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon (Y1400), and ricotta hotcakes with fresh bananas and honeycomb butter (Y1400).
At dinnertime you'll find creative international cafe fare - semolina-crusted calamari with aioli (Y1200); prawn and chilli linguine (Y1300); wagyu burger with beetroot, zucchini pickles, herbed french fries (Y2000). Sitting atop the seven-story Tokyu Plaza shopping complex at the crossroads of Harajuku, the restaurant offers a nice view facing south towards Shibuya, with some outdoor terrace seating. [Show more] [Show less] A quiet spot hidden on a back street just a few steps from central Harajuku. There's a spacious cafe up front with fresh-baked pastries, a nice outdoor courtyard where dogs are allowed, and a full bar up on the balcony level. In back is a sprawling dining room where you can even get breakfast (9-11am).
Nalu (Omotesando - Cafe). 5786-1642
Far off the beaten path, on a backstreet between Omotesando and Gaienmae, Nalu Cafe packs a little something for everyone into a tiny space. It's a smart cafe/art gallery that serves take-out during lunchtime, located above a groovy hair salon in the basement. You could, theoretically, pop in for a drink or a slice of cake while you're waiting for your perm to set downstairs. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Sign (Gaienmae - Cafe). 5474-5040
A convenient Gaienmae meeting spot, with music listening booths as well as a coffee and food menu.
This spacious cafe offers typical cafe fare (pastas, sandwiches) during the day, along with fresh-baked breads and pastries from their in-store bakery. In the evening the menu widens to include grilled meats and fish and other Mediterranean-inspired fare. There's some outdoor terrace seating overlooking the Jingu Gaien promenade.
Cocongo (Jingumae 2-chome - Cafe). 3475-8980
The decor of this cute little cafe is a mix of early-sixties batchelor-pad modern with African and Asian knick-knacks, while the soundtrack covers the range of Afro-pop and world music. There are plenty of cozy seating areas, including a couple of chairs perched in the tiny back garden. The menu features flavored teas, original cocktails, Singaporean chicken rice and Thai curries.
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.)
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
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.
A second branch of the popular cafe, with late-night hours, good food, and good prices. (Formerly called Lenox Saloon.)
Holy (Daikanyama - Cafe). 5456-3363
This spacious cafe offers an eclectic menu of drinks, food and music. It's a comfortable place to hang out, and dogs are allowed.
Frames (Daikanyama - Cafe). 5784-3384
A very spacious, relaxing place to while away some time. Wine and other drinks are relatively inexpensive, and there are plenty of light dishes to nibble on. Pets are allowed, and dog biscuits and water bowls are available.A spacious cafe with big windows looking onto the street, Frames attracts a fashion-conscious young crowd most of the day and night. (They're located just above a basement club called Air.) A seriously stocked cocktail bar takes up much of the back wall, and there's a full Italian-style food menu - good pastas, carpaccio, salads and that sort of thing. Carafes of Australian wine are very reasonably priced.
Besides its other attractions, this seems to be the center of Tokyo canine society - there are usually dogs of all shapes and sizes scattered through the cafe, mutually sniffing greetings but generally well behaved. Water bowls and dog biscuits are provided (and it's just a short walk up the block to Three Dogs Bakery for more substantial doggy snacks). [Show more] [Show less] This big, European-style cafe opens onto the street for enhanced people-watching, with lots of outdoor seating when the weather permits. The casual food menu includes pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Drinks include Italian wines, grappa and liqueurs. Set lunch from Y1600.
A casual "tea house" serving Chinese teas, herb teas, and several varieties of iced tea along with light snacks. Tea time runs from 2-5pm, but if you're hungry you can take advantage of Doichan's late lunch menu (11am-5pm), featuring curries, donburis and sandwiches for under Y1000. In the evenings you'll find grilled meats and creative Japanese and Western dishes, plus beer, wine, sake and cocktails; budget around Y3000. Pets are welcome on the outdoor terrace.
A cheerful cafe with a nice lunch menu (under Y1,000) and a take-away bakery department.
A bright and airy branch of this French-cafe landmark, located directly in front of the New Otani Hotel. There's a take-out bakery at the entrance, a big cafe area, a smaller dining room for proper French meals, and plenty of outdoor seating, heated in winter. The cafe serves light snacks like quiche, omelettes, salade nicoise and steak frites.
In addition to the main restaurant, Canal Cafe runs a separate outdoor self-service cafe next to the boat docks, serving coffee, cakes and some drinks.
This casual cafe is run by Asahi Beer, on the grounds of their Philippe Starck-designed headquarters. Drinks include coffees, wine, and various Asahi and Asahi-imported beers, including three microbrews from the on-premises Sumidagawa Brewery. There's a fairly random cafe-style food menu - fried and grilled free-range chicken, Mexican pizza, chorizo sausages and keema curry. Dogs are welcome out on the wooden-deck terrace, where food and water are available.
Bring your canine companion and choose from a large doggy menu, including cheese pizza, chicken-breast jerky, tofu burgers and cake. For after-dinner exercise there's a big, fenced-in dog run right outside the cafe.
Take your doggy for a leisurely meal at Snobbish Babies, a high-end canine clothing store and cafe along the Meguro River. Choose crepes, beef stew, or the daily lunch plate for yourself, and pick something off the Dog Menu for your four-legged friend. Lunch until 5pm.
Note that pet policies vary, and areas where pets are allowed may be limited. Please call ahead for specific information.
Late-night
Late-night cocktails, jazz, light meals, and garlic chips in a relaxed neighborhood bar. Some outdoor seating.
Late-night cocktails and snacks, with jazz in the background. Terrace seating is available on the first and second-floor cafe areas.
A change of pace from the down-home Korean restaurants and boisterous makkoli bars surrounding it, Festina Lente has ambitions to be a proper cocktail bar. The barman operates his shaker with just the right degree of vigor, and he understands the importance of pre-icing your glass before the pour. On the downside, a very simple drink might take five minutes to arrive even when it's not busy. A change of pace from the down-home Korean restaurants and boisterous makkoli bars surrounding it, Festina Lente has ambitions to be a proper cocktail bar. The barman operates his shaker with just the right degree of vigor, and he understands the importance of pre-icing your glass before the pour. On the downside, a very simple drink might take five minutes to arrive even when it's not busy.
Along with standard and exotic cocktails you'll find Belgian beers and some nice Japanese sake on the menu, along with a basic food menu. The atmosphere is quite chilled-out, and you can relax late into the night if you're so inclined, as they don't close until four or five. In keeping with neighborhood customs, the background music is K-pop shown on a big-screen TV.
[Y300 cover charge; cafe time 1-6pm; bar time 6pm-4am.] [Show more] [Show less] 
Marugo (Shinjuku - Wine bar). 3350-4605
Choose from about fifteen wines by the glass or bottle, or pick a Latour or Mouton from the back and put it on your expense account. France is amply represented, with biodynamic wines comprising nearly half of the choices on the frequently changing list. While Marugo's laid-back modern interior recalls Manhattan, the tuxedo-clad staff is pure Tokyo. But don't let appearances fool you: the service is mannerly and attentive but never stuffy at this popular Shinjuku 3-chome spot. Choose from about fifteen wines by the glass or bottle, or pick a Latour or Mouton from the back and put it on your expense account. France is amply represented, with biodynamic wines comprising nearly half of the choices on the frequently changing list.
Small plates of olives, anchovy-avocado canapes, and cheeses start at 500 yen; earthy tripe stew and creamy pork and duck liver pate go for about Y700. You can order something more substantial - grilled lamb chops, pasta, or pizza - if you're feeling really peckish. On the fifth of every month the bar features a special selection of premium wines hailing from its namesake, Margaux. Menu in Japanese only, but a little English spoken. [Show more] [Show less] This second branch of the popular and always-packed Marugo wine bar serves two dozen wines by the glass, about half of them French, with a new selection every day. The food menu is Italian and very reasonably priced. Get there early to avoid the crowds.
[Go to branch review] Cona (Shinjuku - Italian). 3354-8823
Inexpensive late-night pizzas and drinks in a very casual setting. Wines are Y1900 per bottle or Y500 by the glass, and all pizzas and side dishes are Y500 each.
Hazelburn (Shinjuku Kabukicho - Bar). 5285-1470
Hazelburn offers an impressive line-up of Scottish whiskies, along with English draft ales and well-prepared Scottish and English pub food. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
ZuZu (Shinjuku Kabukicho - Bar). 5292-3703
The smart drink list offers eleven choices of popular umeshu like Saika and Kakutama, plus a few liqueurs based on anzu (apricot), yuzu and even decopon (the orange-tangerine hybrid). Lots of shochu, a short but sweet selection of nihon-shu, and oodles of cocktails give you more reasons to sit and linger, while dainty servings of chazuke - twelve kinds, as a matter of fact - and other small dishes provide delicious distractions from the hectic world outside. Budget around Y3000 for drinks and a light meal. No English spoken.
Zoetrope (Nishi-Shinjuku - Bar). 3363-0162
Perhaps the best bar in the world for Japanese whiskey, with some 300 varieties available, including some rare bottles that are no longer sold in stores. They also serve craft beers from Osaka's Minoh Brewery, as well as Japanese rum and grappa and some imported liquors. The light food menu includes home-smoked dishes. Often old movies are shown (silently) in the background while you drink.
Nishi-Shinjuku 7-10-14, Gaia Bldg 4, 3F. Open 7pm-4am. Closed Sundays, some Monday.
Open twenty-four hours a day, the Hilton's Marble Lounge offers various special buffets throughout the day, including a dessert buffet with fountains of chocolate every afternoon from 2:30-6pm (Y4200). Thursday through Saturday evenings from 6:30-9pm there's a chocolate and cheese buffet (Y4200), featuring 20 types of cheese, 15-20 varieties of block chocolate and chocolate desserts, as well as hams and various canapes.
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.
With its inexpensive food menu (pastas, rice dishes) and late-night hours, this is a convenient spot for a late-night drink and snack.
This casually hip bar and sometime music performance space is often open many hours later than the official midnight closing time. No cover charge.
Designed to resemble a stylish Tokyo dwelling (complete with bedroom, living room, and dining room), this popular Harajuku cafe offers shoppers a comfortable place to sit and watch the world go by. Lunch sets from Y840 on weekdays and Y945 on weekends.
Marzac (Omotesando - Izakaya). 6418-5063
Charcoal-grilled meaty snacks and good-value wine by the glass are the draw at this casual late-night bar. There's a selection of around ten decently drinkable wines from France, Italy and the New World for just Y500 a glass, along with a big selection by the bottle. The chalkboard menus list plenty of daily specials, along with simple vegetable dishes and grilled lamb, chicken, pork and beef.
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.
Office (Gaienmae - Bar). 5786-1052
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.
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] 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.
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.
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] 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] 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.
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.
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.
A very French-style multi-story cafe with a relaxed atmosphere; they serve light food items and desserts as well as coffee and drinks.
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] 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.
Holy (Daikanyama - Cafe). 5456-3363
This spacious cafe offers an eclectic menu of drinks, food and music. It's a comfortable place to hang out, and dogs are allowed.
Frames (Daikanyama - Cafe). 5784-3384
A very spacious, relaxing place to while away some time. Wine and other drinks are relatively inexpensive, and there are plenty of light dishes to nibble on. Pets are allowed, and dog biscuits and water bowls are available.A spacious cafe with big windows looking onto the street, Frames attracts a fashion-conscious young crowd most of the day and night. (They're located just above a basement club called Air.) A seriously stocked cocktail bar takes up much of the back wall, and there's a full Italian-style food menu - good pastas, carpaccio, salads and that sort of thing. Carafes of Australian wine are very reasonably priced.
Besides its other attractions, this seems to be the center of Tokyo canine society - there are usually dogs of all shapes and sizes scattered through the cafe, mutually sniffing greetings but generally well behaved. Water bowls and dog biscuits are provided (and it's just a short walk up the block to Three Dogs Bakery for more substantial doggy snacks). [Show more] [Show less] 
Implicito (Nishi-Azabu - Wine bar). 5774-4433
A small, casual Italian wine bar that serves around twenty wines by the glass, in all price ranges, along with light snacks. From a quiet location on the edge of Higashi 6-chome, Enoteca Implicito beckons lovers of Italian wine towards its soft amber lights. The daily wine list features eight reds, four whites, and about as many sparklers (Y750-1800 by the glass). Specials are showcased monthly, and winery representatives occasionally stop by to give talks. The staff frequently opens difficult to find bottles to offer rare, albeit expensive, samples (on a recent visit, a Gravner '00 Berg was Y3000 per 100ml taste).
Settle in among the well-heeled crowd and soak up some European ambience as you sip on your Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Food is limited to snacks of salami, cheese, and hors d'ouerves like marinated seafood - just enough to whet your appetite. If you're in the mood for dinner proper, walk down the spiral staircase to their sister restaurant Osteria Splendido for some thoughtfully prepared Italian fare to go with your vino. Menu in Italian and Japanese. [Show more] [Show less] 300 single-malt whiskies, a couple of interesting Scottish ales (Dark Island and Black Cuillin, from Orkney and Skye respectively), and an interesting food menu, including haggis, Welsh rarebit and kipper herring. Open shockingly late.
Tafia (Nishi-Azabu - Bar). 3407-2219
Officially known as "Rhum et cafe Tafia," this bar's emphasis is more on the rum end of the spectrum, with a breathtaking variety (some 300 bottles) that includes limited-edition labels that you won't find in shops.
Nishi-Azabu 2-15-14, West Point Bldg 1F. Open 5pm-4:30am. Closed Sundays.
Tenement (Shiroganedai - Cafe). 3440-6771
The atmosphere is relaxed and the music is downbeat at this very casual late-night cafe-bar. The drinks menu offers a decent selection of cocktails.
Ebisu 2-39-4. Open 6pm-3am. Closed Sundays.
The restaurant in back is pretentious and overpriced, but the outdoor cafe is a pleasant place to sit during warm weather.
Located very near Meguro Station, this world-beer bar is most notable for its late-night hours (until 7am every day). The 100-odd beers on offer seem almost randomly chosen, but there are a few very nice Belgians, microbrews and British ales among them, along with bar snacks like fish and chips. The basement dining area is reasonably large, with a big-screen TV showing an odd mix of sporting events (football, billiards).
Belg Aube (Roppongi - Belgian rest/beer bar). 3403-1161
French-Belgian cuisine and a good selection of Belgian beers; three-course prix-fixe dinners are Y2800.
Roppongi 7-9-2. Open 6pm-2:30am (LO); 6pm-4:30am weekends. Closed Sundays.
Shonzui (Roppongi - Wine bar). 3405-7478
The selection at this tiny wine bar is mainly French, with an emphasis on organic varieties and good value for money. There are usually around a dozen wines by the glass (starting at Y900) and many more by the bottle. The food menu is simple bistrot-style fare - pates and rillettes, charcuterie and cheeses. Budget around Y3000 for food.
Roppongi 7-10-2. Open 6pm-1am (LO). Closed Sundays.
LB6 (Roppongi - Grill). 3478-0222
A reasonably priced, very casual wine bar and grill. The eclectic wine list starts from Y2500/bottle, with 11 wines by the glass or decanter. There are also microbrew beers from Baird Brewery and artisanal cocktails. The food menu features dishes like grilled loin of pork and lamb chops, assorted hams, and shellfish steamed in wine.
Zero Bar (Roppongi - Wine bar). 5775-0010
Like a good man, a predator-free champagne bar in Roppongi is hard to find. Fortunately, there's Zero Bar. Conveniently located near Tokyo Midtown, this place is just the ticket for a glass of bubbly before the last train at night, or before the first train in the morning (the bar stays open until 5am Tuesday - Saturday). Like a good man, a predator-free champagne bar in Roppongi is hard to find. Fortunately, there's Zero Bar. Conveniently located near Tokyo Midtown, this place is just the ticket for a glass of bubbly before the last train at night, or before the first train in the morning (the bar stays open until 5am Tuesday - Saturday).
The interior, with its crimson stools and red-lit shelves, carries a whiff of Los Angeles in the 90s, lying somewhere between a martini bar and a bordello. At the front, a cluster of orange teardrop lights dangle from the ceiling like a lava lamp in arrested motion; at the back, a small area with table seating is partially concealed behind a black fringe curtain.
Although champagne is the main attraction here, they also serve wines by the glass (three reds, one white) and by the bottle (around 100 kinds). Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label is their house champagne (Y1500 per glass), and there are three other varieties to choose from on their monthly-changing list. Light snacks like cheese, cured meats, and dried fruits are also available. [Show more] [Show less] This extremely casual venue is furnished with patched-up and mismatched sofas, herds of stuffed animals, and an actual VW bus with a table and chairs inside. There's a rotating art exhibition on the walls, and some outdoor tables up front. The small menu includes dishes like gorgonzola bacon tortilla wraps and an assorted "deli" platter, plus chai and cocktails.
An excellent selection of Belgian beers and good Belgian cuisine. The dining space is large and has a European-style feel to it. Budget around Y4000 at dinnertime; there's a Y500 cover charge.
[Go to branch review] Houblon (Ginza - Belgian rest/beer bar). 3564-1671
The multi-level complex comprises a Belgian restaurant on the top floor, a shot bar in the basement, and a Belgian beer specialist on the ground floor. They stock more than 300 beers by the bottle, plus five taps devoted to a rotating selection of guest beers.
Kuri (Ginza - Bar). 3573-8033
Sliding open the door of Kuri feels like unearthing a secret treasure. Hidden on the second floor of a drab building in Ginza, this cozy bar seats a scant twelve, yet boasts a menu featuring over 100 varieties of sake. The modern Japanese decor deftly employs noren curtains, dark wood, and soft lights to create an intimate and inviting space. Sake bottles are attractively displayed behind the bar on a tall shelf set into the wall. There's room for six at the bar, with a handful of small tables on the other side of a slatted-wood partition. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Ginza 6-4-15, Tony Bldg 2F. Open 5pm-2:30am (LO; 3am Fri, midnight Sat). Closed Sundays, 3rd Sat.
Roy G. Biv (Ginza - Belgian rest/beer bar). 3569-2380
A late-night hideaway bar in Ginza, with just twenty seats and a selection of around 25 Belgian beers. There's also a small snack menu. (They close at midnight on Saturdays.)
Ginza 5-6-14, Ginza Bldg 3F. Open 5pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
You'll find good Belgian food (including mussels and great frites), a nice selection of beers, and convenient late-night hours from this branch of the Belgian Beer Cafe chain (they also run Antwerp Central in Marunouchi).
[Go to branch review] Bizarres (Higashi-Ginza - Bar). 3545-5727
A friendly, relaxed bar with late-night hours, Bizarres draws a neighborhood crowd - both local residents and people who work at nearby ad agencies and other offices. The front room has a spacious (although sometimes smoky) bar area, while in back there's a lounge space furnished with sofas, comfortable chairs and a good sound system. The playlist seems to cover everything from hiphop and bossa nova to vocal jazz and bebop.
Ginza 3-14-5. Open 7pm-4am (Sat -11pm). Closed Sundays.
Zetton (Higashi-Ginza - Japanese). 5148-3600
Late-night drinks and pan-Asian fun food from the Nagoya-based Zetton group.
AC's atmosphere and decor are very European in feel, and the large food menu includes surprisingly authentic Belgian specialties like "stoemp" - a hearty platter of mashed potatoes and root vegetables. The bar serves more than 30 Belgian beers, including Leffe Blond and three others on tap. Ample terrace seating is available. Bar open until 4am weeknights, midnight weekends. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
You might not expect to find a bustling late-night drinking scene on the seventh floor of an office building, but Soba Kichi is just one small part of the very lively "Home" restaurant complex in the Shin-Maru Biru across from Tokyo Station. Budget prices are a big part of the appeal - you can enjoy a couple of drinks and snacks here for under Y2000. You might not expect to find a late-night drinking scene on the seventh floor of an office building, but we discovered a lively one in the "Home" restaurant complex in Marunouchi's Shin-Maru Biru. Soba Kichi occupies a small corner of Home, and they keep going until 4am every night but Sunday, packing in the crowds at least until the last train. Budget prices are a big part of the appeal - you can enjoy a couple of drinks and snacks here for under Y2000.
The setting is stylish, with the warm lighting and blond wood tones of the sleek central counter contrasting with the coolly lit terrace garden and the Marunouchi night sky just beyond the windows. The sake list (Y500-700 per glass) is very drinkable and tailored to match the food. You can also choose from beer, many different shochus, or several budget-level wines by the glass.
Fried foods dominate the menu, with deep-fried skewers of fish, vegetables and meats starting at just Y150 per skewer. If you want something heartier, there's a big pot of beef tendon stew bubbling away on the counter, served with garlic toast or by itself. Other snacks include grilled pork belly and kibinago (silver-stripe herring), and pork and chicken cutlets. As you might guess from the name, they offer several hot and cold soba dishes (Y650-1300). The specialty of the house is tempura-fried chicken served over a bowl of soba in a curry-flavored broth. [Show more] [Show less] Carino (Yotsuya 3-chome - Spanish). 3225-6226
"Jamon y vino" is the simple yet enticing concept at this small tapas bar, with Spanish wines starting at around Y3800 per bottle. Typical dishes include Iberico chorizo sausages, Catalan-style pizzas, and grilled meats and seafood on skewers. The food is great, but the pace of delivery can be somewhat leisurely. Budget around Y4000 for food and drink.
Arakicho 1, Nakabayashi Bldg 1F. Open 6pm-1:30am (LO). Closed Sundays.
Bottega (Yotsuya - Wine bar). 3358-9547
This casual bistro offers value-priced wines and meaty Mediterranean snacks late into the night. The spacious basement dining room has a warm feel to it - heavy on the wood and brick, with floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with wine bottles surrounding the tables. This casual bistro offers value-priced wines and meaty Mediterranean snacks late into the night. The spacious basement dining room has a warm feel to it - heavy on the wood and brick, with floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with wine bottles surrounding the tables.
Some fifty wines are available by the bottle, starting at just Y2500, with twelve poured by the glass. The food menu offers simple but satisfying fare like pork rillettes, assorted hams, country-style cassoulets, and tapas favorites like garlic-sauteed shrimp and mushrooms. [Show more] [Show less] Convivial bonhomie beams from the second-story window of this lively tapas bar in Kagurazaka. Inside, ceramic plates painted in sunny Andalucian colors hang above the brick-lined counter. Bottles of wine, conveniently marked with prices and descriptions, line the tall wooden shelves at the far end of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the space seem bigger than it is - the bar seats a scant twenty-four - and create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and open. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Bitter (Kagurazaka - Belgian rest/beer bar). 5261-3087
Often hidden backstreet bars like this - quiet, sophisticated, with tasteful but understated decor - specialize in expensive Scotch whisky or cocktails, so it's nice to find a place like this with a serious Belgian beer menu. Food includes freshly shaved Parmesan, pork rillettes and shepherd's pie, and prices are a bit higher than average (around Y1200-1500 for a typical bottle of Belgian). Located upstairs in a residential-looking building, the bar can be very hard to find, but that's part of its charm.
Tsukudocho 1-14, Sun Heights Sakatabashi 203. (walk up Kagurazaka-dori and turn right at Gojuban Chinese steamed bun shop, it's on the right side after about 4 min.) Open 5pm-2am. Closed weekends.
El Pulpo (Kagurazaka - Spanish). 3269-6088
Tapas bars and restaurants are over Tokyo, but El Pulpo may be the only place that bills itself as a "marisqueria" - a Spanish restaurant specializing in seafood. The food here is fantastic, using fresh seafood that's delivered directly from Odawara in Kanagawa Prefecture. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Kagurazaka 4-3, Miyazaki Bldg 1F. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
Brussels (Jimbocho - Belgian rest/beer bar). 3233-4247
This original branch of the pioneering Belgian beer bar chain is spread out over three very narrow floors, with cozy seating niches. There's a small food menu and a very good selection of beers.
Kanda Ogawamachi 3-16-1. Open 5:30pm-2am (5:30-11pm Sat.). Closed Sundays and holidays.
Vinuls (Ueno - Spanish). 5826-5753
Spanish food and reasonably priced French and Spanish wines, with convenient late-night hours.
Located at the top of the very cultural Amuse Museum, Bar Six offers a nice evening view of the illuminated pagoda and temple buildings of nearby Sensoji Temple. Weather permitting, the outdoor terrace seats offer the best view. Drinks include cocktails and a few Belgian beers, and the casual food menu includes tasty snacks like fried chicken.
Navel (Nakano - Wine bar). 5340-5808
Despite the close quarters, Navel is a relaxing place to enjoy a couple of drinks and a bite to eat. Around ten wines are available by the glass (Y300-), and selections change daily.This tiny wine bar occupies a sliver of space in the basement of an easily overlooked building, one minute away from Nakano station. It's a counter-only affair, and despite the close quarters, Navel is a relaxing place to enjoy a couple of drinks and a bite to eat. Around ten wines are available by the glass (Y300-), and selections change daily. There's no wine list, but the friendly and knowledgeable bartender will recommend one for you based on your preferences.
Like the bar itself, the food menu is small, but all of the dishes are reasonable (Y399-) and nicely done. Tasty snacks like homemade sausage patties, melted Camembert cheese, and grilled seafood are prepared on a diminutive iron griddle behind the counter.
In addition to wine, there is a large selection of distilled spirits - from single malts to unaged corn whiskey, and a range of eaux de vie. If you understand Japanese and you're curious about the difference between Cognac and Armagnac, tequila and mescal, or grappa and marc, this is a good place to ask. The bartender will be happy to expound on the topic. [Show more] [Show less] This small specialty bar offers the biggest selection of rum in Tokyo, with more than 400 varieties of rum. They also stock 100 kinds of bourbon.
A stylish but comfortable neighborhood cafe with free wifi and a simple cafe-style food and drink selection.
Aglio (Shimo-Takaido - Bar). 5300-1955
A cozy, warm bar with a nice selection of Belgian beers and also several wines by the glass (surprising for a beer bar).
With its spacious, lively dining room, convenient late-night hours, huge bar and wide-ranging food menu, Fireking has established itself as the hub of Uehara nightlife since its opening in 2000. It's busy until late at night with an eclectic and hip crowd.
Dish (Yoyogi-Uehara - Wine bar). 5465-6455
In laid-back Yoyogi-Uehara, magazine-reading, designer sneaker-wearing hipsters gather at Dish, a cheerful cafe just a stone's throw from the station. The space has an open, casual feel, decorated with urban mod flourishes - colorful sofas, fiberglass bucket chairs, and sixties-era bric-a-brac - that recall San Francisco's Mission district or Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Bouncy ska and Cuban R&B keep the mood lively, and original art is exhibited along the right-hand wall. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
440 (Shimo-Kitazawa - Bar). 3422-9449
This live music venue also serves lunch and keeps their bar open until 3am.
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.
Apollo (Shimo-Kitazawa - Bar). 090-2906-8082
This tiny basement bar hosts live performances from local jazz musicians a few evenings a week, and plays a wide assortment of jazz CDs and videos the rest of the time.
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.)
An extensive vinegar menu is one of Marusan's quirky features: they list several pages of oddly compelling vinegar-based cocktails and soft drinks, and even the food menu has a vinegar soup section (punnily listed as "su-pu"). The atmosphere is laid back, with comfortable sofas and jazz on the stereo. All the food we tried was top-notch; our champuru stir-fry filled with lots of fresh vegetables and our tender grilled chicken set off by an excellent spinach sauce.
Mu (Shimo-Kitazawa - Bar). 5454-1450
This quiet late-night bar serves a nice selection of cocktails and attracts an eclectic, grown-up clientele. The stylish lounge-type space is dimly lit, with a few comfortable seating areas and a decent sound system.
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.
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.
This late-night riverfront cafe offers a casual Italian-Mediterranean menu and open-air seating up front.
Kochi (Naka-Meguro - Kyushu). 5722-2778
This busy shochu specialist, with room for only 25 (including the outdoor seating that spills out onto the sidewalk), features over 100 varieties, along with Kagoshima style cooking. Nibble on izakaya standards like grilled chicken and buta no kakuni, or more unusual items like chicken sashimi. Budget around Y4000.
Red Book (Naka-Meguro - Cafe). 3710-3438
This tiny cafe serves tasty curries and dirt-cheap beer all day long. Choose from chicken, keema, or one of their daily specials (from Y650). The sea green walls scream Bangkok, while the single chandelier and squat velour bar seats seem lifted from New Orleans' French Quarter. Together with the tattooed, fedora-wearing clientele, the atmosphere is pure Tokyo.
Cecil B (Naka-Meguro - Bar). 3713-6613
It's an early-sixties swinging bachelor pad, with charmingly kitsch decor and a nice collection of vinyl R and 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.
Kami-Meguro 3-7-5-102. Open 7pm-4am. Closed Sun, 1st and 3rd Mon.
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.]
Bar Agrado (Naka-Meguro - Mediterranean). 6659-7223
Tapas and grilled items, a good selection of sherry, plus around 5 wines by the glass are available at this pleasant bar, located on a small side street behind the Nakameguro GT building. The first floor, with its counter seating (and standing room at the front), has a cozy, chilled out feel. Table seating can be found on the second floor. (Open 4-11:30pm Sundays and holidays.)
Prata (Naka-Meguro - Cafe). 3711-0051
An evening cafe with an eclectic food menu, mismatched furniture and a relaxed atmosphere. The extensive food menu (available in English) is inspired by a wide range of influences, from Vietnamese pho noodles, Thai soups and dim sum to vegetable platters and Mediterranean-style tapas. Freshly baked apple pie is one of the dessert highlights, and drinks include espresso, Chinese teas, herb teas and cocktails.
