From stylish cocktail lounges to hidden izakayas, these Tokyo best bars serve unforgettable drinks and killer atmospheres.
Table of Contents
1. The Bellwood
Nestled in Shibuya, The Bellwood is no ordinary cocktail bar—it’s the second Tokyo outpost from the globally celebrated SG Group (yes, the same crew behind SG Club). Since opening in 2020, it’s already landed a coveted spot in Asia’s 50 Best Bars. But what makes it truly special? It’s the personal project of Atsushi Suzuki, the 2017 Chivas Masters world champion.
Inspired by Japan’s Taisho-era “modern cafes,” the Bellwood takes that retro-chic spirit and gives it a modern twist—think vintage soul with cutting-edge mixology. Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve time-traveled… with a cocktail in hand.
Address: 41-31 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: instagram.com/the_bellwood
2. Gen Yamamoto
Forget the cocktail menus. At Gen Yamamoto, the experience is pure omakase—an intimate, guided tasting led by the man himself. Opened in 2013, this serene bar changed the global game by treating cocktails like storytelling, one seasonal ingredient at a time.
You’ll choose from four, six, or seven mini drinks, each one introduced with a gentle explanation in English or Japanese. The drinks are light, elegant, and ever-changing. It’s less about getting buzzed, and more about savoring flavor—slowly and deliberately.
Address: Anniversary Building 1F, 1-6-4 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Website: genyamamoto.jp
3. The SG Club
Ranked 3rd in Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2021, this place is nothing short of legendary. Created by cocktail wizard Shingo Gokan, The SG Club channels vintage Americana through a uniquely Japanese lens.
The bar splits into two vibes: “Guzzle” upstairs is all relaxed, fun energy, while “Sip” in the basement feels like an underground speakeasy. Cocktails are inspired by the cities that shaped Gokan’s journey—Tokyo, New York, and Havana—and every sip feels like a postcard from somewhere unforgettable.
Address: 1-7-8 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: instagram.com/the_sg_club
4. Bar Orchard Ginza
Hidden away just a few minutes from Ginza Station, Bar Orchard is a cozy, fruit-forward gem that earned a spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. It’s known for its dreamy seasonal cocktails—and when we say seasonal, we mean it. Everything revolves around what’s freshest, juiciest, and ripest that week.
One of the biggest showstoppers? Their frozen cocktails, crafted with liquid nitrogen. Swirling mist, sparkling glasses, and a splash of fruit magic—it’s all part of the vibe. A cocktail here isn’t just a drink, it’s a tiny edible memory.
Address: Sanraku Building 7F, 6-5-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Website: instagram.com/barorchardginza
5. Nakame Lounge & Gallery
Over in chilled-out Nakameguro, Nakame Lounge & Gallery is all about slow sipping and agave appreciation. This spot specializes in vintage tequilas and seasonal drinks, served in a cozy setting that feels more like an art-filled living room than a cocktail lounge.
The bartender, Faramarz Khademhosseini, curates a shelf of rare finds like Clase Azul and José Cuervo Reserva, including ceramic decanters that are practically works of art. Come for a tasting flight, stay for the tequila education—and don’t be surprised if you leave with a new obsession.
Address: 2-48-10 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Website: nakame.gallery
6. Mixology Salon
Perched on the 13th floor of Ginza Six, Mixology Salon is elegance distilled—literally. This serene, light-filled hideaway focuses on “teatails”: cocktails made with house-infused tea spirits like hojicha bourbon, sencha gin, and oolong rum.
Minimalist and refined, it feels like a modern Japanese tea room reimagined as a bar. Come with curiosity, leave in awe of how complex and comforting tea-based drinks can be. It’s like matcha and mixology had a very stylish baby.
Address: Ginza Six 13F, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Website: ginza6.tokyo.e.abf.hp.transer.com/shops/1239
7. Ishinohana
Just a five-minute walk from Shibuya Station, Ishinohana is a stylish basement bar helmed by award-winning mixologist Shinobu Ishigaki. His seasonal cocktails are bright, bold, and beautifully crafted with fresh fruits and vegetables.
From kumquat gin and tonics to candied cassis margaritas, the drinks are inventive without being over-the-top. Don’t miss his signature creations like the Claudia or Polar Star—true masterpieces in a glass. Ishinohana is Shibuya’s sophisticated answer to Ginza’s cocktail scene.
Address: 3-6-2 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 2nd Yagi Building B1F
Website: ishinohana.com
8. No. (Number)
Minimalist, modern, and just plain cool—No. is the kind of place that doesn’t need to shout. The design flows with freedom: a standing bar here, a terrace seat there, round tables, and open space that feels refreshingly unpretentious.
Their drink menu features mocktails simply named 1 through 5, plus rotating seasonal specials. Tea lovers will swoon over their collab with Nakameguro’s CHIYA-BA tea house, and the daytime Negroni? Yes, please. After 5 p.m., do yourself a favor and order the surprise hit: niboshi ramen. Paired with banana bread or egg salad sandwiches? Oddly perfect.
Address: CABO Uehara 1F, 1-32-3 Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: instagram.com/no.tokyo
9. Gaslight
Tucked away with a blink-and-you-miss-it sign, Gaslight is one of those hush-hush gems that serious cocktail fans whisper about. The original star of this bar group was the legendary Takao Mohri, but today it’s helmed by Noriyuki Iguchi, a national bartending champion—and the magic is alive and well.
Elegant but unfussy, Gaslight is the kind of bar where one perfect cocktail can make your whole night. If you find the entrance, go in. Behind that quiet door? A true Tokyo treasure.
Address: 3-3-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo All Nippon Express Kasumigaseki Bldg. 1F
Website: bar-gaslight.com
10. Virtù
On the 39th floor of the Four Seasons Otemachi, Virtù floats somewhere between Tokyo and a Gatsby dream. The skyline views? Unreal. The vibe? Luxe without being stuffy. French elegance meets Japanese flair in every carefully crafted cocktail.
The head bartender blends yuzu, matcha, and other seasonal flavors into refined drinks you can’t get anywhere else. And the food—truffle fries, wagyu katsu sandwiches, and chocolate bonbons—seals the deal. It’s date-night gold.
Address: 39F, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi, 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Website: fourseasons.com/otemachi/dining/restaurants/virtu
11. Bar Ao
Housed inside the beautifully repurposed K5 building—a former bank established by Eiichi Shibusawa—Bar Ao is a sultry, cerebral retreat. It feels like a library, a speakeasy, and a stylish teahouse all rolled into one.
The red velvet couch and marble tables channel vintage charm, while the cocktails draw on Asian botanicals and traditional herbal medicine. Think green tea-infused spirits, roasted hojicha, and earthy black tea blends that surprise and soothe. Sophisticated and soulful.
Address: 3-5 Nihonbashi Kabutocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (K5 1F)
Website: instagram.com/ao_k5_tokyo
12. Old Imperial Bar
At the heart of the Imperial Hotel, this bar is a living homage to architectural legend Frank Lloyd Wright. Original bricks and geometric walls from the Wright-designed building still grace the space, giving it that rare, time-stilled feeling.
Settle into a historic seat (yes, literally), and order their iconic “Mount Fuji” cocktail. Dreamed up in 1924, it’s a snowy blend of gin and egg white that feels like sipping elegance. If you’re a design nerd or history buff, this one’s not optional.
Address: 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Main Building Mezzanine)
Website: imperialhotel.co.jp/old_imperialbar
13. Shot Bar Zoetrope
If Japanese whisky makes your heart skip, Zoetrope in Nishi-Shinjuku is your temple. The walls are lined with over 300 bottles, many of them rare or long-gone from the market. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a curious newcomer, there’s a dram for you here.
The bar is movie-themed, the lighting is moody, and the atmosphere is intimate. Classic films play in the background while you sip single malts and savor small-batch perfection. It’s a love letter to both whisky and cinema.
Address: Gaia Building 3F, 7-10-14 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Website: facebook.com/ShotBarZoetrope
14. Bar La Hulotte
Tucked into the peaceful streets of Azabujuban, Bar La Hulotte is a quiet slice of design perfection. Everything here—from the soft lighting to the carefully curated music—feels intentional. The owner, once part of the legendary Minami Aoyama restaurant Radio, brings refinement without pretension.
It’s the kind of place where conversation flows, drinks sparkle, and time seems to slow down. If you’re chasing that elegant Tokyo evening with a side of intimacy, this is it.
Address: Ono Building 1F, 3-12-34 Motoazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Website: bar-la-hulotte.com
15. Bar Trench
Last but never least, Bar Trench is a tiny, moody nook just minutes from Ebisu Station—and finding it is half the fun. Look for the streetlamp and prepare to be transported.
Inside, you’ll find antique bookshelves, candlelight, and a drinks list built around herbal liqueurs, absinthe, and old-school artistry. The absinthe ritual (complete with sugar cube and fountain) is straight from a Montmartre dream. It’s the kind of place where the bartender reads your soul before mixing your drink.
Address: DIS Building 102, 1-5-8 Ebisu Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: small-axe.net/bar-trench
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