50 Best Bars in Tokyo, Japan

Local musicians jam at this narrow, ramshackle but well-established jazz café every night. It’s a very friendly hangout with a reputation for great music. Cover charges vary by performance.

On the seventh floor of the Shin-Marunouchi Building, you’ll find a 360-degree terrace with a number of lively restaurants and bars. Take in the night views of the Tokyo Station building and Imperial Palace gardens, and bar-hop 'til the early morning. On certain days, the venue hosts DJs and special events.

Positioned halfway down the prestigious shopping street Omotesando-dori, within spitting distance of such fashion giants as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Tod's, this hip restaurant-bar is a great place to rest after testing the limits of your credit card. With smoky floor-to-ceiling windows and cushy armchairs, the place attracts a hipper-than-thou clientele and young fashionistas. The bar food consists of prosciutto, salads, cheese plates, and the like.

This 10-story entertainment complex on the main Roppongi drag of Gaien-Higashi-dori has seven floors of karaoke rooms, some Bali-themed, with more than 10,000 foreign-song titles. Both large and small groups can be accommodated. A darts bar and a restaurant are also on-site. Rates start from ¥760 per hour, and there are also all-you-can drink deals to keep your tonsils nicely lubricated for singing.

Like most of Tokyo's high-end hotels, the Peninsula has a high-rise bar. But unlike many staid hotel bars, this 24th-floor spot with a forest of chrome trees, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, is lots of fun, with a wide range of cocktails and a smoke-free atmosphere.

Of the staggering 70 beers on tap here, most are top-quality Japanese microbrews, from pilsners to IPAs to barley wines. The owner is one of Japan's leading authorities on beer, and his passion is reflected in the quality of the offerings. The convivial, sports bar-like atmosphere attracts a mature clientele, making this a great post-sumo spot, but it can fill up quickly. The menu includes chicken ale confit, beery beef stew, beer cake, and beer ice cream.

Creative, beautifully crafted cocktails served in gorgeous glasses perfectly accompany the wooden interior of this bar, which has been serving drinks since its superstar bartender, Koji Ozaki, opened the place in 1972. He might still turn up depending on the night. You can't miss the sign outside what looks like an inviting house, where the ambience is elegant (so dress to match it).

All kinds of acts play at this "live house" and bar in Shimokitazawa. Admission runs ¥2,000 to ¥6,000 depending on the act. Check the website to see what's on.

They say that most major jazz musicians have played at least once in this classic Tokyo club now tucked into a basement. It stages mostly mainstream fare with the odd foray into the avant-garde. The emphasis here is strictly on jazz—and the place resembles a small concert hall. Entry runs ¥3,000 in the evenings and includes a drink. Some shows are pricier, and you might want a reservation.

Although it's primarily a liquor store specializing in products from Nagano prefecture, this place also functions as a casual, standing-room-only bar where you can sample more than 100 kinds of sake (paying per 110-milliliter glass), more than 60 craft beers from brewers such as Shiga Kogen, and interesting snacks like spiced cow's tongue. A great option is one of the many reasonably priced three-sake sampler sets. It's tricky to find, being on the first floor of a very dated office building opposite the west exit of Shimbashi Station, but look for the big statue of a tanuki (raccoon dog) with extremely large testicles that's outside the building, then go in and turn right. Staffers are very friendly and speak enough English to help with the sake choices. The clientele spills into the hallway when it gets crowded, and plastic hand fans are cached around the place for customer use on warm evenings.

A small, basic venue that been going strong since the late 1990s, Showboat attracts semi-professional and professional performers. Tickets run from ¥2,000 to ¥5,000, depending on the show and whether they're purchased in advance or at the door.

It's said that Ginza has all the best bars, and this may be the best of the lot. Owner, bartender, and mixologist Hisashi Kishi is the president of the Japan Bartenders Association, and his attention to detail in the narrow, dark, and calm room is staggering.

The concrete walls are adorned with rock musicians' autobiographies and posters of the Sex Pistols and Ramones, who also provide the sound track. Artist Yoshitomo Nara has been known to show up here, so if you're lucky, you can drink with him and watch him draw on the walls. This is a storied place, so if you're in the area and looking for a drink, it's not a poor choice.

Asakusa has plenty of izakaya, especially on Hoppy Street, but for just a drink (and without the smokiness of many izakaya), the Tavern is a good choice for its great selection of local and overseas whiskies, as well as sake and cocktails, not to mention Ken, the very cheerful owner–bartender.

Perched atop the Solamachi shopping complex, this bar–restaurant attracts locals and tourists for breathtaking views of Tokyo Skytree. Drink options includes a range of classic cocktails, and, if you are hungry, there's a menu of French-inspired dishes. The music's mostly jazz, and spacious and cushy seats, with sprawling views of Tokyo through the oversized glass windows and ceiling, make you want to linger.

This establishment—serving everything from standard beers to fruity cocktails—is a little pricier than many other bar–eateries, but the service, atmosphere, terrace, and city views make up for it. The restaurant is also open for lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends.

Specializing in seasonal sake, this little bar serves about 100 varieties from around 40 breweries, with prices starting from ¥300 per glass. Food is limited to appetizers that include salted squid, pickled cheese, and sea urchin. Dim lighting creates a nice mood, and the staff is happy to help you choose the right sake. Note that the surrounding Shinbashi district is a popular nighttime hangout for businesspeople, so don't be surprised to encounter wandering hordes of inebriated accountants on the streets.

This spacious pub in Ebisu feels more authentically British than many of its rivals, thanks partly to a menu of traditional pub grub, including steak pies. Aged logs make the second floor feel like a nice tree house. The place hosts regular live music (funk, folk, jazz, rock, reggae—anything goes here) and other events, so it can be very loud, particularly on Friday and Saturday.

Well-known techno, break-beat, and drum-and-bass DJs often stop by this place on their way through town. The turntable talent, local and international, and multiple floors of dance and lounge space make Womb a consistently rewarding club experience. Drawing adults from their late twenties to forties, the place gets packed sometimes after 1 in the morning. Entry costs around ¥3,000 or so depending on the event.

If you are after a familiar taste, this bar–restaurant serves beers from around the world, including 150 kinds in bottles and 15 more on tap. It's in the Solamachi retail complex and has a large, pleasant outdoor terrace with low-key downtown views. The food menu includes mussels steamed in beer and pickled ham hock.