Tokyo
In a handy location near Tokyo Station, this contemporary-style craft-beer pub attracts groups of after-work office workers keeping it lively. There are…
Must-see nightlife in Tokyo
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
Bear Pond's thick syrupy 'angel stain' espresso (¥690) is considered holy grail by many. The owner only pulls a limited number before noon; lattes etc are…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
Local hotspot Onibus Coffee perfectly nails two of Tokyo's current obsessions: third-wave coffee and vintage wooden buildings. The beans here are roasted…
Ueno & Yanesen
It's fitting that Yanaka, which refuses to trash the past, would have a bar that doubles as a used bookstore. Sure, the books are in Japanese but you can…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
Dress to impress to gain entry to this bling-tastic, two-level dance club that's one of the classier late-night joints around Roppongi. It's always free…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Off an alley parallel to Yasukuni-dōri, this wonderfully retro cafe plays old tango tunes on the sound system and serves blends such as Kilimanjaro coffee…
Tokyo
This rustic cafe and art gallery is worth dropping by for a drink and a snack break if you're exploring the Agata Takezawa Building. As well as coffees,…
Asakusa & Sumida River
Run by a wild gang of local hippies, 'Cuzn is the kind of bar where anything can happen: a barbecue, a jam session or all-night karaoke, for example.
Tokyo
Down your beer or sake as trains rattle overhead on the tracks that span Harumi-dōri at Yūrakuchō. This convivial izakaya (Japanese pub-eatery), plastered…
Harajuku & Aoyama
Glass-fronted cafe with indoor and outdoor seating on the path to Meiji-jingū. Good for a coffee break; they also serve ice cream.
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
With decor that is a cut above the other yodelling parlours, Pasela offers six floors of karaoke rooms (including swanky VIP suites), an extensive…
Tokyo
Oddly, this cafe inside Nakano Broadway from well-known artist provocateur Takashi Murakami has zero shock value. It just serves really good coffee from…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
This branch of a generic national karaoke chain was immortalised as a location in the film Lost in Translation. Another draw: the rack of costumes in the…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This over-the-top lounge bar is from the same people behind the equally over-the-top Robot Restaurant, and is in the same building; enter around the back…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
Mu-an is a wooden Meiji-era (1868–1912) teahouse relocated to the gardens of Happō-en. Stop by for a bowl of bitter, moss-green matcha (powdered green tea…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
Decked out with velveteen booths, fairy lights and foliage (and with zero interest in trendiness) Enjoy House is a fun place to spend the evening. DJs…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
Good Beer Faucets has 40 shiny taps and a changing line-up of beers that includes some Japanese craft brews. The interior is chrome and concrete, and not…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
This tiny, sparkly gem of a cocktail lounge hosts both DJs and live-music events, with attractively low cover charges (around ¥1500) and sometimes none at…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
Streamer Coffee Company provides the gourmet joe for this spacious cafe with free wi-fi, big shared tables and a view onto the attached Mercedes Benz…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
Buri – the name means 'super' in Hiroshima dialect – is one of Ebisu's many tachinomi-ya (small, standing-only bars). Generous quantities of sake (more…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
At this long-time expat hangout, the beer (pints from ¥900) and pub grub are well up to scratch and local bands play for free nightly. It has an unlikely…
Ginza & Tsukiji
Look for the wood and frosted-glass door to enter this gent's-club-like bar. It has a mismatched range of comfy chairs, dark corners and an old…
Asakusa & Sumida River
Beside a lovely Edo-period garden and near the sumo stadium, this all-day cafe is a pleasant spot for a soft drink during the day or a cocktail (¥550) or…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
Vision is huge – by Tokyo standards – with four dance floors and room for 1000. Each room plays something different, be it house, hip-hop, EDM or J-pop,…
Harajuku & Aoyama
This tinted-glass cube is a calm, dimly lit retreat from the busy streets. It’s perfect for holing up with a pot of tea and watching the crowds go by. Or,…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Can't get a ticket to see the 60-strong supergirl pop-group AKB48? Come instead to their official cafe to watch videos of the J-pop phenomenon play on…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
This mellow space plays worldwide trance and ambient sounds for barefoot patrons. Mattresses in the middle of the floor provide refuge from the madding…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This Kagurazaka hideaway has a wide range of Belgian beers on tap (from ¥800 to ¥2600 a glass) and a moody, industrial interior. Look for it above a…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
Downright spacious for Golden Gai, always friendly Araku has a sofa and is particularly good if you're hanging out in a group. The ¥700 cover charge is…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
Even though it has only a few seats inside, Sarutahiko Coffee is Ebisu's most popular caffeine pit stop, serving both hand-drip (from ¥470) and espresso…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This quirky little place shares space with Studio Uamou and the cartoonish characters of designer Takagi Ayako. On the menu are beer, teas and light pasta…
Odaiba & Tokyo Bay
Stand for hot dogs (¥550), chips (¥250) and beer (can/draft ¥350/550) with terrace seating on the edge of the bay at Odaiba Kaihin-kōen.
Harajuku & Aoyama
This glass jewel box from architect Kengo Kuma sits prettily in the landscaped garden on the grounds of the Nezu Museum. Coffee is ¥650.
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This branch of the Craft Beer microbrewery chain, with some 30 ales available, specialises in roast chicken on its food menu.
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
Branch of the microbrew-pub Craft Beer Market with over 30 craft beers on tap (including obscure Japanese brews).
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Pizza is the speciality at this branch of the Craft Beer pub chain, where there are some 30 ales available.
Harajuku & Aoyama
Artist Yoshitomo Nara (known for his portraits of punkish tots) and design firm Graf teamed up in the mid-aughts to create this cafe with wooden…
Odaiba & Tokyo Bay
On the ground floor of an office building, this contemporary design cafe serves up coffee and lunch specials (from ¥900) in a colourful, relaxed setting.
