Must-see nightlife in Tokyo

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

This mellow space plays worldwide trance and ambient sounds for barefoot patrons. Mattresses in the middle of the floor provide refuge from the madding…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

This glass jewel box from architect Kengo Kuma sits prettily in the landscaped garden on the grounds of the Nezu Museum. Coffee is ¥650.

This branch of the Craft Beer microbrewery chain, with some 30 ales available, specialises in roast chicken on its food menu.

Branch of the microbrew-pub Craft Beer Market with over 30 craft beers on tap (including obscure Japanese brews).

Pizza is the speciality at this branch of the Craft Beer pub chain, where there are some 30 ales available.

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…

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.