Cocktail bars in Tokyo that are masters of mixology

How does one stake out the best cocktail bars in Tokyo when virtually every bar presents its drinks with immaculate attention to detail? The Japanese tradition of omotenashi hospitality can be sensed in the bartender’s precise pouring, stirring, and tasting before each drink is served. Ingredients are also heightened, from locally made syrups and bitters to Japanese drinks such as shochu, sake, awamori, and whisky.

Many of the bars featured in this guide are an easy train ride away on the Yamanote Line – the major loop that connects Tokyo Station with Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu and Ikebukuro. Each has its own character and history, and all make masterful cocktails – many of these are listed as some of the best in Asia, if not the world.

Continue your evening at one of Tokyo’s best yakitori restaurants or dive into the city’s acclaimed nightlife, before bedding down in one of these recommended hotels.

From tuxedo-wearing master mixologists and pocket-sized standing bars to sipping Japanese whisky highballs in a hidden cellar until late, here are the best cocktail bars in Tokyo. Kanpai!

Ginza and Yurakucho

Mori Bar Gran

Best for: Rooftop martinis from a Tokyo mixology legend
Address: Sakura Marks Ginza 6, 6-12-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$$

Mori Bar was established by Takao Mori, who is possibly the most iconic bartender in Japan. Almost every respected bartender in Tokyo has spent time studying under this martini master. Mori Bar’s martinis are the cleanest, purest around, made from Ki No Bi dry gin produced in Kyoto, exclusively for Mori. Each bottle is marked with the bar’s name in resplendent calligraphy. Grab a seat on the rooftop terrace, or beside the yaezakura (multi-petalled cherry tree) on the terrace, with views of Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree.

Bar Landscape

Best For: Suited bartenders refining the classics 
Address: Sanwa Ginza Bldg, B1, 6-4-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$$

Husband and wife duo Kazuma and Tamiko Matsuo are award-winning bartenders who trained under master Mori before opening Bar Landscape in Ginza. Drinks are prepared by suited bartenders and served in a softly lit setting, with highlights including the whisky sour and tomato martini. There is also an impressive selection of Japanese whiskies and impeccably executed classics, such as the gimlet. In what can feel like an all-male bartender scene, Bar Landscape feels refreshingly distinct.

Old Imperial Bar

Best For: Exemplary service in cinematic setting by Frank Lloyd Wright
Address: Imperial Hotel, Mezzanine, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$$$

A bastion of Tokyo’s cocktail scene, Old Imperial Bar marked its centenary in 2023. It is set in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Imperial Hotel, and preserves the US modernist’s designs throughout, from the furnishing to the etched glassware. Lloyd Wright designed the hotel from 1913 to 1922, and lived and worked in Tokyo throughout the build. During this time, he visited gardens, waterfalls and temples, which inspired some of his other projects such as Falling Water in Pennsylvania. Stepping inside the warm, inviting Old Imperial Bar is like entering a film set in the roaring 20s.

Shibuya

Bar Ishinohana

Best For: Upscale umami-laced cocktails in an unpretentious space 
Address: Yagi Bldg, 2 FL, 3-6-2 Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$

Bar Ishinohana serves perhaps the best old fashioned in all of Tokyo. The umami-laden cocktail is made with Hakushu whisky steeped in shiitake mushrooms for 36 hours, then mixed with umami bitters and garnished with mushroom. There is also an excellent green tea old fashioned, alongside as sake and camomile martini. Anthony Bourdain was a fan of this bar, and it’s easy to picture him perched at the dimly lit dark counter. The menu changes monthly to reflect seasonal produce, making repeat visits worthwhile. While Bar Ishinohana is an upscale destination, it has a more casual air than other locations on this list.

The Bellwood

Best for: Saloon-style drinking with Taisho-era kissaten charm
Address: 41-31 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042
Price: $$

Walk uphill from the hubbub of Hachiko Exit and Shibuya Crossing and, as the streets gradually quieten, you will reach The Bellwood. World-class bartender Atsushi Suzuki and his team, clad in white lab coats, serve creative, fascinating cocktails in a cosy, wood panelled setting inspired by Taisho-era kissaten – coffee shops from the early 20th century – with hints of an Old West saloon. Tea and coffee feature prominently throughout the drinks menu, while a programme of brunches and food collaborations gives regulars reason to return.

The SG Club

Best for: Three drinking experiences under one roof
Address: 1-7-8 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$$

Founded by celebrated bartender Shingo Gokan, The SG Club brings together three distinct drinking experiences under one roof: Sip, a raucous, industrial speakeasy in the basement; Guzzle, a wood-clad lounge and cafe space on the ground floor; and Savor, a members-only cigar and cocktail club. The bar was founded by Shingo Gokan, who has equally lauded bars in Shanghai. The interiors draw inspiration from the first recorded voyage of a Japanese ship to America in 1860, blending Japanese and American influences throughout. The SG Club is the sibling of SG Low, which is considered one of the best izakaya in Tokyo. If you’re peckish, head round the corner and check it out.

Ebisu

Bar Trench

Best For: Long-established local standing bar
Address: 1-5-8 DIS Bld. 102, Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$

Ebisu, a district in Shibuya, boasts a number of restaurants, izakaya and tachinomi (standing bars). On a narrow Tokyo side street near Ebisu Station is the diminutive 23 sq m Bar Trench. Its cocktails focus particularly on absinthe, and combine the spirit with herbal liqueurs and a range of bitters such as yuzu and cardamon. Highlights on the seasonally changing menu are the Nikka coffee gin with sparkling sake, a bloody mary with tomato juice from Nagano, and a mezcal milk punch with pear brandy green tea. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable, and make use of the biggest bitters collection in Japan. As the bar fills up, expect to stand outside on the street, expertly made drink in hand. For a guaranteed seat, consider making a reservation at Bar Trench Annex.

Janai Coffee

Best For: A speakeasy hidden behind a coffee shop in Ebisu
Location: B1F 2-3-13 Ebisu-minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$

The name hints at the speakeasy hidden behind this fully operational coffee stand (janai means “not” in Japanese). The menu focuses on coffee-based cocktails, from a classic espresso martini to the more unconventional coffee lemon sour made with saffron gin, verjuice, fermented lemon, soda and coffee. Spirits, beer and wine are also on offer. Reservations are reserved for those who can solve the riddle on the bar’s website but here’s a clue: use a touchscreen device, run your finger around the logo and unlock the hidden page.

Hibiya

Folklore

Best for: Avant-garde libations rooted in Japanese terroir
Address: Hibiya Okuroji, 1-7-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku
Price: $$$$

For cocktails deeply rooted in Japanese terroir, head to Folklore. The minimalist interior is akin to a high-end sushi counter, crafted from reclaimed shrine and temple wood and finished with wattle-and-daub walls. Lab-coated bartenders build avant-garde creations, with a focus on Japanese sake, whisky, and the national spirit, shochu. The Retro Aroma blends artisanal sweet potato shochu from Nakamura Shuzo distillery in Kagashima with tea gin from Echigo Yakuso Distillery in Niigata. Cocktail flights offer an excellent introduction to the breadth and diversity of Japan’s spirits traditions.

Daikanyama

Flying Bumblebee

Best For: Subterranean den with industrial edge
Address: 13-7 Daikanyama B1 Bellby Daikanyama, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Price: Drinks from $$

At the centre of Flying Bumblebee sits a single long table, giving the bar the feel of a private dining room. Exposed concrete walls, a black lacquered bar and strip lighting add an industrial edge to the intimate basement space. The female-owned venue is minutes from Daikanyama, a neighbourhood affectionately known as Tokyo’s Little Brooklyn, owing to its many galleries, restaurants and boutiques. Original cocktails use Japanese amaro and hinoki whisky, including an aviation or mezcal martini. Save room for the cream puff, served with absinthe ice cream.

Shinjuku

Bar Nica

Best For: An intimate listening bar with meticulous cocktails
Address: 2 F Matsumoto Bldg, 3-9-2 Shinjuku, Tokyo
Price: $$

Bar Nica is a listening bar hidden just off Shinjuku-sanchome. Loud conversation is discouraged, but the vintage sound system is so superb that you’ll be happy to simply relish the sound. Photos are also not permitted, adding to the sense that you’ve stumbled upon a genuine neighbourhood secret. While the bar specialises in whisky and craft gin, bartender Ichi-san is equally adept at the classics. He’ll first cut the ice by hand and place it in a thin glass, followed by slices of lemon and sugar cubes doused in bitters. To sip an old fashioned by Ichi-san is to be transported back to the age of bebop. There are only seven stools here, so if it’s full, check out Bar Nica’s sister establishments Bar Martha in Ebisu and Bar Track in Shibuya.

Bar Benfiddich

Best for: Wild garnishing and vintage spirits
Address: Yamatoke Bldg, 9F, 1-13-7 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Price: With no menu and a raft of rare and unusual ingredients, prices vary widely

This longstanding favourite from bartender Hiroyasu Kayama is cocktail magic. Under its farm-to-glass philosophy, Kayama uses ingredients from his family farm outside Tokyo, alongside home brews and vintage spirits. Each drink is unique, served in antique glassware. Watching him at work with a mortar and pestle is half the fun, so get seats at the bar if you can. Reservations are essential and can be made via TableCheck. As a backup, sibling bar B&F on the second floor offers equally accomplished drinks, albeit with less mad-scientist charm.

Azabudai Hills

Sodden Frog

Best for: Gastronomic cocktails with Michelin pedigree
Address: Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza D 3F, 5-10-7 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$$$

This upscale bar off the new Azabudai Hills complex – home to Janu Tokyo – sits below Michelin-starred restaurant Florilege, and is run by the same team. Head bartender Shinnosuke Takada crafts complex cocktails with an epicurean sensibility, incorporating ingredients such as nori seaweed, rice malt, and seasonal vegetables. The bar menu is equally considered, with dishes including beef tartare and bone marrow flan Cocktail flights and an afternoon tea-style degustation pairing with nine snacks offers relatively good value for money.

Ikebukuro

Bar Libre

Best For: Smoking cocktails in a basement bar
Address: 3-25-8 B1, Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$

Bar Libre’s renowned nitrogen and smoking gun cocktails are a must try. Other menu highlights include the Asian pear cocktails, a pomegranate Jack Rose, myoga-infused drinks and a shishito margarita, all served in Japanese ceramics and glassware. If you’re hungry, we recommend one of the house curries or the horse sashimi from Kumamoto.

Shimokitazawa

Little Soul Cafe

Best For: Rum cocktails and a smooth vinyl soundtrack
Address: 2F, 3-20-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Prices: $$

Shimokita, as the area is often called, is known for its vintage shops and cafes. Little Soul Cafe is a lauded listening bar that matches vinyl with a vast rum selection. Unsure what to order? Ask the owner, Nobuo Miyamae, for a recommendation. Perch at the eight-seat counter, or one of the comfy sofas, and sit back as the bartender picks a record from the 14,000-strong collection.

Senganjaya

Coffee Bar Cielo

Best For: House-roasted coffee cocktails in a wood-lined hideaway
Address: 2-55-12 Sangenjaya, Setagaya, Tokyo
Price: $$

Coffee Bar Cielo is dedicated to boozy concoctions using house-roasted coffee. Bottles are displayed in wooden cabinets behind the bar, framed by traditional kumiko joinery. Espresso martinis come in herby or smoky variations, the latter made with Laphroaig whisky, alongside a finely balanced coffee-infused pisco sour. For something more theatrical, opt for flame-lit coffee served two ways: sweet with sherry or distinctly bitter.

Kagurazaka

Ahiru Sha

Best For: Cocktails and Showa-era vinyl above a ramen shop
Address: Kagurazaka 5 2F, 5-26 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$

The Kagurazaka neighbourhood is known for its French restaurants and one of the last remaining geisha and maiko communities outside of Kyoto. Above a ramen shop, Ahiru Sha is a relaxed listening bar with a vintage record player spinning Showa-era vinyl (1926-1989). Smoking is permitted, though a non-smoking section is available. The drinks list spans whisky-based cocktails such as sazeracs, alongside mezcal negronis, palomas and boccie balls.

Azabu Juban

Gen Yamamoto

Best For: Intimate omakase journey through the seasons
Address: Anniversary Building 1F, 1-6-4 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Price: $$$

If a cocktail bar could be meditative, it would be Gen Yamamoto, with just eight seats. Instead of music, the soundtrack is the muddling of ice and the careful pouring of drinks. Reservations must be made at least seven days in advance, but the experience is well worth planning for. Drinks are served by the white lab-coated owner as part of a set omakase menu of four to seven drinks, each showcasing seasonal ingredients at their peak. The bar is set in Azabu Juban, on the main shopping street.