Tokyo's Best Cocktail bars

BEES BAR by NARISAWA is a casual bar in Tokyo inspired by Japan’s forest culture. Its welcoming setting and array of drinks, from wines to cocktails, draw people looking for a relaxed place to spend time. Guests appreciate the straightforward approach and natural touch that set it apart from more typical spots.

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Karime López

Chef

I love this place. Casual food, Super nice drinks, wines and cocktails. A must in Tokyo.

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High Five in Tokyo stands out for its detailed approach to bartending, blending traditional Japanese techniques with influences picked up from around the world. Led by Hidetsugu Ueno, who trained under Hisashi Kishi and has lived overseas, it creates a relaxed setting that appeals to anyone looking for thoughtful service. This balance of old and new carries through in everything they do, reflecting Tokyo’s evolving bar scene.

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Ryan Chetiyawardana

Food writer and educator

Tokyo remains probably my favourite city to visit in the world, with incredible restaurants and and bar scene going on that I think now has a new wave. Whenever I go back to Bar High Five, it remains as the bar that I must see. There's some great places in Tokyo to seek out, from traditional all the way through to some more modern ones, but I think Bar High Five hits the right balance of both of those sides. It's got all of the beautiful attention to detail Japanese bartending that comes from bartender Hidetsugu Ueno that trained under Hisashi Kishi at Star Bar and has that excellence. He has travelled the world, he's lived in the US, he's got elements of this kind of worldly perspective that get married into that Japanese technique that I think just makes this place very, very special.

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Bar Benfiddich is a small, farm-to-counter bar in Tokyo where bartender Hiroyasu Kayama uses herbs and spices he grows himself. With no set menu, visitors talk with the bartender to create drinks that match their preferences, making each visit feel personal and welcoming.

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Kyoko Nakayama

Food & travel journalist

Farm to counter concept bar in the heart of Tokyo.Run by the owner bartender Hiroyasu Kayama. In Saitama prefecture, 90 mins train ride from the bar, he has his own farm formerly owned by his father. He grows herbs, spices, and fruits and makes his own liquor. You can enjoy it straight, but also in the cocktails where he's using these liquors.

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Star Bar Ginza has been around for decades, tucked away in a basement in the busy Ginza district. A master bartender oversees each step, focusing on classic techniques and quality ingredients, often served with hand-carved ice. With a small bar and a couple of corner tables, it offers a relaxed atmosphere for solo visitors or small groups.

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Kenneth Nars

Creative Director

Old school cocktail institution by master bartender Hisashi Kishi, serving classic drinks with hand carved ice.Star Bar has been around for decades and is located in a basement right in the busy business and shopping streets in Ginza. This old fashioned cocktail institution is run by master bartender Hisashi Kishi. Expect perfected classics like dry martini, margarita and sidecar-also there’s an impressive whisky selection of Japanese and Scotch, served with hand carved ice if you prefer. When alone you can sit by the bar, otherwise there are 8 chairs by two corner tables, so no big groups.

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FUGLEN ASAKUSA is a Nordic-inspired coffee house and cocktail bar in Tokyo’s Asakusa district. It sits on the first two floors of a unique building near the western entrance of Sensoji Temple, blending local tradition with modern style. Guests can enjoy freshly roasted coffee during the day and cocktails in the evening in a relaxed, welcoming space.

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Toni Toivanen

R&D Noma

Nordic coffee house in the middle of Tokyo.Whenever I feel I'm missing those cinnamon buns and a cup of good coffee this is the place to go! Maybe the best coffee in Tokyo with switch coffee.

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