BEST BARS IN TOKYO
REAL BARS I HIT ALL THE TIME.
Twelve real bars I go to, each with a tag that tells you what it's for. Only have one night? Start with the three from my video.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The best bars in Tokyo, for me, are small local spots in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ebisu and Sangenjaya, and none of them are in the famous tourist alleys. If you only have one night, do the three from my video: Grandfather's (cheap), Music Bar Cave (the mid-priced date spot) and Studio Mule (natural wine, costly). Every bar on this page is one I actually go to.
Get The Optimal First Trip to Tokyo free
THE BARS FROM THE VIDEO
What are the best music bars in Tokyo?
My three are Grandfather's, Music Bar Cave and Studio Mule, all in Shibuya, from cheapest to most expensive. They're the bars from my music bars video, and after 10 years of traveling to Japan and 3 years of living in Tokyo, they're still the ones I send people to first.
Hours change, so check before a special trip. Price bands are mine: $ is cheap, $$ is mid, $$$ is a splurge.
Grandfather's
Run by the coolest old Japanese guy of all time. He plays retro classics mixed in with 90s and early 2000s bangers while you chat with strangers over cheap drinks. Used to be big with models. Group-style seating, so you end up talking to strangers, with both bar and table seats. You can smoke inside.
Good to know: a basement bar about 180 m from Shibuya Station, open 5pm to 2am. It's closed Mondays, and maybe Tuesdays too, so check before a Tuesday. Smoking is allowed at every seat.
TIP Take a group seat. You'll end up talking to strangers.
Google MapsMusic Bar Cave
Perfect date spot. A vinyl DJ is always playing. Very interesting cocktails that always come with a free beef jerky, for some reason. Surprisingly good food, perfect music, friendly staff. It gets busy.
Good to know: in a basement 1 minute from Shibuya Station (exit B1/20a). Open Monday to Saturday, 6pm to 3am, and closed Sundays and holidays. It takes bookings on TableCheck, a booking site, for groups of up to 15, and a booking is cancelled automatically if you're late. Smoking is in a separate room, heated tobacco only.
TIP Order the AYB Sour, and make a reservation.
Google MapsI really enjoyed the bar suggestions… the highlight was Music Bar in Shibuya, I would never find it without your guide :D Place is lit
— Vlad, after his May Tokyo trip
Studio Mule
The all-time god-tier natural wine music bar. Holy grail for natural wine people, and even the snobby Europeans like it. It's a small, quiet room with a famous shiba inu that sits on the counter. The owner and staff are globally recognized wine and music experts, and the owner also runs a music label and DJs at serious clubs in Tokyo now and then. It's costly. If natural wine is your thing, pay it.
Good to know: third floor, about 650 m from Shinsen Station. Open 8pm to midnight with irregular days off, which it posts on its Instagram. It doesn't take bookings and has 11 counter seats.
TIP Keep it quiet, it's that kind of room.
Google MapsPERSONAL FAVORITES
Which Tokyo bars do I go to that aren't in the video?
Bar Benfiddich in Shinjuku, Bar Trench in Ebisu and A-Bridge in Sangenjaya. They weren't in the video, but maybe they should have been.
Bar Benfiddich
Herbal, wizard-level cocktails with absinthe vibes.
Good to know: 9th floor, Nishi-Shinjuku 1-13-7. Reservations only, and only through TableCheck. Bookings open on the 20th of the month before, and Tabelog warns about fake booking sites, so book through the link on its Tabelog page or its Instagram.
TIP Just tell them what you like and they'll make something good.
Google MapsBar Trench
A tiny, dark bar with serious bartending and absinthe-focused cocktails. These guys know exactly what they're doing, so just don't be loud.
Good to know: 3 minutes from Ebisu Station's West Exit. Open 6pm to 2am every day except New Year. No bookings, and no smoking inside.
TIP Don't be loud.
Google MapsA-Bridge
Rooftop bar with sunset views. Chill, indie feel in a lowkey neighborhood. One of the best lowkey rooftop spots in the city. More on the area in my Sangenjaya guide.
Good to know: on the roof floor of its building, about 4 minutes on foot from Sangen-jaya Station. Open from noon to midnight (11pm on Sundays and holidays) and closed Wednesdays. It has a separate smoking area. From Shibuya it's 4 to 5 minutes on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, ¥180 with an IC card.
TIP Go early for golden hour, stay for the vibe.
Google MapsTHE GOD-TIER TRIO
Which Tokyo bars are owned by the same person?
Bar Nica in Shinjuku and Bar Martha and Bar Track in Ebisu are all run by one company, Martha Records, with one owner for all three. They're my god-tier trio.
All three ban photos inside, so leave your phone in your pocket.
Bar Nica
Tiny bar. The bartender is a vinyl and cocktail nerd. He played me a rare Ella Fitzgerald record when I mentioned her.
Good to know: second floor, Shinjuku 3-9-2. Open 8pm to 3am and closed Sundays, with no bookings. Smoking is allowed at every seat, cigars included.
TIP No photos inside.
Google MapsBar Martha
A big room with a crazy record collection and good food, in a fancy area, so it's a good date spot. Talking loud is banned.
Good to know: 3 minutes from Ebisu Station's East Exit. Open 7pm to 3am, no bookings, and open nearly every day of the year. No photos and no chatting inside, and smoking is allowed at every seat.
TIP Keep your voice down. Talking loud is banned.
Google MapsBar Track
For spirits nerds, and it's well-lit. Same crew as Bar Martha, also in Ebisu, and it also slaps.
Good to know: about 125 m from Ebisu Station. Open 7pm to 3am, no bookings, open year-round. Smoking is allowed at every seat.
TIP No photos inside.
Google MapsAN EBISU NIGHT
What's Ebisu like at night?
Ebisu is where you go to drink, but fancy: when you want to feel a little fancy without the nightclub douchebag energy. Amazing bars, a yokochō where people hit on each other, and some of the best cocktail spots in the city.
- My take
- Go
- Give it
- One night
- From Shinjuku
- 8 min · ¥199 · JR Saikyo Line
- From Shibuya
- 2 min · ¥155 · JR Yamanote Line
Ebisu Yokocho, then Bar Trench, then Bar Martha is the god-tier Ebisu night. Eat first, drink well, finish with records.
FROM EBISU STATION
- Ebisu Yokocho. The food alley about 200 m from the station. Grab yakitori, sashimi or oden at whichever stall has a seat.
- Bar Trench. About 3 minutes from the West Exit. Absinthe-focused cocktails, and don't be loud.
- Bar Martha. About 3 minutes from the East Exit. Big room, crazy records, and talking loud is banned.
If you're a spirits nerd, swap Bar Track in for the last stop. Same crew as Martha, and also slaps.
Ebisu Yokocho
An indoor food alley with like 20 tiny stalls. Yakitori, sashimi, oden, fried stuff. Known for people hitting on each other. It's loud and smoky and kind of chaotic, which is the point.
Good to know: 19 shops, from charcoal grills and Kyoto-style oden to sashimi and robatayaki, and each shop sets its own hours and takes its own bookings.
TIP Ask each stall about its own hours.
Google MapsEbisu is also one of the best neighborhoods to base yourself: walkable and close to everything.
This hotel button is an affiliate link to Klook: I earn a commission if you book through it.
Paid link: I may earn a commission.
ALSO WORTH YOUR TIME
What other Tokyo bars are worth your time?
The Bellwood and The SG Club in Shibuya, and Bar Stereo in Takadanobaba. The Bellwood is the easy one if you want English-speaking staff and to meet people.
The Bellwood
Legit cocktails and English-speaking staff, and it's easy to meet people.
Good to know: about 10 minutes on foot from Shibuya Station. Open 6pm to 2am with no regular day off, and it takes bookings. No smoking.
TIP The staff speak English.
Google MapsThe SG Club
It has a speakeasy feel, insane cocktails and a dungeon floor downstairs, and the popcorn is psychotically good.
Good to know: about 8 minutes on foot from Shibuya Station. The ground floor and the basement are open 6pm to 1am, closed the 4th Monday of the month. The second floor is members only. No smoking.
TIP Get the popcorn.
Google MapsBar Stereo
Intro to the Baba area. Lowkey vibe. Plenty of cool jazz bars nearby for round 2.
Good to know: 5 minutes on foot from Takadanobaba Station, which is 4 minutes from Shinjuku on the JR Yamanote Line (¥155 with an IC card). Open Tuesday to Friday 7pm to 1am, weekends 7pm to midnight, and closed Mondays. Smoking allowed.
TIP Plenty of cool jazz bars nearby for round 2.
Google MapsA CHEAP NIGHT OUT
How do you have a cheap night out in Tokyo?
Drink where the salarymen drink: a standing bar, then an all-you-can-drink bar, then Torikizoku for food. That's my optimal Tokyo budget night out, from my budget night out video , and it costs about what one annoying fancy cocktail does back in the US.
- Before you go out, hit a konbini. Locate the sketchy shelf of elixirs. Drink the turmeric one (its name literally means "the power of turmeric") before you go out. That's how Japanese salarymen drink all night and still clock in at 6am.
- A tachinomiya (standing bar). These are cheap, and it's where you get into random conversations with Japanese people. Even if you can't speak Japanese, smiling at everyone and saying kanpai (cheers) will make you instant best friends with almost any salaryman.
- A nomihōdai spot (all-you-can-drink deal). Take your new best friends to one, where you drink as much as you want for 90 minutes at a set price.
- Torikizoku, when you're hungry. My personal favorite izakaya chain. Every food and drink item is the same price, and it never makes you pay for an otoshi (a small starter dish; the charge for it is the otoshidai, a table charge) just to sit down, which a lot of Japanese bars do.
- The morning after. Back to the konbini for the vitamin drink that strengthens your liver, so you don't wake up feeling like you just got hit by a shinkansen. If you missed the last train, the first one runs around 5am.
Torikizoku
Cheap, and it's everywhere. It only counts if you order the French fries in butter, the meat-filled green peppers and a mega draft beer. Only then are you allowed to enjoy.
Good to know: every food and drink item is ¥410 including tax (it went up from ¥390 on 1 Oct 2026). It never charges an otoshi, a seat charge or a late-night charge.
TIP Order the fries in butter, the meat-filled green peppers and a mega draft beer.
Google MapsGOLDEN GAI
Is Golden Gai worth it?
Not anymore, in my opinion. Golden Gai used to be amazing, and now it's on the basic tour circuit, so I don't go. I go to Sankaku Chitai in Sangenjaya instead, a maze of tiny bars two stops from Shibuya. It's what Golden Gai wants to be. The full story, and three places to start, is on my page about why I skip Golden Gai.
HOUSE RULES
What are the rules in small Tokyo bars?
Keep your voice down, put your phone away where photos are banned, and bring cash. These are spots I go to, so don't ruin the vibes. Go with someone you actually like, or go alone and vibe out.
- Don't be loud. At Bar Trench just don't be loud, and at Bar Martha talking loud is banned.
- No photos at the Martha bars. Bar Nica, Bar Martha and Bar Track all ban photos inside.
- Bring cash. Japan is more cash-heavy than you'd expect, and small bars and izakayas are often cash-only. 7-Eleven ATMs accept international cards, so hit one on day one.
- Book where it matters. Music Bar Cave gets busy, so make a reservation and be on time. Bar Benfiddich is reservations only. Bar Trench, Studio Mule and the three Martha bars don't take bookings, so just turn up.
- Become a regular. If you like a place and want to come back, bring a small, humble treat next time, like local sweets from a shop in the same neighborhood. Small is key.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
What are the best non-touristy bars in Tokyo?
For me: Grandfather's, Music Bar Cave and Studio Mule in Shibuya, Bar Benfiddich and Bar Nica in Shinjuku, Bar Trench, Bar Martha and Bar Track in Ebisu, A-Bridge in Sangenjaya, The Bellwood and The SG Club in Shibuya, and Bar Stereo in Takadanobaba. They're real bars I hit all the time.
What are the best bars in Tokyo for foreigners?
The Bellwood in Shibuya has English-speaking staff and it's easy to meet people there. At Grandfather's the group-style seating means you end up talking to strangers anyway.
Is Golden Gai worth it?
Not anymore, in my opinion. It's on the basic tour circuit now. I go to Sankaku Chitai in Sangenjaya instead, a maze of tiny bars two stops from Shibuya.
Can you smoke in Tokyo bars?
At some. You can smoke inside Grandfather's, and at every seat at Bar Nica, Bar Martha, Bar Track and Bar Stereo. Bar Trench, The Bellwood and The SG Club are no smoking.
How do you have a cheap night out in Tokyo?
Go to a tachinomiya (standing bar), then a nomihōdai spot (all-you-can-drink deal, 90 minutes at a set price), then Torikizoku, where every food and drink item is ¥410 and there's no otoshidai table charge.
Do I need cash for bars in Tokyo?
Bring some. Small bars and izakayas are often cash-only, and 7-Eleven ATMs accept international cards.
What's Ebisu like at night?
It's where you go to drink, but fancy. My god-tier Ebisu night is Ebisu Yokocho for food, then Bar Trench, then Bar Martha. Ebisu is 2 minutes from Shibuya on the JR Yamanote Line.
FREE TAKE-AWAY
Get The Optimal First Trip to Tokyo free
My bar list next to my manners guide and 20+ local spots, each with a Google Maps link, unlocked with your email.
You'll also get my emails. I keep the best Japan stuff off Instagram.
Unsubscribe anytime · Privacy policy
Done - here you go.
Open The Optimal First Trip to Tokyo → Open Tokyo Neighborhoods Guide → Open Japanese Manners Cheat Sheet → Open Tokyo Golf Guide → Open all my free guides →100K+ on Instagram · 8,800+ on my email list · 28,000+ people have messaged me
"I really loved reading all those helpful sheets you made. They are a valuable piece of my trip preparation… a big plus are your Tokyo bar recommendations as I usually avoid the hyped places to find the normal life."
Andrea, planning her Japan trip
The rest of the night
Tokyo Night Rules
These are the bars I hit all the time. Night Rules covers the whole night: where people actually meet, how not to get ripped off, and the last-train math that decides your night. The first chapter opens the moment you order.
$37 until Tue 15 Dec, then $47
Get Tokyo Night RulesPre-order. I'm finishing it now and it opens in your library by Tuesday 15 December 2026. If it isn't there by then, I refund you in full. You don't have to ask.
Right now I can only sell this outside the EU and the UK. If that's you, I'm sorry. I'll email the list when that changes.
THE FULL TOKYO GUIDE
THE TOKYO BIBLE
My complete Tokyo guide is in the works. Join the waitlist to hear when it's out.
Preview the Tokyo Bible and join the waitlist