32 best bars in Tokyo for cocktails, beer, gin, whisky and more

Tokyo Confidential is a refreshing addition to Tokyo’s cocktail scene. The stylish space doesn’t feel like a typical Japanese cocktail bar – not that there’s anything wrong with Tokyo’s more genteel drinking dens – as it offers a more casual and relaxed environment for you to just drop in without fussing over reservations and strict bar rules. At times, the bar doesn’t even feel like Tokyo at all – until you take in the unobstructed view of Tokyo Tower from the open-air terrace. 

The folks behind Tokyo Confidential have some serious street cred. Founder Holly Graham, for instance, was ranked in the top 10 of Bar World 100, a list of the globe's most influential figures in the bar industry. Head bartender Wakana Murata, on the other hand, was on the opening team of Tokyo Edition’s much-loaded Gold Bar.

Highlights include the Bronx Cheer, a refreshing drink made with sherry, grappa, soju, rosé wine and raspberry. For something stronger, go for the Cheung Fun Old Fashioned inspired by the classic Chinese rice roll dish featuring peanut and sesame bourbon, soy caramel and bitters.

Now independent from the SG Group, but still under the stewardship of founder and head bartender Atsushi Suzuki, The Bellwood continues to garner acclaim, even ranking at No. 32 on the most recent list of Asia's 50 Best Bars.

The bar’s decor features sepia-toned photographs, wood-relief finishings, and stained glass that evoke the Taisho-era cafe-bars where Japan’s cocktail culture began to flourish. But the drinks are anything but old-fashioned.

Cocktails range from the light and fruity Miyako Fizz which sees Zubrowka vodka, kombu and umeboshi topped with club soda, to the umami-packed, savoury Yaki-Bloody Mary with smoked vodka, yellow tomato, black garlic and mango. 

For those whose appetites are piqued by the drink menu, the experience is elevated further in an inner sanctum where The Bellwood’s executive chef Ayaka Terai crafts inventive nigiri paired with exclusive cocktails (¥12,000 per person). Reservations are essential.

The SG Club knows how to have fun with cocktails while still maintaining the level of professionalism that has come to exemplify Tokyo's cocktail scene. The bar was recently ranked No 23 on the 2024 Asia's 50 Best Bars list, making this the ninth consecutive year that The SG Club has secured a spot on the prestigious list.

The bar is spread out over two floors, each with a different concept and menu. The ground floor space, named Guzzle, is a casual watering hole. The basement, on the other hand, is named Sip, a sophisticated den with the vibes of a speakeasy and a shoe-shine service.

The elaborate drink menu is as eclectic as The SG Club's clientele, often blending influences and ingredients from both Japan and abroad to great results. The best part is, there's an English menu and there's no table/cover charge for Guzzle (Sip, however, adds on a service charge).

Hotel bars, in particular those in luxury properties, are often too genteel and intimidating, especially for non-staying guests. But Virtù at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi breaks all luxury hotel bar stereotypes with fun and flair. The inspectors for Asia’s 50 Best Bars seemed to agree, as they placed Virtù in 11th place on the prestigious 2024 list.

Perched on the 39th floor with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Virtù naturally has a gorgeous view of the financial district skyscrapers as well as Tokyo Skytree. But you might be too taken by the handsome interior to pay any heed to what’s outside. The art deco-inspired design brings to mind ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the style of the Roaring Twenties.

The menu features a surprising list of rare and vintage French alcohol, especially cognacs and armagnacs, complemented by a commendable selection of Japanese whiskies and spirits. This Paris-meets-Tokyo sensibility is also present in the conceptual menu, which categorises its extensive cocktail list into seven virtues derived from Japanese and French folklore.

A highlight is the super-smooth Smoked Ume Fashioned, which puts a twist on the classic old-fashioned by pairing homemade brandy umeshu (plum liquor) with an elegant Japanese whisky and woody hinoki bitters.

This cosy cocktail den hidden in the Toranomon Hills Business Tower has one of the most interesting bar concepts in Tokyo. The plant-filled, wood-accented interior is reminiscent of a plush safari lodge and hints at the bar’s botanical leanings. While the menu features drinks made with fruit and herbs, the hero here is the cacao.

Led by acclaimed bartender Shuzo Nagumo, Memento Mori celebrates cacao in its various forms – not just the final product that we are all too familiar with, ie, chocolate. The best way to savour this concept is with the Bean to Glass signature cocktail course, which comes with the option of having three, four or five items.

As Memento Mori takes pride in working with fair trade companies that source directly from farmers in different parts of the world, the menu goes into detail explaining the provenance of each cacao and its unique flavour profile. Madagascar cacao, for instance, possesses fruity acidity with a complex aroma while Colombian cacao has notes of black tea and honey. And you can really taste the terroir in the cocktails, of which there is a long list, ranging from reworked classics like Amazon Cacao Negroni (with cacao Campari) to new creations such as the dessert-like Caramel Mango Cake (with cacao vodka).