Tokyo beer bars with nice decor, atmosphere or concept

Interesting decor, atmosphere or concept

Here are some Tokyo-area beer bars and other venues with especially nice atmosphere, interesting concepts or other special features.

world beer

Design Festa Gallery Cafe & Bar - Bar: Harajuku

There's a decent selection of beers from around the world, sold at reasonable prices at this quirky art-gallery bar. Just help yourself from the refrigerator and pay at the counter. The bar sits in the courtyard of a very bohemian art-gallery...

craft beer

PDX Taproom - Beer bar: Harajuku

There are maps of Portand Oregon on the wall and music from Portland indie bands on the stereo; the bartender sports a lumberjack shirt and a beard. Most important though, they sell Portland's greatest export - a rotating selection of ten craft...

craft beer

Haburashi Beer and Potato - Scandinavian: Shibuya

Scandinavian-themed craft-beer bars seem to be popping up all over Shibuya, but unlike the other bars, the cozy Haburashi (Toothbrush) also provides a menu of Nordic-inspired dishes like grilled salmon, smoked trout salad, roast beef, and Norwegian...

Retail

Jolly's - Liquor shop: Ebisu

Billing themselves as a liquor store and sound studio, Jolly's has been selling booze here in Ebisu since the 1920s. Nowadays they stock a decent selection of mostly US craft beers in cans and bottles - maybe forty in all, starting at around Y500...

attraction

Museum of Yebisu Beer - Attraction: Ebisu

Devoted to the proud history of the Yebisu beer brand, this recently renovated facility is built on the site of Tokyo's original Sapporo Brewery. It includes a spacious restaurant, a smaller exhibition area, a theater, and a well-stocked gift shop....

craft beer

Another8 - Bar: Meguro

Perhaps it's the chic, modern decor or the DJ booth at the front of the bar, but for some reason Another8 seems to attract a more stylish and cosmopolitan crowd than your typical beer bar. In addition to seven or eight taps of craft beer they also...

brewpub

Eitai Brewing - Brewpub: Kayabacho

With its waterfront location looking out over the Sumida River, this brewpub's ten-seat second-floor terrace is an especially pleasant spot from which to watch the parade of passing boats when the weather is nice. The bar offers a decent selection...

Interesting decor, atmosphere or concept

belgian

Bitter - Belgian rest/beer bar: Kagurazaka

Often hidden backstreet bars like this - quiet, sophisticated, with tasteful but understated decor - specialize in expensive Scotch whisky or cocktails, so it's nice to find a place like this with a serious Belgian beer menu. Food includes freshly...

craft beer

Hitachino Brewing Lab - Beer bar: Akihabara

Occupying one of the most stylish settings for a taproom in Tokyo, this brewing laboratory from the ever-popular Hitachino Nest beer offers seven beers on tap, including some experimental lab-only brews that they're trying out. The brewery's hoppy...

one or two beers

Zingaro - Cafe: Nakano

A project of well-known pop artist Takashi Murakami, this stylish cafe-bar offers a couple of local craft beers by the bottle - Baird lager and Hitachino Nest Daidai Ale, a nice American-style IPA. The setting is relaxed and appropriately whimsical...

craft beer

Gremlin - Beer bar: Hatagaya

Six Japanese craft beers are on tap here, including three hand pumps. Prices are reasonable and there's no cover charge. The soundtrack tends towards rockabilly.

brewpub

Thrash Zone - Brewpub: Yokohama Sta.

Extreme beers are the speciaty at this cozy little beer bar - heavy on the hops, and generally higher in alcohol content than your average mainstream lager. Many of the beers are made by Thrash Zone itself, with names like "Speed Kills IPA" (7.8%...

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