- Craft Beer Bars Japan

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Craft-beer bars with good food
Restaurants with craft beers and good food
Yokohama, Kanagawa

Tokyo area

Here are some top picks for Tokyo-area beer bars with especially good food, and restaurants with good craft-beer offerings.

Craft-beer bars with good food

craft beer

Vector Beer - Izakaya: Shinjuku Gyoen-mae

It may look like just another Tokyo craft-beer bar, but Vector serves up an appealing menu of beef-tongue dishes and other solid izakaya fare, making it a popular dining destination as well as a bar. The charcoal-grilled sumibiyaki tongue (Y980) in...

craft beer

Brussels Beer Project - Beer bar: Nishi-Shinjuku

Not to be confused with your typical Belgian beer bar, BBP is actually a craft-beer taproom - one of the best in Tokyo in our opinion. They serve a lineup of more than a dozen beers on tap from a small craft brewery in Belgium, including...

restaurant

Yona Yona Beer Works - Beer bar: Omotesando

A dozen beers from the popular Yo-Ho Brewing in Karuizawa are on tap here, including a very drinkable IPA and some seasonal specials. The food is well above average for a beer bar, with appealing sausage variations (coriander-lemon, yuzu pepper,...

german

Schmatz - German: Shibuya

This casual German beer bar offers eight German and German-style beers on tap, including five of Schmatz's original brews, and you can order a tasting flights of any three beers you like. There's an extensive food menu of pizzas, pastas and...

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...

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...

craft beer

Belly Craft - Beer bar: Kamiyacho

Craft beers are accompanied by an extensive Japanese food menu at this 30-seat bar-restaurant next to Kamiyacho Station. The casual menu wouldn't seem out of place in a typical Tokyo izakaya, with classic dishes like organ-meat stews, fried tofu,...

restaurant

Crazy Pizza - Pizzeria: Toranomon

They aren't kidding - some of these pizzas really are crazy! The kitchen here enthusiastically experiments with variations like Gyros Pizza and Micro-sardine Pizza along with offbeat side dishes like Marinated Octopus with Tapenade. There's a...

restaurant

Dam Brewery Restaurant - Beer bar: Toranomon

Occupying a spacious 82-seat spread at the very back of Toranomon's T-Market restaurant complex, Dam Brewery serves two of their own beers as well as a rotating guest roster. During a recent visit their brewed-on-premises beers were a saison and a...

restaurant

Yona Yona Beer Works - Beer bar: Shimbashi

Run by the Wondertable group and serving beer supplied by Karuizawa's Yaho Brewing (Yona Yona), this branch of the Beer Works offers the usual selection of tasty craft-sausage variations and roast Date Chicken that the chain is known for. There are...

belgian

Antwerp Central - Belgian rest/beer bar: Marunouchi

There are a lot of good Belgian beer bars in Tokyo, but Antwerp Central is far and away the biggest - a sprawling cafe/ bar/ restaurant with several dining spaces and a big outdoor terrace. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the bar's size,...

craft beer

Nihonbashi Brewery T.S. - Beer bar: Yaesu

The second branch of the Bakurocho-based bar-brewpub serves beers from Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) in Portland, Oregon, plus guest beers, at least one cider, and one or two of their own house beers. There are thirteen taps in all, and beers come...

craft beer

Isekadoya Beer - Japanese regional: Yaesu

Run by the excellent Isekadoya craft-beer brewery, this lively izakaya serves thirteen of the brewery's beers on tap along with several kinds of sake from Mie Prefecture. The kitchen turns out regional Mie cuisine built around local ingredients -...

restaurant

Bertrand Larcher Bar a Cidre - French: Kagurazaka

Attached to fancy French restaurant Bertrand Larcher, the Bar a Cidre is a great place to explore French ciders along with modern Breton cuisine. The drinks list offers three dozen ciders - mostly from various regions of France and mostly priced in...

craft beer

Craft Beer Market - Beer bar: Kanda

One thing we like about this craft-beer bar chain, besides the reasonable prices and broad beer selection, is that fact that each branch has its own distinctive food menu. The theme here at CBM's tenth branch is lamb, and the kitchen goes all out...

restaurant

Yona Yona Beer Works - Beer bar: Kanda

The second Tokyo outlet of Nagano Prefecture's Yo-Ho Brewing, this Kanda branch offers a more ambitious food menu as well as a dozen of the brewery's beers on draft, including a couple of hand-pumped real ales. Excellent roast Date chicken, an...

german

Schmatz - German: Kanda

Hearty German food and a roster of reasonably priced German-style draft beers are the draw at this popular German chain restaurant. The eight beers on tap are priced at Y650 and Y950 for small and large sizes, and include five of Schmatz's original...

craft beer

Craft Beer Market - Beer bar: Kichijoji

The bars in the CBM chain all offer different food menus, and this sixth branch features Okinawan-style Chinese cuisine. The food is quite beer-compatible, with tasty small dishes like maguro poki (tuna poke), stewed pork and chozume...

restaurant

Yona Yona Beer Works - Beer bar: Kichijoji

This fourth branch of the popular Yona Yona beer bar, its first venue outside central Tokyo, offers the same lineup of a dozen or so beers from Nagano brewery Yo-Ho, including seasonal specials. The stylishly appointed, massive dining room is far...

craft beer

Craft Beer Market Penny Lane - Beer bar: Kichijoji

Gyoza dumplings and budget-friendly craft beers are the draws at this second Kichijoji branch of the popular CBM chain. Along with several types of dumplings, the kitchen also specializes in Ryukyu-style Chinese dishes, with Taiwan-style mazemen...

craft beer

Hatos Outside - Beer bar: Shimo-Takaido

Craft beer and curry are the draws at this neighborhood curry shop and beer bar. You can choose from four different types of Indo-style Japanese curries, all distinctively flavored and very tasty. Two- and three-curry sets are available if you...

craft beer

Kazenori Meri - Beer bar: Shimo-Kitazawa

The well-chosen selection of twenty craft beers here is accompanied by a very nice food menu, with enticing dishes like stewed pork belly and chicken wings, herb-infused fish and chips, and potato salad with chicken breast and avocado. There are...

craft beer

Hatos Bar - Beer bar: Naka-Meguro

Excellent American-style barbecue and nice microbrew beers to go with them are the surprising finds at this charming neighborhood bar. Richly marbled pork belly was our favorite, but we also greatly enjoyed Hatos's baby-back ribs, pulled-pork...

craft beer

Beer Boy - Beer bar: Naka-Meguro

Produced by the popular Craft Beer Market chain, Beer Boy is a standing bar with nine taps of craft beers and an izakaya-style food menu. Food comes in small, snack-size portions and it's consistently well prepared and often creatively conceived. ...

Restaurants with craft beers and good food

restaurant

Hohokam Diner - Burgers: Harajuku

Excellent burgers and sandwiches, good American craft beers by the bottle, and outdoor terrace seating are some of the attractions at this stylish all-day burger joint in the heart of Harajuku.

craft beer

Smokehouse - American: Harajuku

There's great American-style barbecue and a nice collection of a dozen craft beers to wash it down at this cozy bar-restaurant located halfway along Cat Street. Weekday lunches start at Y1000, and during the evening you can snack on sandwiches...

craft beer

Gar Eden - Italian: Omotesando

An Italian restaurant with a good craft-beer selection is a nice find, but if you're not hungry you can come just for the beer. The ten taps dispense an assortment of Japanese, US and European craft beers, with some unusual finds (a Swiss sour ale!)...

restaurant

Burger Mania - Burgers: Ebisu

This branch of the popular burger chain offers a well-chosen selection of craft beers to go with your burgers, from breweries like Green Flash, Ballast Point and Far Yeast. The six taps include one IPA, one white beer, one stout, and so on, and are...

craft beer

Bakushuan - Izakaya: Ebisu

If you like both craft beer and craft sake, and you find yourself in Ebisu, this branch of Otsuka's legendary Bakushuan beer bar is the place for you. Ten mainly Japanese craft beers are served on tap, and there's an impressive sake list along with...

restaurant

Burger Mania - Burgers: Hiroo

Good American-style gourmet burgers and sandwiches are served here, with six taps of craft beer in different styles - lager, pale ale, IPA and so on. Draft beers are Y880 and Y1100 (370ml and 473ml sizes), and some bottles and cans are also...

restaurant

Burger Mania - Burgers: Shirokanedai

The original shop of this popular burger chain serves American-style gourmet burgers and sandwiches. Craft-beer fans can choose from six beers on draft, including one each of stout, lager, pale ale, and IPA styles and one seasonal beer. Draft...

restaurant

Bakushuan - Izakaya: Mitsukoshimae

Izakayas with great selections of both sake and craft beer aren't all that common in Tokyo, so Bakushuan is worth knowing about for that reason alone. But even without drinks, the excellent food stands on its own merits. It's a more delicate,...

craft beer

Cruz Burgers - Burgers: Yotsuya

Cruz offers one of the best combinations of deluxe burgers and craft beers in Tokyo. The burgers are top-notch (the chef is a veteran of Firehouse in Hongo), and come in interesting variations like the "Green" burger, which is topped with spinach,...

craft beer

No 4 - Bakery: Ichigaya

A casual bakery and all-day cafe, No 4 (named after its Yonbancho location) offers local diners everything from fresh-baked sourdough bread, pastries and fantastic coffee (from the excellent Nozy coffee roastery) in the mornings to craft beers (from...

restaurant

Gachimaya - Okinawan: Jimbocho

If you like Okinawan food and enjoy trying new craft beers, this casual basement izakaya is well worth a visit. Along with a selection of well-prepared Okinawan fare you can choose from nine rotating taps of craft beers, representing multiple...

restaurant

Karakuri - Oden: Kanda

Kakakuri is one of the rare drinking spots in Tokyo where you can find first-rate selections of both craft beer and craft sake. Despite the row of beer taps behind the counter, it feels more like a cozy neighborhood izakaya than a beer bar, and the...

restaurant

Himalaya Table - Nepalese: Kanda

Do craft beers go with Nepalese cuisine? The folks at Himalaya Table Craft Beer and Spice think so, and so they offer eight microbrews on tap - chosen to go well with your momo mutton dumplings, spicy stir-fried chicken livers, fried peanuts and...

brewpub

Nihonbashi Brewery - Brewpub: Bakurocho

This brewpub is run by a veteran of HUB (Hopworks Urban Brewery) in Portland, Oregon, and the thirteen taps here carry HUB beers and other imports, domestic Japanese craft beers from producers like Kyoto Brewing, and one or two of their own house...

craft beer

Bakushuan - Beer bar: Otsuka

Although it looks like an old-fashioned izakaya inside, Bakushuan serves a modern selection of ten Japanese and US craft beers on tap in addition to its very respectable sake list. In fact customers are more or less required to order a beer to...

brewpub

T.Y. Harbor Brewery - Brewpub: Tennozu Isle

Exciting, well-centered modern American cuisine - drawing on European and middle Eastern and Asian influences - from this bayside brewpub. The wine list is fantastic, with good values at every price level.

restaurant

El Pato - American: Koenji

Tasty American-style burgers are the main draw at this casual diner, along with tacos and small tapas-style dishes. They also serve some top-notch craft beers from Nagano brewery Shiga Kogen on tap (IPA plus one seasonal beer), along with US craft...

Yokohama, Kanagawa

german

Great German Cook (GGC) - German: Kawasaki

With its old-fashioned wood-themed decor and its traditional German food menu, this long-running beer hall feels like a relic of past times. The extensive beer list is quite up to date though - in addition to more than two dozen traditional German...

craft beer

800 Degrees Craft Brew Stand - Beer bar: Yokohama Sta.

Craft beers and gourmet coffee are the main draws at this all-day cafe-bar, supported by a solid menu of artisanal sausages and charcuterie snacks. Seven taps dispense beers from a handful of local-area breweries, including a couple of original...

restaurant

Green Bashamichi - Grill: Yokohama Bashamichi

Charcoal Grill Green Bashamichi serves up a very appealing menu of grilled meats and seafood along with creative starters, California wines and a handful of local craft beers. The setup is casual bistro-style, with a comfortable eight-seat counter...

restaurant

Midtown BBQ - American: Yokohama Nihon-Odori

Fantastic wagyu brisket is one of the highlights at this spacious new American-barbecue joint around the corner from Yokohama Stadium. They offer a full range of expertly barbecued meats including pulled pork, ribs, smoked sausages and chicken,...

craft beer

Gather @ Eating House - Beer bar: Yokohama Shinko

With 250 seats, this is one of the biggest craft-beer bars we've been to in Japan, and the spacious outdoor terrace is a convivial gathering spot when the weather is nice. They pour a selection of twenty beers on tap, roughly divided between local...

craft beer

Mokichi Craft Beer - Beer bar: Fujisawa-shi

Conveniently located close to Fujisawa Station, Mokichi is a taproom for Shonan Beer, a very drinkable lineup of craft beers made by the Kumazawa Shuzo sake brewery in nearby Chigasaki. They offer thirteen Shonan beers on tap, accompanied by a...

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