Bars, clubs and live music - The Rough Guide to Tokyo - page 167

SUMMER BEER GARDENS
Helping to mitigate Tokyo's sticky summers are the outdoor beer gardens that sprout
around the city from late May through to early September, typically on the roofs of
department stores such as Tobu in Ikebukuro, or in street-level gardens and plazas. A couple
of the best beer gardens can be found in Meiji-Jingū's Outer Garden close to Shinanomachi
station; try the Forest Beer Garden (see opposite) or Sekirei (see opposite). Rooftop bars are also
very pleasing places to drink in warm months; recommended options include Kudan Kaikan
(see p.167) or Marunouchi House (see p.168).

going on - book readings, art classes, comedy improv
nights - at this funky haven for local artists and writers,
run by the convivial Tracey. It stocks a good range of
imported wines and has tasty Tex-Mex-style food; mains
start at ¥1180. Daily 5pm-late.
These ςʔθʔ 2-15-12 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku T 03
5466 7331; Roppongi station; map pp.90-91. This
lounge bar, pronounced “Tay-Zay”, is a cool hangout for an
intimate drink. There's no cover charge if you perch at the
downstairs bar, but for a place on the comfy sofas upstairs
it's ¥500 per person. Daily 7pm-4am, Sun until midnight.

BAYSIDE TOKYO
Jicoo δίʕ T 0120 049490, W jicoofloatingbar.com;
Hinode station; map p.81. This night-time persona of the
futuristic ferry Himiko (see p.24) shuttles between Hinode,
under the Rainbow Bridge, and Odaiba. To board costs
¥2500, drinks run from ¥700 and there's a DJ playing so you
can take to the illuminated dancefloor and show off your
best John Travolta moves. Thurs-Sat 8am-11pm.

AKASAKA AND ROPPONGI
A971 Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku
T 03 5413 3210; Roppongi station; map pp.90-91.
This relaxed café-bar and restaurant at the front of the
Midtown complex, with mid-twentieth-century modernist
furnishings, has proved itself a popular hangout with the
area's many expats. Mon-Thurs 10am-2am, Fri & Sat
10am-5am, Sun 10am-midnight.
August Beer Club Ξ΢άεϏΞΫϥϒ 3-2-21 Nishi-
Azabu, Minato-ku T 03 6804 1655, W augustbeerclub
.jp; Roppongi station; map pp.90-91. If you're looking
for a relatively quiet place to drink near Roppongi, this
pub/restaurant is ideal. Wash down slices of wood-fired
pizza (from ¥850) with one of a handful of draught craft
beers. Daily 11am-11pm.
Heartland ϋʔτϥϯυ 1F Roppongi Hills West
Walk, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku T 03 5772 7600;
Roppongi station; map pp.90-91. It's often standing
room only at this trendy but friendly bar in the northwest
corner of Roppongi Hills. Sink one of their trademark
green-bottled beers and watch arty videos on the pano-
ramic plasma screen behind the bar. Daily 5pm-4am.
Hobgoblin ϗοϒΰοϒϦϯ Aoba Roppongi Building,
3-16-33 Roppongi, Minato-ku T 03 3568 1280,
W hobgoblin.jp; Roppongi station; map pp.90-91.
British microbrewery Wychwood serves up its fine ales
at this spacious bar where you'll be part of a very boozy,
noisy crowd of gaijin at weekends and on nights when
there are major sports matches on the big-screen TVs.
A plus is the very comforting English pub-style food,
including shepherd's pie (¥1200) and fish and chips
(¥1500). Daily 5pm-late, Sat & Sun from noon.
Pink Cow ϐϯΫΧʔ΢ B1 5-5-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku
T 03 6434 5773, W thepinkcow.com; Roppongi station;
map pp.90-91. There's always something interesting

EBISU, MEGURO AND THE SOUTH
Ì Buri ͿΓ 1-14-1 Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku T 03 3496
7744, W buri-group.com; Ebisu station; map pp.100-
101. A great range of chilled “one-cup sake” (a sealed glass,
the size of a small can, ready filled with sake that you just
pull the top off; ¥750) is the speciality at this trendy
tachinomiya that's one of the best in town. They serve
a good range of yakitori and other tasty nibbles. Daily
3pm-midnight.
Dagashi ବ՛ࢠ 1-13-7 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku
T 03 5458 5150; Ebisu station; map pp.100-101.
Sweet-toothed customers will be in heaven at this fun
izakaya , festooned with baskets of all-you-can-eat candies
which patrons can dip into for free. It's trying its best to
be old school, right down to the antique bus sign sitting
outside - it works, too, as do the reasonable prices. Daily
5pm-2am.
Ì Enjoy House! ΤϯδϣΠϋ΢ε 2F Crystal Square
Building, 2-9-9 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku T 03 5489
1591; Ebisu station; map pp.100-101. The unique look
here is zebra print, low velour sofas, red lace curtains and
tons of shiny disco balls. The master is likely to be wearing
shorts and Jackie Onassis-style sunglasses. It gets busy at
weekends, with a suitably young and attitude-free crowd.
Daily noon-late.
Footnik ϑοτχοΫ 1F Asahi Building, 1-11-2 Ebisu,
Shibuya-ku T 03 5795 0144, W footnik.net; Ebisu
station; map pp.100-101. A bar devoted to soccer,
with a game or two on the big screen every night, pints
of imported beer from ¥900, and reasonable food. For
popular matches you'll have to pay an entry charge. Daily
3pm-1am, later at weekends.

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