Best Bars in Shibuya: Where to Drink and Socialize?

If you’re looking for Tokyo’s unmatched nightlife, head straight to the best bars in Shibuya. You’ll find vibrant backstreets filled with charming izakaya, stylish cocktail bars and warm, welcoming restaurants with all-you-can-drink options that will keep the drinks — like the conversation — flowing effortlessly.

Whether you're after craft cocktails, local brews or unique, themed bars, we can promise a memorable night out in one of Tokyo's most popular neighborhoods.

With its focus on low- and no-alcohol concoctions, Sumadori Bar may be the perfect place to kick off your journey through Shibuya’s best drinking spots.

Taking its name from the concept of “Smart Drinking,” there are over 150 drink choices on the menu, and it’s up to you if you want to sip on 0%, 0.5% or 3% alcohol content. Of course, being mindful doesn’t mean missing out; everything from non-alcoholic absinthe and sake to Cosmopolitan Sour and Gin Teanic cocktails offer a mix of classics and new creations to try.

Split across two floors, the first floor is all about the tantalizing tipples, while the effortlessly chic second floor is all about Asian-inspired delicacies worth pairing with your drinks. We have an exclusive selection of course menus worth exploring, like vegan sweets and two cocktails or afternoon tea with savories, sweets, cocktails and tea.

Find out more: SUMADORI-BAR SHIBUYA's Low-Alcohol Delights

Already featured in our list of the best cocktail bars in Tokyo, and for good reason, The Bellwood simply must appear on this list once more. Based in Kamiyamacho, an area of Tokyo known for its appeal to those with more niche, connoisseurial interests, this charming spot brings a splash of modern luxury to its Showa-inspired interiors.

The first thing you’re sure to notice after you’ve appreciated the cozy atmosphere of The Bellwood is the unique layout of its drinks menu. It’s grouped in the style of kaiseki (multi-course) cuisine. 

You might start with an “appetizer” like the Supermoni (sansho-infused Campari, orange juice, cold-brew coffee and tonic), then find yourself moving to the representation of a grilled main dish, like a smoky bloody mary. Dinner without dessert is almost unheard of, so treat your sweet tooth with a Melon Cream Paradise (pisco, pandan, champagne, gorgonzola).

Between this innovative method of presenting its cocktails and the fact that there’s even a four-seat omakase sushi restaurant within the bar — offering its own unique take on cocktails — this is one Tokyo bar you can’t miss.

Placed at #43 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list in 2021, Bar TRENCH is the creation of Brazilian Igarashi Vaz and Shoshi Wagai, a renowned Tokyo bar that, as the story goes, was almost just an office space for their other popular bar, Bar Tram.

Thankfully, they transformed the space into something magical, giving travelers and Tokyoites a place to experience the depth and variety of absinthe and herbal fusions. 

They’re not above customizing classics or crafting something based on your preferences, either, with many of their most popular cocktails inspired by a past customer’s affectations. For example, their Sazerac highball was devised when a guest disliked the straight version, and their Trench 75 replaces the French 75 with sparkling sake — blending age-old classics with Japanese ingredients.

Ranked at #18 on TripAdvisor for must-visit nightlife spots in Shibuya, Music Bar 45 is where all the music aficionados of Tokyo love to enjoy a drink and a chat. 

No matter which way you look, there’s something to grab your attention: the colorful shelves, lined with vinyl records of all eras and genres, the underlit shelves of spirits, whiskeys and more, not to mention the effortless energy that owner Yoshi brings to every conversation and guest.

While small in space, Music Bar 45 is big in personality, often mixing cocktails with live entertainment. No matter when you visit, you’ll leave with a song in your head, a charming conversation in your heart and a new favorite cocktail on your tongue.

What Music Bar 45 offers in relaxed, casual vibes, Record Bar Analog elevates with crushed blue velvets and atmospheric lighting. Though a cover charge of ¥1,000 puts some off, many think it’s more than worth it for one of Shibuya's most chill, chic venues.

Each drink is served with nibbles, and everyone gets to request a record. It’ll be gradually mixed into the track, giving you a uniquely personalized backing track to your evening.

For a guided bar-hopping experience through the neon streets of Shibuya, explore our selection of must-join food and drink tours.

Once you’ve made your way across the famous Shibuya Crossing — maybe the world's busiest and most well-known intersection — you’ll disappear into the backstreets, darting between hidden bars and local izakaya.

Your expert guide, Soma, will teach you the art of Japanese drinking culture, explain the most popular Japanese drinks and help you chat with the locals.

A night of drinking in Tokyo isn’t complete without a few delightfully greasy dishes, you’ll head to Japanese izakaya bars to enjoy crispy karaage fried chicken, crunchy tempura, sizzling yakitori, fresh sashimi and beyond.

Hop between three to four restaurants, bars and clubs in Shibuya, skipping the chains and getting to the heart of nightlife in Japan with independent spots that only a local knows about!

Each stop begins with a free shot, perfect for knocking back before you browse the irresistible dishes and drinks awaiting you on each menu. Once you’re suitably cheery, you’ll be guided into one of Shibuya’s nightclubs for a night you’ll never forget. 

Hit up two popular izakaya bars and experience a one-hour all-you-can-drink evening — where they’ll be pouring sake, shochu and so much more — before wandering through the bright lights of Shibuya’s backstreets.

At the second izakaya, prepare to catch your own dinner from an indoor pond. If you manage to catch your bounty, it’ll be expertly prepared and brought back to you in the form of the freshest sashimi you’ve ever tasted.

While you’re in Shibuya, check out its retro bars, the best things to do, a selection of hidden bars worth finding and the best sake bars in Tokyo.

Many bars in Shibuya are used to welcoming travelers from different countries, so even if they don’t personally speak English, they may still be able to offer English drinks menus.

In the meantime, feel free to brush up on your Japanese language skills!

Yes! We’ve created a list of the very best places with all-you-can-drink options in Tokyo.

There are, and we offer quite a selection of Japan drinking tours for you to explore. From Shinjuku and Harmonica Yokocho to Osaka’s Dotonbori and downtown Kyoto, there’s a bar-hopping tour for everyone.