The 9 Best Cocktail Bars in Tokyo: The Ultimate Guide

Tokyo, a city renowned for its vibrant nightlife and sophisticated bar scene, offers an array of cocktail bars that cater to every taste and style. 

Much like everything else this city turns its attention to, the mixologists of this metropolis refuse to settle for mediocre, crafting new concoctions and Japanese twists on classic cocktails worthy of a spot on the elusive 50 best bars in Asia.

For a peek into Tokyo’s best cocktail bars, join us as we explore a selection of the city’s high-end bars and trendy spots, each with their own take on chic cocktail culture.

1. Bar Benfiddich
2. Virtu
3. The SG Club
4. The Bellwood
5. Tokyo Confidential
6. Folklore
7. Gold Bar
8. Bulgari Ginza Bar
9. High Five

Even with its #5 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, nothing could prepare you for the apothecary-inspired vibes of Bar Benfiddich, welcoming you into a hideaway of stylish cocktails away from the chaos of the modern world.

Take a seat under dried mugwort lampshades, run your hands over the smooth walnut counter and let your eyes wander over the many unique knick-knacks of this cocktail bar; you’ll discover everything from taxidermy owls and thought-provoking artwork to vintage glassware. 

The cocktails themselves are no less eye-catching, the pride and joy of owner and bartender Kayama Hiroyasu, a “mixologist, farmer, ingredient curator, scientist and curio collector.” You’ll see each role come to life as he crafts a cocktail, combining fine liquors, fresh herbs — harvested from his family-owned farm in Saitama — and fruit garnishes to create cocktails that are as much a piece of art as the framed piece behind the bar.

With only 15 seats at Bar Benfiddich, you can expect an intimate cocktail bar experience like no other.

Featured in our article of Japan’s best hotels, decided by the new Michelin Key accolades, Virtu greets guests on the 39th floor at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. 

Floor-to-ceiling shelves are sure to catch your eye, filled with sake, shochu, liqueurs, cognac and more, each waiting to be uncorked or unscrewed for an innovative tipple that’s as atmospheric as the cocktail and cognac bar itself. 

Recommendations include their indulgent fig and cognac after-dinner sipper, the smoky ume old fashioned — using plums aged within the luxurious bar’s confines — or, if you’re feeling like really splashing the cash, request a glass of Japan’s only Rémy Martin Louis XIII Rare Cask. It will set you back around ¥900,000, but some experiences are worth the price tag.

Virtu also picked up the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award 2024, an exclusive title for only the most attentive of service. How? Well, even as you’re being guided to your seat, making what you believe to be small talk, your server is collecting what they refer to as “golden nuggets” — information about your reason for visiting and your personality, which will be used to create a more personalized experience and perhaps even inspire cocktail recommendations.

The SG Club is unique even amongst this list of especially premium peers; it’s actually three bars in one!

On the first floor is the more casual, yet equally dark and decadent Guzzle, pouring “crushable cocktails” like they’re going out of fashion. These trending concoctions are all about easy-drinking summer vibes, embracing fruity flavors, fun designs and generally lower levels of alcohol to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to explore the bar’s remaining two floors.

Head down one floor and step into the dim lights and unique dashi-inspired cocktails of Sip. You’ll be met by the smiling face of head bartender Tokumitsu Ryota, no doubt tempting you to try one of his unique cocktails: the mango-flavored dirty martini or the Cold Soba Negroni, featuring a distinctive mix of shochu and dashi, the latter of which is more often found in the broth of traditional noodle dishes.

Craving the rich aroma of a cigar? There’s one final nameless floor upstairs, functioning as a retro drawing room, complete with a bar where you can order both cigars and cocktails that pair well with this particular pastime. 

Let veteran bartender Watanabe Takahiro recommend concoctions that suit each stage of your cigar’s progress — you may find cigars and cocktails your new favorite pairing.

The Bellwood is Suzuki Atsushi’s Kamiyamacho-based cocktail bar in Tokyo’s self-proclaimed hipster haven, encompassing all of the expertise he collected on his six-year travels across New York and Shanghai.

At first appearing to be to the cocktail scene what old-fashion kissaten coffee shops are to Tokyo’s coffee culture — charming spots that feel like they stepped out of the Showa Era — The Bellwood’s cocktail menus are perhaps surprisingly contemporary.

Perhaps for the first time, the bar’s drinks are grouped in the style of kaiseki (multi-course) cuisine; beginning with appetizers like the Supermoni (sansho-infused Campari, orange juice, cold-brew coffee and tonic), moving onto a cocktail that represents a grilled main dish, like a smoky bloody mary. Like all good meals, end on a sweet note with something like their Melon Cream Paradise (pisco, pandan, champagne, gorgonzola).

As you might expect from a cocktail bar with a focus on traditional Japanese kaiseki, The Bellwood boasts an extensive selection of dishes itself, featuring bar snacks, small plates, house ramen and even a four-seat omakase (chef’s choice) sushi restaurant where chef Terai Ayaka blurs the line between sushi and sipping. 

Warning: There may be wasabi in your next cocktail.

Despite the name, Tokyo Confidential is anything but a hidden gem, coming in at #53 in the list of 100 best bars in Asia. For starters, this rooftop cocktail bar has a balcony with enviable views over Tokyo, including prime position for great views of Tokyo Tower.

Though it features a contemporary chic decor of rich woods and warm underlighting, the atmosphere here is meant to evoke memories of a rowdy house party. Alongside cocktails and delectable bar bites, expect lively conversation and mixologists who are as willing to hear your life story as to mix up your next drink.

Perhaps named after its iconic cocktails, almost too legendary to be believed, Folklore takes the #74 spot on the list with a touch of whimsy and magic. 

With a minimalist interior that’s all about removing distractions, you’ll want to give all your attention to their avant-garde creations; a shochu martini infused with blue cheese brandy or a margarita that blends two unexpected sake with the expected tequila. 

To fully immerse yourself in the magic of Folklore’s creativity, try their omakase tasting course, taking your taste buds through four fantastical courses of sake-infused cocktails, small snacks and matcha to finish.

Gold Bar at EDITION is all about recapturing the “Golden Age of American cocktails,” which the expert mixologists at this particular bar believe ran from the 1860s to the Prohibition of the 1930s, when the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol was illegal. In this short period of time alone, many of the world’s most famous cocktails were created: the martini, manhattan and daiquiri, to name a few.

From the moment you step inside, you’ll see that Gold Bar also manages to capture the drama and luxury of an elite Tokyo cocktail bar, jumping from grandiose golds to deep, decadent blacks — all of which will create a beautiful backdrop for whichever cocktails you choose. Sours, fizzes, punches, juleps and more get a modern makeover at this bar — there’s no wrong choice.

Bringing the effortless style of Italy to the heart of the city, explore a wide selection of Italian cocktails with contemporary twists and equally authentic, Italian-style aperitivo at Bulgari Ginza Bar.

You’ll find temptations to bring you to the bar all throughout the day, offering casual lunch menus, elegant afternoon teas and evenings spent in the company of signature cocktails, including bellinis, martinis, Italian upgrades on the classics and even mocktails.

Also featured in our article of Japan’s best hotels — as decided by the 2024 Michelin Key Guide, putting outstanding hotels in the spotlight much like it has for restaurants — The Bulgari Bar is a tantalizing rooftop cocktail bar on the 45th floor of the Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, offering sweeping views of Tokyo’s iconic skyline.

 You know, in case you feel like hitting up two Bulgari cocktail bars over the weekend.

Even coming in at #87 in all of Asia, Bar High Five is somehow one of the most approachable cocktail bars on this list, creating a space for intimate catch-ups in a Ginza basement venue. What it doesn’t try to achieve in over-the-top interiors, it more than makes up for in expertise; this is the home of Ueno Hidetsugu’s famous ice-carving skills, elevating even the simplest of drinks to new heights.

Making Asia’s Best 50 Bars list multiple times in recent years, this small space is sure to be filled to the brim with fellow cocktail enthusiasts, so don’t be surprised if you need to wait for a counter seat to become available. It’ll be worth it.

Fancy stirring and shaking up your own cocktails in Tokyo? Browse these cocktail making classes and sip away…

This 3-hour cocktail mixology tour in Tokyo will show you a world of the best hole-in-the-wall food and drink places in Shinbashi and Ginza.

You’ll learn about Japanese manners and customs, try Japanese sake, cocktails and whisky — paired with local dishes and bar snacks, of course — and pick up a few cocktail-pouring tricks of your own from expert bartenders, each famous for creating cocktails with their own unique twists.

Learn the art of cocktail making and mixology in Tokyo.

After all the luxuriously moody bars on this list, this cute sweets and mocktails class in Tokyo will feel like a breath of fresh air!

Learn from the best with Emiko (known as Emi) — a Japan Tea Association Tea Instructor, Japan Medical Herbs Association Herbal Therapist and Lupicia Certified World Tea Meister — as they show you how to make skewered dango dumplings in 12 different shapes (you get to choose!). 

You’ll need a drink or two to pair with these delightful sweets, so Emi will also teach you how to make tea-based mocktails, blending flavors and colors to craft irresistible, colorful creations.

Book your spot on this Japanese sweets and mocktails class in Tokyo.

If you’re here, you probably enjoy the finer things in life. Allow us to introduce you to Tokyo’s best Michelin Star restaurants, Michelin-starred ramen joints and restaurants with views of Tokyo Tower.

Some cocktail bars in Tokyo can be pricey, especially if you’re finding them on this list of the best cocktail bars in all of Tokyo. However, there are plenty of options to suit all budgets and tastes. 

Many cocktail bars in Tokyo cater to international clientele and have staff who can speak English. The cocktail bars on this list, more than most, are used to pouring drinks for guests from all over the world and have a number of spoken languages behind the bar.

Even if you don’t share a language with the bartender, pointing at the most eye-catching cocktail on the menu never goes wrong!

While some cocktail bars in Tokyo may have a dress code, many are relaxed and casual. Just like crafting the perfect cocktail, it's all about the right balance between style and comfort. If you’re going to a more premium establishment, it’s recommended that you avoid open-toed shoes like sandals and perhaps swap the t-shirt for a shirt or throw on a smart jacket.

It's always a good idea to check a cocktail bar’s website before visiting to see if you need to make a reservation. Some bars require a reservation, while others don’t accept reservations at all, preferring to work on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Many cocktail bars in Tokyo offer a selection of snacks or small plates to complement your drinks. Just like pairing the perfect cocktail with the right garnish, these foods can enhance your overall experience.

Yes, Tokyo has a variety of rooftop cocktail bars with stunning views of the city skyline. In fact, both Tokyo Confidential and the Bulgari Hotel Bar from this list feature rooftop terraces with unmatched views over the city.