Japan

TOKYO PART 1 / Cocktail Bars

Hi Guys, It has been a while since I wrote a post but honestly one of the things I get asked most for is travel tips, lists of places I have been and would recommend whether thats areas, restaurants, bars etc. I have always been the planner when it comes to any vacations I take and it all comes down to research. It is simple, you have to put the time into researching. We visited Japan and Hong Kong in July of this year and with Japan being such a hot spot (mostly due to the World Cup) I thought it would be useful to share my lists. I have already sent this list to friends and honestly I found it hard to research Japan as there are so many areas and not a lot of blog posts to guide you, so here it goes.

The First Post is one based on the best bars. I have split my posts as thats what you guys voted for on my instagram @kevadoyle

So this was one of the things I was so excited to see in Tokyo. Having worked in the drinks industry for years I really appreciate the art of the cocktail and really enjoy the experience. Plus the bars in Tokyo sounded so different to any of the bars we would be used to, the mainstream bars that you can come across on the street. No… all of the bars we visited were hidden away, tucked away so neatly that sometimes it took us ages to find them but more often than not we were helped by locals. We found ourselves going into buildings thinking there could be offices, apartments and whatever else if you catch my drift. We got in tiny little elevators and eventually found the bars we had been on the hunt for. You know I am all about a good cocktail and I really appreciate the time, flavours and love that goes into making them. This list below is extensive but should give you an amazing Tokyo Style Cocktail experience.

Here is my TOKYO BAR list:

  1. Yata sake bar - No seats and they only serve Sake but a nice pit stop if you are in Shinjuku

  2. Tender bar - The vibe is more old school here, men have to wear a tie so it is one for a fancier night out.

  3. Mandarin oriental  - The views are amazing from his hotel, event the bathrooms.

  4. Dealan De - Run by a brother and sister and they serve their creation which is the No.1 Tequila Cocktail in Tokyo, big love for the Irish here and stocked to the gills with specialty whiskies

  5. Mixology Tokyo - this was the first bar we went to and it took us forever to find it but we were glad when we did. We enjoyed our experience, but when we got taken upstairs to the speakeasy we stepped back in time into the 1920’s

  6. Mixology Laboratory Yaesu - is the Speakeasy upstairs and these cocktails were on another level altogether, this is where i got my treasure chest cocktail. These are the bars I love.

  7. Mixology Experience Roppongi - the same group as above and similar styles but all of the bars are so different

  8. Mixology Asaka

  9. Gen Yamamoto cocktails 

  10. Bar High five - this is one of the top bars recommended, super small and the cocktails are top class

  11. Bar Kusakabe 

  12. Mori bar

  13. Star bar - gin bar

  14. Cocktail works

  15. Mixology Salon

If you guys go to any of these bars, be sure to let me know or tag me in your photos.

Love Keva x