Americans have been enamored of the precision and ritual of Japanese bartending for decades. But what exactly defines the Japanese style? Christopher Ross on its history, evolution and relationship to…
Over the last half-century sake has gone through a process of standardization that has limited its range of flavors. In the hopes of revitalizing the industry, some are looking to…
From particular shaking techniques to meticulously carved ice (a trend Japan started long ago) to a vast array of seasonal produce, Tokyo's modern cocktail scene is steeped in a style all…
Radio Bar feels as if it could be from another era when etched glassware was standard, Martinis were the drink of note and jazz crackled from muffled radio speakers. Owned and run…
The Japanese people, known famously for embracing perfection in all its forms, have lovingly applied this penchant to their flourishing wine culture. Whether it's high-end Burgundy (Tokyo has an unusually…
For many years, Popeye—opened in 1985—was the only place for beer aficionados to congregate (and it remains a must-see if beer is your passion). But craft beer fever has set…
Some of the best views in Tokyo are to be had at the city's high-rise hotel bars. At these glistening meccas of luxury—decked out in everything from floor-to-ceiling windows with…
Casual standing bars—called tachinomi in Japanese—are places to, quite literally, stand and drink. While tachinomi were traditionally filled with salarymen grabbing a quick drink and small bite on their way home,…
Izakaya destinations run the gamut from dark, smoky joints underneath train tracks to hip, modern bars serving a mixed bunch of salarymen in suits, hipsters and old regulars. Regardless of…
A Norwegian import whose streamlined Scandinavian appearance belies a complex identity, Fuglen is an odd little oasis on a quiet corner of Shibuya. By day, the space (whose twin resides…
