11 best gin bars in Tokyo

This cosy Nakameguro hangout reckons it’s Japan’s very first dedicated gin and tonic bar. It’s certainly well suited to the role, boasting shelves stocked with over 120 kinds of gin from around the world. 

Look out for local favourites like Roku Gin and Ki No Bi, popular brands such as The Botanist and Hendricks, and rare bottles like Bottega Bacur and Cruxland gin. If you’d rather something lighter, the bar even has a selection of non-alcoholic spirits designed to taste like gin, including Nema and Seedlip. Drinks range from ¥800 to ¥1,200 each.

Not sure which gin to pick? No problem – just consult the bartender, or you can check out the bar’s dedicated Instagram menu to see the full list of gin available with a description of each bottle. 

This cocktail bar in the bookstore neighbourhood of Jinbocho is helmed by Eiji Miyazawa, a well-known figure in the local cocktail scene who has seemingly won every industry gong going. Go check out its 160-strong international craft gin collection – of which 25 are Japanese labels, including Ki No Bi from Kyoto and Alchemiae from Gifu.

While purists will insist on tasting the gin on its own, the bar’s many cocktails (from ¥1,400) are worth coming down off your high horse for. We particularly love the Matcha Chai Latte that’s infused with cinnamon, star anise and Ki No Bi gin. Like chai, it can be served hot or cold. But whatever your choice of cocktail is, you can expect them to be beautifully presented.

Hiding in plain sight on a Kuramae street corner, this distillery makes inventive, quality spirits from food waste. Tokyo Riverside Distillery is run by The Ethical Spirits & Co, which hit the headlines in mid-2020 with Revive, a gin made by distilling leftover Budweiser beer that was going to waste during Japan’s first state of emergency. 

In front of the gleaming 500L copper still on the ground floor is a streetside counter where you can buy all the company’s unusual but wonderful spirits, including Revive, Elegant (a range of two gins using sake lees as a base), and our personal favourite, Cacao Éthique. 

If you’re looking to get more than just an idea of what this place can do, head upstairs to Stage, the venue's bar and restaurant. A slick single room that’s all copper fittings, polished concrete and pot plants, Stage is where the distillery really gets to strut its stuff. 

Needless to say, the cocktails here are made to showcase both the company’s spirits and its sustainability ethos, like the mojito (¥1,200) made with Elegant gin and mint from the building’s own rooftop garden. Be sure to order the Cocktail from Beer (¥1,200), a fruity clarified milk punch featuring Revive. 

Duck under the small arched doorway down the narrow street of Susuran-dori and you’ll find one of the best bars in Sangenjaya. Actually, you’ll find two of the best bars in Sangenjaya, as Cielo is a two-level establishment with separate spaces for gin and whiskey aficionados. On the first landing, you’ll find the warmly lit gin bar with rows upon rows of the distilled liquor. 

Labels range from the Spanish Gin Mare, infused with Mediterranean botanicals like rosemary and olives, to locally sourced bottles like Komasa and Roku. You can’t go wrong with a simple gin and tonic mixed with the bottle that first catches your eye, but it’s hard to resist the cocktail menu that has everything from sweet and strong concoctions like the Coffee Negroni (¥1,200)  to light, dry tipples like the Lemongrass Old Salty Dog (¥1,400). 

Opened in April 2023, this craft gin bar off the beaten path near Takadanobaba Station is the reincarnation of the former Bar Hisaka. This bar's rebirth came about due to the forced relocation of the original venue, which succumbed to building demolition amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, it flourishes larger and rejuvenated under the visionary direction of owner and craft cocktail master Hirokazu Ogura.

Upon entering The Hisaka, you'll first see the tasting room. Adorned with familiar designs from the original Bar Hisaka, this convivial area encourages patrons to purchase drink tickets, entitling you to sample an array of global gins you wouldn't come across in an ordinary bar. 

Venture deeper into the establishment and you'll discover the main bar, where Ogura's dedication to craft gin truly comes to life. This space exudes a more intimate and refined aura, akin to a hidden gin speakeasy. The expertly curated cocktail menu is a testament to Ogura's expertise and passion, featuring signature drinks like the 'Bear's Honey' (¥1,760), a creative concoction blending Kumamoto's Bears Book Gin, Chartreuse Jaune, green tea, mikan honey and hoji tea agar.

Located in the trendy neighbourhood of Nakameguro, this café and bar is the perfect spot for those looking to indulge in Japanese-style curry and craft gin in a relaxed atmosphere. Despite its hipster vibe, the venue is inviting and welcoming, even to those unfamiliar with the scene.

Upon entering, the aroma of spices such as cumin, coriander and cardamom in the simmering pots on the stove greets you, and the deep house playlist can lift your spirits from maladies like winter blues and Sunday scaries. While one of the ¥990 curry rice plates is suitable for a full meal, you can also drop by for a refreshing gin and tonic and some hot bar snacks, like falafels or keema quesadillas filled with savoury minced meat and melted cheese.

As for drinks, there's a selection of roughly 100 types of gin, for which there is no menu. You can instead turn to owner Kyoshi Koyama, who prides himself on sourcing hard-to-come-by labels, for his latest recommendations. Alongside rare selections such as Kyoshi Koyama's Scottish Glaswegin, infused with botanicals like milk thistle, chamomile and pink pepper, or the perfume-inspired 44N gin, distilled on the French Riviera, you can also count on popular labels like Monkey Gin and Hendrick's Gin.

Formerly an espresso bar and café in Yoyogi Uehara, Bar Chelsea now operates as a small speakeasy in Shinsen that specialises in craft gin. Though the bar had an extensive collection of botanical spirits at its former location, it has expanded its collection to feature roughly 500 kinds of gin from around the world.  

The bar's ambience is reminiscent of a classic speakeasy, with dim, low-hanging ceiling lights, a dark wooden counter, and soulful music playing in the background. If you're unfamiliar with the intricacies of gin, don't fret – the bartender possesses a wealth of knowledge and can help you find a perfect match based on your preferences.

The selection ranges from Japanese labels like gyokuro and tencha tea-infused Ki No Tea gin from Kyoto to the organic Italian Engine gin with notes of sage and damask rose. Most of the drinks are priced at ¥1,400, and there’s also a selection of beer and wine for those who aren’t in the mood for hard spirits. 

Koenji’s The Day Food Lab is a casual café-bar with a monthly rotating exhibition, the artworks of which are up for sale. When it comes to gin, the owners only carry craft gin that have passed their taste test; there are 40 on the menu at the moment. We love the new Sakurao Gin Original that was only launched in March this year. It’s a flavourful tipple where the citrussy notes of lemon and yuzu dominate, alongside some unconventional ingredients including hinoki cypress and oyster shells.

This izakaya and bar features a distillery producing craft gin made with locally sourced shochu from Tokyo and Ome spring water. The gin label featuring a black and white tiger on its front, Common, is exclusive to this Toranomon venue – you can pick up on the gin’s botanical notes in cocktails like the Toranomon Lemon Sour and Toranomon Highball. 

The izakaya menu here features homestyle classics like Napolitan pasta, garlic mentaiko toast and crispy karaage fried chicken, each matching perfectly with the restaurant’s seasonal gin.

This Ikejiri Ohashi café & bar serves over 100 types of craft gin in a relaxed modern-Japanese inspired interior. Make sure to pair your drink with obanzai, or light Kyoto-style dishes made with vegetables and seafood. Following the concept of ‘providing the world with excellent Japanese local spirits’, the gin-based cocktails here are adjusted to each customer’s preference. If you’re around earlier in the day, Sicx serves up hearty breakfast and lunch options such as homemade croque-monsieur sandwiches and some pretty darn good coffee.