Step away from Shinobazu-dori near Nezu Shrine to find a certain very shitamachi-esque alley – one that’s also home to a supremely refined bar. It looks almost like someone’s home from the outside, so be careful not to miss the entrance. Slip in through the corridor on the left of the glass-tiled wall and open the sliding door on your right to locate Hasegawa. Natural light streams in through the curved wall window you just passed by outside, while the lengthy counter gives the place that unmistakable bar feel.
Manning the bar is the reticent Morito Hasegawa, a veteran of Ginza’s Rock Fish. Having set up his own place in 2015, he makes a mean ‘ice-free highball’ and serves up a nostalgic selection of blended whisky. With a bright space and serene atmosphere, Bar Hasegawa draws you in to enjoy a casual evening over a few – or even five – tipples.