G7

There are plenty of fine bars worth a mention along the Chuo line, but this Nishi-Ogikubo hideout, which occupies a basement space at the end of a down-to-earth shopping arcade, surely counts among the very best in the area. It's been in business since 2008, sharing its hip building with a ground-floor restaurant – a setup that makes locating its entrance a bit of a challenge for first-timers. Once you make it inside, you'll see a long nine-seat counter (with five extra stools for when things really get busy) and a table for six. We have to recommend alighting at the counter, close to the resident barman, who has a habit of asking newcomers about their taste in music – he's named his place after a guitar chord, after all. Prepare to hear everything from jazz and bossa nova to classic rock while sipping on your whisky, brandy or cocktail.