Looking to stay on the cutting edge of food and drink trends in Tokyo? Sure, keeping track of all the new restaurants, bars, shops and stands opening across the city every month can feel exhausting and almost hopeless – but that's where we come in. Sparing you the trouble of wading through long lists of shiny promotional pics and hollow praise, we've compiled a handy list of the top five spots to start business this month. Check out our editorial team's picks below, and make sure to leave a comment if you think we missed something.
1) Bubbles Ginza Champagne Café
Planning on grabbing a drink or three to close out the work week this Friday evening? If you're in the mood for something a lot classier than the neighbourhood izakaya, head for this 'champagne café' in Ginza. Opened in early August, it's supposedly a place dedicated exclusively to casual bubbly-sipping, with around 25 different bottles in stock at all times and prices by the glass starting from just under ¥1,000. At lunchtime, they serve nutritious salads and cutesy 'stuffed baguettes' – and yes, you can order a glass of champagne to go with your midday meal, for a mere ¥600 to boot. Just think of it as the Ginza version of your local wine bar and you'll get the idea.
Taking a step up into the world of medium-range dining and imbibing, Bagus, operators of billiard halls, karaoke boxes and darts bars across the city, just set up this exciting-looking gastropub along Roppongi's Imoaraizaka, a mere stone's throw from the TV Asahi building and Roppongi Hills. Upscale pub grub is combined with six varieties of domestic craft beer, plus Japanese wine, sake and cocktails, while sports fans will appreciate the 100-inch screen set up on one of the walls. If you're looking to watch the Olympics or catch a ball game in somewhat less rowdy surrounds and over a proper meal, this should be your spot.
Pledging to save you the trouble of travelling all the way down to Fukuoka, this self-described 'Hakata-style' izakaya looks set to bring a little Kyushu heat to the streets of Ebisu. Partially operated by world-conquering ramen champions Ippudo, Ichikabachika nonetheless does not deal in tonkotsu ramen: instead, the speciality here is udon, served in a rich but clear seafood-based broth, and pork belly on a stick (butabara kushiyaki), both staples of Hakata's famed night-time yatai stalls.
4) Frau Krumm
Can we count on a tennis player to get things done in the bread business too? The start is certainly looking promising for Kimiko Date-Krumm's Frau Krumm, a German-style bakery opened right by the Shibuya River in between Ebisu and Hiroo. In addition to the obligatory pretzels, stangen bread sticks and Austrian kaiser rolls, the shelves are stacked with less familiar but very competently crafted Teutonic loafs and rolls, plus sandwiches filled with sauerkraut and sausages. Krumm's coffee comes courtesy of Setagaya's excellent Horiguchi, making the shop worth a morning stop (it opens from 7.30am every day) even if you're not planning a carb feast.
Set to open along Yasukuni-dori later in the month, this adventurous eatery will be serving a vast selection of cilantro- and chili pepper-based dishes – including cilantro potato salad, cilantro lassi and whole chili pepper fritters. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of either ingredient, since delicious Thai food is also on the menu.
Catching up? Check out the hottest openings in July here