101 things to do in Roppongi

Slurp on some authentic and additive-free milk tea, prepared by a certified 'tea master', at this Taiwanese import that also boasts a variety of noodle dishes. Chun Shui Tang Roppongi

At this first non-US branch of meat master Wolfgang Zwiener’s empire, you are guaranteed USDA Prime-certified beef for the steaks. Those looking for a non-meat dish should try the lobster or broiled salmon. Wolfgang's Steakhouse

Shaved ice (kakigori) is the ultimate Tokyo summer dessert. This Roppongi newcomer takes the old favourite to another level with flavours like tiramisu and carrot-mascarpone while also touting a luxurious four-berry variety. Kakigori Cafe & Bar Yelo

Nothing goes to waste at Kanazawa-based brewery Fukumitsuya: its Tokyo Midtown shop doesn’t just sell nihonshu, but also foods and skincare products derived from sake. Sake Shop Fukumitsuya

Housed in a stylish space close to Roppongi Station, Japan’s first BrewDog bar has a total of 20 varieties of beer on tap, while the food menu holds its own with offerings like home-made burgers and hotdogs. BrewDog Roppongi

It's easy to end up missing your last train home at this warmly inviting rum bar – and you'll need until dawn to sample even a fraction of the rare tipples on offer. Tafia

Famous for being the original maker of taiyaki (fish-shaped dessert filled with sweet bean paste), Naniwaya opened in 1909 and is still at the top of the taiyaki game. Buy the treats as gifts or enjoy fresh warm ones at the shop. Naniwaya

Oden – vegetables, fish cakes, tofu and other ingredients simmered in broth – is one of Japan’s favourite winter warmers, and it doesn't get much tastier than at Fukushimaya. Also available in summer. Oden Fukushimaya

A hip darts bar with an even hipper ‘i Tower’ drinks machine that serves a cocktail of Hennessy Cognac and iced black tea. Look out for seasonal events especially over Halloween and Christmas. I Darts Tokyo

The bland uniformity of your average Indian eatery menu is swiftly forgotten at Nirvana New York, where the cuisine is as inspired as it is wallet-busting. The chic indoor dining room is appealing enough, but when the weather’s good it’s hard to resist the outdoor terrace. Nirvana New York

Tokyo’s love of Brazilian barbecue seems to know no bounds. One of the latest churrascarias to open is this Roppongi branch of Barbacoa, which has seating for 200, bookable private rooms, and a great value churrasco lunch for ¥3,600 (plus tax). Barbacoa Roppongi Hills

The spirit of Okinawa is alive and well at this easygoing izakaya, where the noodles, stir-fries and taco rice are accompanied by regular live music performances. Shimauta Paradise

From the decor to the sangritas, Agave is a perfect replica of a Mexican cantina in all but two ways: few cantinas would stock 400 types of tequila and mezcal, not to mention 27 kinds of cigar from Dominica and Cuba. Agave

When nothing but steak will do, Outback is the place to go. Just make sure you leave space for distinctive specials like the show-stopping Bloomin' Onion. Outback Steakhouse

Talented mixologist Gen Yamamoto returned from New York to open this eight-seat bar in early 2013 – an intimate setting to enjoy his seasonal, individually tailored cocktails. Gen Yamamoto

Who said you had to wait until the weekend to have brunch? At the latest addition to the Mercer Café empire, you can have your French toast and bubbly every day of the week. Mercer Brunch

The ideal lunch spot for athletic types, Total Workout Cafe offers a range of low-fat salads, sandwiches, pastas, protein drinks – and even healthy desserts. Total Workout Cafe

The hamburgers are juicy, the walls are crammed with memorabilia and the music's always cranked up to 11 at this long-running institution, recently given a slick makeover. Hard Rock Cafe

The Tokyo outpost of a famous Shanghai eatery, this dim sum restaurant is worth a trip just for its delicious pork dumplings – also available with foie gras, oddly enough. Nanxiang Steamed Buns Restaurant

Who said ramen was just for blokes? The Afuri chain woos the ladies with its light, chicken-based broth, served in a setting that’s more like a designer dining bar than a noodle shop. Afuri

When you need to entertain some clients in style, this low-lit hotel bar is the place to head... and lose yourself in a sophisticated world of cocktails, cigars and live jazz. Maduro

There aren't many sushi restaurants that you'd recommend for something other than fish – but then, there aren't many that make inarizushi as distinctive as Otsuna's. Otsuna Sushi

Vietnamese pho noodles are the speciality of this eatery, whose out-of-the-way location hasn't stopped it becoming a popular lunch spot. Just leave some space for the spring rolls too. Pho Dragon

Toraya has been crafting wagashi (Japanese traditional confections) since the early 16th century. Besides its main shop, this branch also houses a café and gallery, and stocks a wonderful range of traditional souvenirs. Toraya Tokyo Midtown

Roppongi’s moneyed expats have been flocking to this lounge/restaurant since it opened at the end of 2011, for modern American cuisine, good cocktails and a decent cigar menu. R2 Supperclub

If you spot a queue in the area, it’s probably leading to this weekday lunch spot that serves up large-sized lunch sets featuring big portions of deep-fried deliciousness. Get there early because they stop serving food once they're out of rice. Nishi-Azabu Mikawaya

The restaurant's modern and finely crafted dishes make the most of ingredients like fresh fish and aged meats, while still being reasonably priced. Be sure to check out the seasonal game on offer. Le Petit Marché

A haven for adventurously minded Tokyoites, this basement venue hosts improv gigs, dance shows and Pecha Kucha nights – as well as serving the highly quaffable Tokyo Ale. SuperDeluxe

Koichi Kobari closed his popular soba joint in NYC to open this Roppongi shop, and SoHo's loss was our gain. Even measured against the far stiffer local competition, Honmura An's noodles are superb. Honmura An

Legends sports bar has become a hotspot for watching football, drawing in large crowds with its big-screen TVs and appropriate menu of pizzas, chicken wings, French fries and beers. Legends Sports Bar and Grill

Hakata-based ramen shop Akanoren opened its Tokyo branch in 1978 as the first Hakata-style joint to arrive in the Kanto region. Its standard ramen (¥700) comes with thin, flat noodles swimming in a tonkotsu (pork bone) soup enriched with soy sauce. Open till 5am. Akanoren

You won't find any meat or fish (or garlic, onions or shallots) on the menu at this vegetarian Taiwanese eatery, but the flavours are enough to keep even hardened carnivores happy. Chien-Fu

They claim that 99% of customers at this old-school eatery order the tofu steak, served with bonito flakes on a sizzling hotplate. Try it once and you might understand why. Ichioku

Stop by this local izakaya for a homely atmosphere and its popular yakiton, which means skewered-grilled pork guts (nicer than it sounds). Abe-chan

It's always a squeeze at Shonzui, a cosy bar that's been plying the denizens of Roppongi with natural wines and hearty bistro-style food since 1993. Shonzui

Gone are the days you couldn't find a decent breakfast in Tokyo. Eggcellent opens at 7am (8am on weekends) and has been satisfying early birds with a range of Eggs Benedict (made with organic eggs) since November 2013. Eggcellent

Run by a chef who spent 15 years working in Northern Europe, Lila Dalarna offers a rare opportunity to sample the cuisine – and conviviality – of Scandinavia in Tokyo. Lilla Dalarna

Equipped with a state-of-the-art Steampunk machine, Maruyama teems with discerning coffee lovers every day, serving up speciality brews made with a range of single-origin beans. Admittedly a little pricey, but they do let you sample all varieties. Maruyama Coffee Nishi-Azabu

At this authentic British fish and chips shop, fresh cod from Japan is delivered each day before being fried in a secret batter mix, and then served with fries and mushy peas. The result is a deliciously rich and crispy comfort lunch – or late-night snack since the shop is open till 4am on the weekends. Malins

Beer halls were never this civilised. Serving German beer with added class, Franziskaner has hearty food, an outdoor patio and over 15 varieties of suds on tap – and available by the litre. Franziskaner

Roppongi's coolest pizzeria serves just a few varieties of pizza, prepared Napolitan-style and cooked in an oven that looks more like an industrial furnace. Frey's Famous Pizzeria

Where but Roppongi could you find a 24-hour Chinese restaurant that was actually good? Peking Duck is the speciality here, while the cheap tapas are surprisingly filling. Chinese Cafe 8

The flagship shop for automaker Mercedes-Benz isn’t just about the cars: with ample table space, WiFi and seriously good coffee, it’s a plum perch for nomad workers. There’s a restaurant and bar on the second floor that’s perfect for a casual lunch or dinner. Mercedes-Benz Connection