| Bar Review |
By Kevin McGue |
Tower Café
Chill out in style at the sister bar of Ebisu Liquidroom
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| Photos by Tsutomu Fujita |
We walked into Tower Café
in Ebisu just as the doors were opening for the second anniversary event at Liquidroom, which shares the same building. The café quickly emptied out as those eager to hear the night’s lineup of DJs filed across the hall. Yet soon after, a steady stream of clientele began to trickle in, and within an hour, the place was full again.
We settled into a deep, comfort-able sofa seat and surveyed the scene. The lighting was suitably low, the interior sleek and the music laid-back, all adding up to an ideal chill-out space. This being an enterprise of Tower Records, we weren’t surprised to see CD listening stations stocked with the latest film soundtracks at some of the tables. There was also an exhibit of Shintaro Sakamoto’s manga-inspired drawings and concert posters, which we checked out before opening our menus.
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We decided to start off with a Tropical Groovy cocktail (mango liqueur, orange juice and ginger ale, ¥700) and a Hoegaarden White (¥800), along with an “onion ring tower” and tortillas with salsa (both ¥400). The tortillas were served warm and the salsa had an aroma of coriander, and we were pleasantly surprised by the geometrically perfect tower of concentrically stacked onion rings. By the time we split the last one, which was as big around as a 45 record, our appetites were whetted. We ordered the Greek salad with pita (¥700) and cod-roe pasta (¥800), and although it was not on the menu, the staff were happy to prepare a cheese sandwich with a side salad and country fries for a vegetarian member of our party. We washed these down with Guinness draft and a cassis oolong (both ¥700). Although the classic chocolate cake and New York cheesecake (both ¥400) were tempting, we had to take a rain check on dessert.
The bill was surprisingly low considering how much we had ordered. As we were walking out, someone opened the door of Liquidroom across the hall, letting out a blast of house music and
bright stage lights, and reminding us what a rare treat we had just enjoyed: an affordable place for drinks and food in central Tokyo, one that’s not over-lit, too loud or too crowded. If you’re going to an event
at Liquidroom, there is no excuse not to stop by Tower Café before
or after the show. Even if you aren’t in a clubbing frame of mind, it’s
a great place to chill out next time you’re in Ebisu.
2F Ebisu Liquidroom, 3-16-6 Higashi, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5468-3860. Open daily 11:30am-midnight. Nearest stn: Ebisu.
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Have you heard? Monday, August 4 is Beer Hall Day at The Dubliners’ Irish Pub. What is Beer Hall Day, you might ask? For one day only, pints of draft beer will be sold for just ¥500. At which branch? All six of ’em! And if you can’t wait until then, stop by any of the locations (in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akasaka, Shinagawa, Toranomon or Ikebukuro) between July 28 and August 3, and for every pint you drink, receive a ¥100 discount ticket redeemable on or after August 5.
It’s easy to grow tired of visiting the same Roppongi watering holes week after week. Opened last month, Zero Bar (1F Roppongi 410 Bldg, 4-10-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 03-5775-0100; www.zerobar.jp) promises something fresh—and refreshing. This new champagne bar just steps from the Tokyo Midtown complex offers a selection of over 100 bottles of bubby and wine. The small-ish space is dimly lit, with a wood counter and comfy low-back bar stools and the drinks illuminated under red lights. To find it, look for the number “0” in the bar’s ground-level window.
Up for some live jazz, pops, bossa nova, samba or chanson from leading Japanese musicians? At Boston Dreams (B1 Roppongi Five Bldg, 5-18-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 03-3583-3988), just off Gaien-Higashi Dori, you can enjoy three sets of live music (7:40-11pm) six days a week. Stop by during happy hour (5:30-7:30pm) and pay ¥1,000 for two drinks and popcorn, with additional drinks just ¥500. Entry starts at just ¥3,000, but mention Metropolis and get in for half-price. BJM
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Retro Sweet
Tokyo’s culinary landscape is punctuated by a seemingly never-ending stream of new arrivals, but the mark of a true gem is longevity. For some cafés, the carefully selected traditional sweets and drinks are only half of their charm; their laid-back, retro ambience takes care of the rest. As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, find your own favorite corner where time moves slower and your coffee tastes richer, if only for a little while.
Just a five-minute walk from Omotesando station, coffee shop Tsuta is known for its owner personally roasting the brews. Perch yourself near the glass windows overlooking the sunny courtyard, and be transported by the sound of baroque music. After the first cup (¥600), refills are ¥350. 5-11-20 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3498-6888. Open Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat 12-8pm, closed Sun.
Located in Jiyugaoka within a historic private house from the Taisho era, Ko-so-an invites guests to relax in their tatami room and the open corridor overlooking the pristine Japanese garden. Try delicate Japanese confectionaries like anmitsu and Ko-so-an’s prized blended green tea from Kyoto, and you’ll wonder if you’ve stepped into a Soseki Natsume novel. 1-24-23 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-3718-4203. Open daily 11am-6:30pm, closed Wed.
World-famous sweet shop Toraya has been serving its traditional Japanese treats for five centuries. On September 29, its new-concept Toraya Café, with branches in both Omotesando Hills and Roppongi Hills, will sweeten the autumn season with creations such as Japanese chestnut Mont Blanc made out of jellied white azuki beans drizzled with chestnut sauce, topped with whipped cream and blended with a slightly tangy cream (Roppongi Hills only), and seasonal ice cream with two new flavors: chestnut and a blend of azuki beans and amaretto. Roppongi Hills: 6-12-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku. 03-5786-9811. Open daily 11am-10pm. Omotesando Hills: 4-12-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5785-0533. Open daily 11am-11pm. www.toraya-cafe.co.jp Marie Iida
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