Standing Lounge O

Stand up and be counted at this new Center Gai nightspot

Photos courtesy of Standing Lounge O

“Standing lounge” may seem like an oxymoron, but as a description of this newly opened bar, it’s quite apt. Debuting just last month in the bustling Center Gai area of Shibuya, Standing Lounge O combines the best of a tachinomiya (it has an informal and friendly atmosphere) with the best of a lounge (an opulent and stylish interior).

SLO sits across the street from Tasu Ichi, another standing bar that’s always packed with foreigners whenever we walk by. This gaijin-friendliness must have something to do with the ¥200 draft beers on the menu and the full-contact sports on the TV, and those twin temptations nearly derailed our first visit to SLO a few weeks ago.

Entering the bar is like descending into a dark-hued underworld where everyone’s cooler than you. The walls and wraparound counter are lined with soft black leather, while floor-to-ceiling mirrors give the impression of immense space; in fact, the entire bar fits around 40 people. A VIP room, available for parties of 2-10 (at a cost of ¥2,500 per head), has comfy bench seats and a glass chandelier. This room would be the perfect place to bring that new friend you made on the teeming streets of Center Gai—if you’re not bold enough to suggest a more intimate get-together on Love Hotel Hill, just a couple blocks away.

SLO’s drinks menu is dominated by shochu, with a selection of sake (¥400-¥600) and beer (¥400-¥650) also on offer. Judging by the full lineup of liquor bottles behind the bar, though, the staff should be game for whatever drink you prefer. We started off with a couple of Asahi (¥400) and Suntory (¥500) drafts, then asked for the staff’s shochu recommendation. They told us that imo (potato) varieties are considered the strongest, so we ordered a Kichohozan (¥400) and a Mogura (¥500), which were brought down from a wall lined with classic-looking bottles.

For a place that caters to customers who spend their time belly-up to the counter, SLO has a food menu that puts many sit-down restaurants to shame. The luscious eats come courtesy of grand chef Akito Masuzawa, who previously manned the stoves at Oceans Café in Ebisu. We tried a Caesar salad that was the real deal, with a fishy dressing and shaved parmesan cheese (¥500). The shrimp sushi roll (¥600) was a nice-sized dish that came artfully presented with green sprigs sprouting out of the top.

Standing Lounge O is a definite step up from the majority of Center Gai pubs, and it’s a great option for either happy hour drinks or an after-hours nightcap. And while we’re still scratching our heads over the words “standing lounge,” there’s nothing contradictory about that.

B1 32-6 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-6303-7615. Open daily 5pm-5am. Nearest stn: Shibuya.

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