The Oak Door
The Grand Hyatt sets the bar high—but not prohibitively so

Photos Courtesy of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo

Roppongi’s bars range from the ultra-sophisticated to the downright dingy. Often a good night out involves a bit of both. At the high end of this spectrum of chic lies the Grand Hyatt’s Oak Door, one of the swankiest places to grab a drink or a bite in the city.

Given the thought and expenditure that no doubt went into designing this hotel bar-slash-restaurant, it is surprising it remains so accessible: There is never a need for flaunting connections for a reservation or smooth-talking your way past a doorman. And with the price of a beer or cocktail elsewhere within the Yamanote line anywhere from ¥600 to ¥1,000, the same drink in the elegant surroundings of the Oak Door is likely just a few coins more. So the question is, if this top dog of bars avoids price-gouging and exclusivity, what are you waiting for?

Well, you have to get there first. Sometimes, as in the case of the labyrinthine Roppongi Hills/Grand Hyatt complex, finding the right building is only half the battle. The first few times we visited, we worked up a thirst navigating the two escalators and one elevator separating the subway gates from the title dining establishment’s large wooden doors. Upon entering, we hang a sharp right toward the long, inviting bar—which whenever we visit, has strangely always had precisely enough wooden stools for our party. The other seats are taken up by the Oak Door’s regular crowd of deal-making bankers, well-dressed singles, relaxing hotel guests and the occasional big name from out of town.

Our drink order always includes at least one Bloody Mary (¥1,500), as the Oak Door serves the best in the city, and a Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic (¥1,200). Waiters are quick with the bowls of bottomless corn nuts, which are instantly transformed in the mind’s eye from common ballpark fare to upmarket bar snack.

But resist the temptation to fill up on these. Sitting at the bar, it is possible to order from the menu of the venerable Oak Door restaurant. Start with the cheese plate (¥2,100), a tempting selection of the finest varieties of Brie, Camembert or cheddar, accompanied by crackers and gourmet raisins, dried cherries or figs. Continue with marinated olives and grilled sourdough (¥900) before ordering up one of the most sought-after and raved-about burgers in town (¥2,050). For one last culinary delight, try the mango pudding (¥1,050), a specialty of the attached China Room lounge.

If you go looking to meet people and socialize over a drink or two, the Oak Door is as good a Roppongi watering hole as any. Be warned, though, that if you venture into its culinary offerings, it’s hard to make it out without dropping a few bills. But also keep in mind that in any other city, you might not have the chance to have an affordable drink in the height of luxury. Here, the choice is yours: Will that be one Bloody Mary or two?

6F Grand Hyatt, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-4333-8784. Open daily 11:30am-1am. http://tokyo.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/lounges

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