Zizo Bar
Buddhas and beer. What could be better?

Photos courtesy of Zokei Syudan

If you’re at all familiar with Yoyogi-Uehara, you know that the area is not exactly famous for its nightlife. The small network of streets near the station are quiet most any time of day—particularly on the Saturday night we made our way to Zizo Bar. What we didn’t expect is that the pub, once we arrived, would be as calm as the streets.

As our boisterous group entered, Zizo was vacant save for the two smiling bartenders who, given the circumstances, were more than happy to make our acquaintance.

Our immediate impression was that the bar deserves serious points for décor. The U-shaped space is adorned with Buddhist statues and an elaborate, warped-metal wall-hanging that lines the entryway and is visible to passersby through the huge front window. Spotless glass tables rest atop twisted tree branches, and all around the eight-seat bar counter are floor-to-ceiling tree trunks that enhance the earthy yet chic vibes. The effect is classy in a kind of idiosyncratic way, though to some it may feel like being trapped in a Tim Burton movie.

The drink list includes some surprisingly flavorful offerings, with very few exceeding ¥1,000. On tap are two ever-reliable Asahi brews (¥700), though for the first round we found ourselves drawn to the “short cocktail” options (all ¥950). Each had an unexpectedly strong kick, causing even the mightiest of us to question a second, though not for lack of enjoyment. Particularly well-made were the Grasshopper (crème de menthe, crème de cacao and cream) and the Gulf Stream (blue Curacao liqueur, champagne, rum, brandy and lemon juice).

A second look at the menu gave light to the fact that whiskey lovers may be left in the dark at Zizo, as there are very few options for scotch, bourbon and the like. Thus, round two involved mostly beer and standard cocktails (all ¥840), followed by some food. The tsukune yakitori (¥250), which can be translated as “best complement to beer ever,” were as satisfying as we’d hoped.

Sure enough, the lack of fellow drinkers did little to distract us from enjoying our night out. It’s discouraging to realize that Zizo may make its way onto the long list of quality Tokyo hangouts cursed by an out-of-the-way location, only to be enjoyed by locals. We hope, however, that its amazing interior and flawless service will be enough to beat the odds.

In all honesty, we don’t expect to be wandering through the streets of Yoyogi-Uehara again anytime soon—but the next time we do, we look forward to enjoying the spiritual ambiance of Zizo Bar.

8-7 Moto-Yoyogicho, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5465-2006. Open daily 6pm-5am. Nearest stn: Yoyogi-Hachiman or Yoyogi-Koen.

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