Bar Jam
Relive the disco days and electro era at this Omotesando nightspot

Photos by Kohji Shiiki

It’s an interesting experience to leave the super-modern fashion district of Omotesando and descend into Bar Jam. From the glazed glass and mirrors to the sounds of the ’70s and ’80s on the stereo, there’s more than a twinge of retro to the entire experience.

When we stopped by on a recent Friday night, our first impressions were mixed. On the one hand, we loved the bold color scheme and the dim lighting, which complemented the glass and mirrors to create a chic vibe. We also dug the gently swaying ceiling that appeared to be made out of abandoned Twizzlers. These red plastic straws gave the ceiling texture and movement, adding a little something extra to a part of the room that’s usually ignored. So far, so good.

However, as we were about to sit down in chairs facing the counter, the bartender urged us to sit directly in front of the DJ instead. Since he was of the stone-faced, serious variety rather than the friendly and talkative type, we felt a bit out of place being directly in his line of vision.

At Bar Jam, the menu is short and succinct, just offering a brief idea of the available drinks rather than a comprehensive list. There are a few beers on offer (Premium Malts and Ebisu, both ¥800), some wine by the glass (from ¥700), and the standard selection of liquors (from ¥700).

We noticed the ladies next to us were sipping on some fine-looking mojitos, so we ordered a few. The drinks’ somewhat medicinal taste left us wondering if rather than muddling fresh mint leaves, as a mojito (¥1,300) should always be made, the bartender substituted mint liqueur.

After that misadventure we were feeling a bit indecisive and asked the bartender to surprise us. His mystery concoction ended up being a spumoni (¥1,100), heavy on the grapefruit. The amaretto ginger (¥1,200) we ordered after was perfect in every respect, especially considering its generous size.
Rare for a Tokyo drinking establishment, Bar Jam has no food menu to speak of—though the bartender did ply us with a steady supply of chocolates, gummy bears and even Hello Kitty lollipops on our way out. Nice gesture.

The overall atmosphere was light and fun. Despite the DJ’s serious demeanor, he did play some great upbeat tunes by the likes of Duran Duran, Madonna, and Deee-Lite.

So the final verdict? Full points for the rocking soundtrack and superb décor, but the unusual seating arrangement took a while to get accustomed to. For some retro fun, it’s definitely worth stopping in. Just choose your drinks—and your seat—carefully.

B1 Nakajima Bldg, 5-50-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3486-3510. Open Mon-Sat 8pm-2am, closed Sun. Nearest stn: Omotesando, exit B2. http://profile.ameba.jp/barballadbar

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