3 best hotel bars in Tokyo with great cocktails and cool designs

Hotel bars, in particular those in luxury properties, are often too genteel and intimidating, especially for non- staying guests. But Virtù at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi breaks all luxury hotel bar stereotypes with fun and flair. The inspectors for Asia’s 50 Best Bars seemed to agree, as they placed Virtù in 20th place on the prestigious 2023 list.

Perched on the 39th floor with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Virtù naturally has a gorgeous view of the financial district skyscrapers as well as Tokyo Skytree. But you might be too taken by the handsome interior to pay any heed to what’s outside. The art deco-inspired design brings to mind ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the style of the Roaring Twenties.

The menu features a surprising list of rare and vintage French alcohol, especially cognacs and armagnacs, complemented by a commendable selection of Japanese whiskies and spirits. This Paris-meets-Tokyo sensibility is also present in the conceptual menu, which categorises its extensive cocktail list into seven virtues derived from Japanese and French folklore.

A highlight is the super-smooth Smoked Ume Fashioned, which puts a twist on the classic old-fashioned by pairing homemade brandy umeshu (plum liquor) with an elegant Japanese whisky and woody hinoki bitters.

The meeting of two masterminds – Japanese starchitect Kengo Kuma and legendary Studio 54 co-founder Ian Schrager – has made The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon a unique hotel. And the pair’s DNA is best showcased at the Lobby Bar. Schrager’s social sensibilities ensure that the bar is a party destination, while Kuma’s signature woodwork, taking inspiration from Tokyo’s elegant temple architecture, imbues it with a welcome dimension of tranquillity – the venue hits the sweet spot between cool and calm. Moreover, with the hundreds of potted plants in here, this lush ‘jungle bar’ sets up the most captivating contrast to the concrete sprawl outside the floor-to-ceiling windows which, at 31 floors up, offer a jaw-dropping view of Tokyo Tower.

The Lobby Bar’s cocktail list may be short, but it’s well curated, featuring inventive concoctions using Japanese spirits and ingredients. Accompanying this is an extensive array of alcohol ranging from wine, sake and champagne to hard liquors including gin, whisky, scotch, tequila and more. You should also ask for the ever-exciting seasonal drinks menu, which in the past has included fresh and modern takes on classic disco cocktails.

Trunk Hotel’s bar and lounge is the envy of many city hotels, as it has managed to become a social hub rather than just another watering hole. By day, you’ll find digital nomads and remote workers hammering away on their laptops at the communal tables – all equipped with power outlets and free wifi – while subsisting on strong shots of espresso.

After sundown, Trunk Lounge turns up the hip factor, with DJs spinning an energetic mix of Japanese dance-pop and down tempo lounge tunes. Better yet, the volume here is perfectly pitched: loud enough to create a lively vibe but not so much that it inhibits conversation. Combined with the cool but relaxed atmosphere, comfy sofas and semi-private corners, this is the perfect date bar in Shibuya. And if you need a conversation starter, just take a look at the art installations around you. These head-turning pieces are created by local artists and they get switched out regularly.

The drinks menu is just as eye-catching. The cocktails in particular are varied, inspired and named with a dose of wit. Take the bar’s signature concoction ‘Getting Trunk’ for example. Now in its third iteration, the lip-smacking shochu-based drink mixes shiso, myoga (Japanese ginger), China China (orange-based bitter liqueur), Kina (French wine-based aperitif) and lemon. This cocktail tastes and smells like a forest in a cup, especially when you get a whiff of calming hinoki (Japanese cypress) with every sip.