Le Marquis

The journey to the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo’s classy bar is a significant part of its charm. Get yourself to Edogawabashi Station then, rather than hailing a cab, walk along the Kanda River with your date until you reach the hotel’s Kabukimon gate. Enter and admire the gorgeous Japanese garden you’ll find yourself in. Once you start feeling thirsty, cross the Benkei bridge and pick out a table at the luxurious Le Marquis. The four seats at the Italian marble-covered counter are appealing, but sinking yourself into one of the sofas probably makes for a more intimate atmosphere. If you can keep your eyes off each other, remember to spare a few glimpses for the gorgeous furniture, manufactured by fabled American company Baker, the roots of which go back to 1890. The Chinzanso’s rooms are decorated with the same chairs, tables and other furnishings, so you get to enjoy the atmosphere of one of Tokyo’s priciest hotels for the cost of your drinks alone. Speaking of drinks, highlights include near-perfect martinis and the Youkihi cocktail, a Le Marquis original named after 8th-century imperial consort Yang Guifei, one of the legendary ‘four beauties’ of ancient China.