Located in the hip Yoyogi-Uehara neighbourhood, Aelu is a Japanese-French bistro that is perfect for a casual glass of wine, but the setting is lovely enough for a special-occasion dinner. The interior is homely and rustic but in a modern and stylish way - concrete floor, exposed ceiling, windowsills dotted with vases of dried flowers, and a record player that sits in the corner of the dining room playing jazz and soul.
The wines are all natural, from both local and international makers, and are curated to match the creative food menu. Each day, there are seven to ten wine options by the glass starting from ¥900, and around ten varieties by the bottle starting at ¥5,000. The menu is filled with French-Japanese dishes that celebrate seasonal local produce, which are served on ceramic wares from the adjoining pottery gallery. Sit inside, or enjoy your wine al fresco on the open-air terrace.