If you only do three things in Tokyo… as recommended by Time Out Tokyo editors

One of the most anticipated new attractions in Tokyo this year is Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, an expansive entertainment complex home to a 24-hour onsen spa and a variety of shops and restaurants. It’s been open for just over a month now and is definitely worth a look if you’re in the area.

While the shopping and dining zone has become quite the tourist hotspot, you can avoid the food queues by heading straight to the Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club onsen complex. The perfect place for a little R&R, here you can spend your day lounging around the stunning rooftop footbath, sweating it out in a sauna, soaking in one of the many relaxing baths, or spending some much-needed me time in one of the cosy resting rooms complete with reclining chairs and individual TVs.

If you’re looking for a bar with an unbeatable view, you’ll want to head straight to Tokyo Confidential. One of the coolest new bars in the city, Tokyo Confidential boasts a stunning open-air terrace offering unobstructed views of Tokyo Tower and the surrounding city skyline. If the weather’s good, you can also head up to the amazing rooftop space. But don’t come here just for the views – the bar shakes up some pretty spectacular cocktails.

One of our favourites off the menu is the Glass Slipper, a lip-smacking concoction made with yuzu liqueur, pandan, fresh melon and soda. For something a bit stronger, we love the martini-style Destroy All Monsters, made with miso brown butter-washed gin, manzanilla sherry, bianco vermouth and ponzu. 

Keep an eye on the bar’s Instagram as it often hosts guest bartenders from some of the world’s best drinking establishments.

Don’t let the heat drag you down this summer. To cool off, go for a refreshing bowl of kakigori. While there are many shops serving shaved ice desserts these days, one of our new favourites is Sabo Okuno Shibuya in Tomigaya. Here, you’ll find flavours made with seasonal ingredients like peach, watermelon and even fresh corn.

The café’s corn salad kakigori was definitely one of the more unique shaved ice creations we’ve had. It was almost like a meal rather than a dessert as it featured plenty of cheese along with salad greens. Before you go over, it’s best to make an online reservation.

Even on a night when you're dragging yourself home, too tired to think about anything other than hitting a konbini for a snack before collapsing into bed, stumbling upon the vibrant buzz of Aoyama Hachi on an otherwise quiet street might just change your plans. 

Despite being one of Tokyo’s smallest clubs, this compact, four-storey hub has a lot to offer late-night revellers. The second, third and fourth floors, splashed in varying funky colour schemes, all feature their own line-ups of DJs and music genres on any given night, ranging from house and soul to hip-hop and techno. Hungry? They've got you covered with curry and rice for those late-night cravings, and the bar serves everything from zesty lemon sours to cocktails with homemade syrups.

One more thing that gives Hachi an edge over other music venues in the city is its early morning parties, which start at 6am on Sundays and conclude at brunch time. If you’re usually the type to start nodding off at 11pm, this nifty space gives you the option of waking up fresh from a good night’s rest and partying like you were never home.

Takadanobaba is a neighbourhood buzzing with students, surrounded by streets filled with affordable noodle spots and izakaya pubs advertising all-you-can-drink beer specials. But hidden amongst these lively youth hangouts is also one of the finest cocktail bars in Tokyo. Originally a snug six-seater hole in the wall for discerning gin enthusiasts, The Hisaka re-opened in 2023 as a craft gin shop and speakeasy. Step inside and you’ll be welcomed by a brightly lit retail space, with shelves made of natural wood showcasing 150 types of craft gin from across the globe. 

One shelf towards the back of the shop, however, is a secret door that leads to a dramatic bar space bathed in charcoal black, where sophisticated cocktails take centre stage. Sip on creations like the Japanese Tea Set cocktail (¥1,760), a blend of Ki No Tea dry gin, hojicha syrup and matcha, for a sweet nightcap, or dive into citrusy, umami-rich drinks such as the Sea of Harris (¥1,760), a concoction of sugar kelp gin, St Germain and grapefruit.

There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of listening to the sizzle of thinly sliced beef on a table-top barbecue grill, as the colour of the meat goes from deep pink to a slightly charred golden brown. A sister shop of the high-end Yoroniku restaurant, this foodie favourite near Akihabara has a slightly more casual feel than its Aoyama counterpart – and it’s cheaper, too.

On top of the prime cuts of wagyu and beef tongue that the staff will grill for you at your table, Namaiki (loosely translated as ‘raw essence’) is famous for its raw meat specialities like beef nigiri sushi and a buttery, Korean-inspired steak tartare served on toast.

These dishes – available in a multi-course meal (from ¥7,480 per person) or à la carte – are so mouthwatering you’d think you’d never want the meal to end, but Namaiki’s signature kakigori dessert always manages to rival the wagyu it follows.

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