I am working on an exhaustive list of great bars in Tokyo

So far I really like the Park Hyatt (awesome views) and Rouge Bar at Robuchon in Ebisu (sleek, sexy). The Westin next door also has a very nice bar, in a more traditional style.

Afternoon tea at the Imperial was a major disappointment though.

Any suggestions?

Look up the Japanese characters for "Izakaya" and head to Shinjuku or Shibuya. You can basically enter any building on the more busy streets and have a bar on every floor. Ask the door staff about food and drinks incuding "nomihoodai" and "tabehoodai" ( "all you can eat/drink" ) possibilities and check if the atmosphere and clientele are of your taste. Izakayas often have very innovative takes on Japanese and other food and serve smaller "O-toshi" ( tapas ) to accompany drinks.

Please note that the "nomihoodai" drinks tend to be of inferior quality compared to the "normal" menu. It's always good to tell the staff if you like dryer ("karaguchi") or more fruity ( "amaguchi" ) ricewine and Shochu.

The "Opera City" complex on the Western outskirts of Shinjuku offers bars with a view and for a lesser cost compared to the main hotels.

The smaller, more intimate bars are often for a specific customer group and do often not welcome strangers, especially if they are not Japanese. Please do not argue too much in this case as you never know if you have just entered some Yakuza relaxation spot.

Ah yes, the old yakuza spots - wouldn't want to barge in on some old gang member's birthday now would you? :-)

Yes, izakaya are great, but I should have been more specific, I mean Western style bars, or at least those that make fancy cocktails and things...you know, the ones to take a lady to, to impress her ;-)

my favorite (bar/restaurant)
is the hanezawa garden.

Fliar:

OK, got it. Here's a list of Opera City restaurants & bars:

http://www.operacity.jp/en/rest.html

The two bars on the 53rd floor should be of interest. And if you fancy something to eat afterwards just head next door for a bite.

Good one, thanks mosburger!

Derpelikan, where is that place?

check this http://www.thehanezawagarden.com/eng/

if you are a fan of kill bill, you should take a closer look at the garden
may be you will have a dejavu (but now there will be no snow

i rate this the NO1. bar in tokyo and may be one of the top 10 in the world ( i have seen to far)

try to make a reservation, if you have problems i will make you a centurion reservation , they got me in everytime . if you trying it your self, they will tell you that they are fully booked but they have 1-2 spare tables everytime in the restaurant, so dont accept a no.

there is another restaurant bar in shinjuku which is really great i wll try to find the web page for you.

the hanezawa garden has a garden restaurant too. so check the hp out. its really great.

dp

How can you leave out Gas Panic?

Depends on your taste in "ladies", I guess...

Ah yes, Gas Panic...not that I have ever been there, of course

Well, since you are a linguist, you may also want to suggest some of these nice English-speaking bars that I have read about. Supposedly these are places where the Japanese go to parctice their English with each other. Seems like these would be good places for us gaijin to meet Japanese, who in turn we could also practice our Japanese on.

M8

Although I sense some mischief in the previous post, there is nothing nice about the exploitment of the "caucasian" image that is practised not only in Japan but also elsewhere in Asia. The image that all non-Asians in China/Japan/Korea are Anglo-Saxon English "teachers" is so strong that I have had to justify not being one on several occasions.

There is also some market for caucasian semi-prostitution in the hostess/host bars that can be found in any larger city in China/Japan/Korea. I heard that this business is booming especially in China where American and European students and "models" can and do make quick cash by pouring drinks and flirting with their Asian female or male patrons. The whole "English cafe" phenomenon is not that far from this more open business.

I wish these whole prejudices and race-related complexes would just disappear some day, sigh...

Uh? What are you talking about?

I am referring to places that are frequented by Japanese, where they go to practice English with each other. Just seems to me this would be a good place for native English speakers to meet Japanese that likewise would let the native English speakers practice their nascent Japanese skills.

What are you referring too? Do you believe these places are fronts for prostitution?

M8

Not prostitution, just exploitation that limits intercultural exhange to stereotypes and breeds prejudice and even bitterness. It's not nice when you look up close...Japanese that go to these kind of places would move away from any caucasian speaking Japanese, they're not supposed to...

Oh! I see now. Gee thanks for the lesson