I’m not big into nightlife but I do love sitting down somewhere for a drink or two in the afternoon or early evening. I’ve managed to find some good places to drink so far, but a lot of them have been western-style bars – I’m keen to try out more traditional izakayas, but my Japanese isn’t great and I’d like to avoid running into a situation (again) where I’m enjoying a drink in what I thought was a bar and an employee has to apologetically ask me to order food, please.
Is there an easy way to tell which places are stand-alone bars and which are more like restaurants where you also need to order food? (To clarify, I’m fine with a table charge with or without snacks, I’m just not looking to order anything larger.) Should I keep avoiding any places with food menus out the front? Is there a more helpful search phrase than “bar” or “izakaya” (or a more helpful app than Google maps)? Any other tips or recommendations for some casual daytime drinks?
17 comments
The easiest way to find if it’s OK just to drink is simply ask. I used to do it all the time.
Of course, that means you have to go there so it wouldn’t be helpful if you’re preplanning a visit.
If you’re OK standing, a lot of tachinomiya are OK with only ordering drinks.
>Is there a more helpful search phrase than “bar” or “izakaya”
Yeah, try HUB.
Try searching for specific bars tho. Like whiskey bar, shochu bar etc
Couple of ideas as food for thought:
Western style, “grab a couple of beers” type of bars can often be found in hotels. A bit expensive but if that’s what you are looking for this is an option.
Typically in my experience a バー is a bar. A バル is an izakaya at heart in western style appearance/cuisine. So search for バー.
My experience in Japan is that the best way to find a place to eat/drink is to be taken there by friends first. Your menu of options grows over time as you go out over and over again with various groups – and you eventually create your own mosaic of places you like to go.
Some izakaya have bars where you can just sit and drink and chat with the bartender. They’ll keep putting bowls of mixed nuts or pretzels in front of you, though, which they will add to your tab when you’re ready to pay.
Bar Flat is exactly what you’re looking for. The owner’s English is also great. Nice guy.
Edit: it’s in shibuya
Basically, Japanese people never drink without food. So what you are looking for are foreign-style pubs and bars frequented by foreigners.
While they are not standalone bars, family restaurants such as Gusto, Jonathan’s, Saizeriya, and Royal Host serve alcohol and won’t pressure you to order food. They also won’t ask you to leave for sitting for a long time.
Some of them now have tablet ordering system, so you don’t even have to talk to the waiter/tress.
For izakaya, usually this is called ワンオーダー
If you ask ワンオーダーですか？ they should know what you’re asking.
Probably best to find a place run by the owner (rather than some chain izakaya) because they won’t care what you order if you’re day drinking.
On top of “bars” (バー), you can also try “snacks”, スナック. Snacks don’t actually necessarily serve snacks, the difference with bars is tenuous, you would go there to discuss with the bartender or do a quick karaoke.
The surrounding of pretty much any station will have a couple bars and/or snacks.
Which area/city are you in ?
Search for beer bar, cocktail bar, wine bar, shochu bar, sake bar, mezcal bar. Whatever you are in the mood for. The right search terms will get you a long ways.
Search for standing bars. That’s probably what you’re looking for. They usually also have a bar counter you can sit at.
Depends on where in Japan/Tokyo you live.
They exist. In my town, there are many. I pop into one all the time. Sometimes I get snack, but most of time it’s just drinks. Other than that, craft beer places are always a good shout. Many open after 3 though.
Osaka?
It’s tricky because traditional Japanese izakayas are overwhelmingly food-and-drinks places, not just-drinks places.
That said, there are distinctively Japanese (i.e. non-western) bars where food is optional. They just probably won’t have the izakaya aesthetic and won’t advertise themselves as izakayas, usually.
If your Japanese isn’t great and you want to avoid being suddenly asked to order food, I’d *avoid* the term izakaya in my searches. If your Japanese is up to it, though, the best thing to do is just flat out ask when you come in / ask the staff out front. Nomimono dake demo ii desu ka? or something like that. They get that some people have already eaten dinner.
ETA: Try “something” bars, like Karaoke bars, Shisha bars, Rock bars, Whiskey bars, Cigar bars, etc. Places that have a particular gimmick often aren’t that big on the food orders.
Kirin City, they have multiple branches. They serve food as well, but a few times I went and only ordered drinks and it was fine.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dg8GTzJRgqH68LH38
Only Japanese drinks
Or many snack are just for talking and drinking