Whether you’re accompanying friends on a night out or looking to drink alone, Tokyo has some of the quirkiest bars in the world for you to choose from. Read on to find out just where to go if you like your drinks served with a side of magic. Or if you prefer cocktails by an enclosure in the zoo, there’s a place for you too.
Magic Bar Cuore
You’re never too old for a magic trick. Magic Bar Cuore mixes drinks with the wackiest, most jaw-dropping magic tricks you’ll see. There are card-tricks, disappearing coins and more. All the tricks are performed by the bartenders, who moonlight as professional magicians. You’re bound to be amazed. The bar offers table tricks that last up to 40 minutes, which you can be treated to at your seat, and also stage tricks, which are more elaborate and large-scale. During stage performances, you can even volunteer to go up as the magician’s assistant and watch the magic unfold before your very eyes.
The bar is the perfect stop if you’re celebrating a birthday or occasion that calls for an unforgettable experience. Menu aside, you can also opt for the all-you-can-drink option, for an additional cost of ￥8,000. The bar also offers bar food for the peckish.
Penguin Bar Ikebukuro
Nothing beats watching adorable penguins dive in the water and chase after each other whilst you knock back a cocktail. Penguin Bar is one of the most unique concept bars in Tokyo, marrying the idea of pet cafes and a fantastic drinking experience in this classy bar. Penguin Bar was designed with couples in mind, just as penguins mate for life, the owners of the bar hoped that amorous patrons would also have a long and happy relationship, with plenty of little “chicks”! Relax with your loved one as you admire the glass tank filled with clamouring little black and white penguins. The bar is mindful of the penguins’ living conditions, and every effort is made to ensure the penguins live in comfort and have their needs met.
The drinks menu is extensive in itself but you can also choose to order a tailor-made cocktail if you’re looking for something a little more personalised to top off your unique experience.
Vibe Bar
If anything, the vagina-shaped door should tip you off to just what kind of bar this is. Inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of over 300 sex toys. Vibe Bar is intended for both men and women and is meant as a rampant celebration of sexuality. Guests are welcome to fondle the wide array dildos whilst they sip drinks over a two hour period, and the bartenders are all equipped with extensive knowledge of each toy and its features. If you find a toy that catches your eye, you can even take it home with you (for a charge of course).
The restaurant even sells lube, which guests are allowed to taste, though rest assured it is not mixed into the drinks. As for the menu, there’s a selection of beer, wine and cocktails to choose from. Non-alcoholic options are also available.
Shooting Bar EA
Japan is well known for its conservative stance on firearms, but that doesn’t mean that people here don’t get trigger happy. This bar has both bar stools and firing lanes, so you can stop by and try your luck with firearms. They provide a menu consisting of various guns, which includes the .50 calibre sniper rifle and other ranges of machine guns, for patrons to choose from. You can sip drinks off to the side as you wait for your turn. The guns use plastic pellets, not bullets, ensuring the bar is still able to operate whilst respecting a certain standard of safety. The bar also provides safety goggles and protective earmuffs. After a thrilling night of shooting away, you can bring your shooting board home to show off your sharpshooter skills.
One of the most popular drinks to order is the SPAS-12 cocktail, an enchanting blend of fruit juice, rum and brown sugar that’s literally set on fire before your eyes. For the daredevil looking for their dose of adrenaline, Shooting Bar is the place to be.
Kagaya
Mark Kagaya reportedly first opened Kagaya after he was struck by lightning. Since then, his quirky Izakaya (eating-house) style bar has taken Tokyo by storm. On the outside, it looks like every other Izakaya in Japan, with its austere letterboard and non-descript exterior. But inside, the owner will keep you more than entertained with his crazy antics. A popular haunt for salarymen looking to de-stress, Kagaya is often full of customers eager to see just what Mark Kagaya will get up to now. Sometimes a remote-controlled Anpanman will be used to deliver towels to your table. Other visits will see the owner emerging in a lurid green frog costume. Customers are expected to play along, whether it’s counting down to the launching of a menu, folded up to resemble a rocket, or singing out your order, with the restaurant as your stage. The general consensus seems to be that the main punchline is pretending there’s nothing out of the ordinary and everyone has to keep up this one big practical joke.
The ideal spot for a living evening, and a great way to get to know locals, Kagaya also boasts great food. After all, there’s a reason why tables are packed evening after evening, night after night. We recommend making reservations ahead of time to secure your spot!
