Editor’s Note: BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi has closed. This review is being kept up for posterity’s sake.
BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi One Paragraph Review
If you’re looking for Fujizakura beer in the best possible condition, then BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi is the place to go. However, compared to other bars in the local area, it’s also one of, if not the, the most expensive. Prices don’t include tax and there is also an additional table charge of ¥300, which doesn’t include tax. Thankfully, the bar is no smoking and there is some English on the menu. It’s a shame as BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi could have really helped spread the Fujizakura brand name, but I would have to say only go here if someone else is paying.
Dimly lit inside. Nice and relaxing atmosphere though.
BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi Full Review
BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi is Fujizakura Kanko Heights entry into the taproom market in Tokyo, after following the success of Baird Beer’s range of bars, Hitachino Nest Brewing Lab in Akihabara, and TY Harbor bars and restaurants. The bar opened on March 7th 2016 to much fanfare though unfortunately due to prior engagements, we missed Miyashita-san, head brewer, and his swift barmanship. It’s located minutes away from exit A6 of Roppongi station in a downstairs away and as soon as you walk in, you’re whisked away to a bar that is as far removed from your usual taproom as you could imagine.
On the day I went, it was cold, wet, and windy and I spent about five minutes walking around trying to find BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi as the map location I had pointed me to the back of the building and not the front. After managing to find it with some help of a local, the traditional Japanese path entrance led us into somewhere completely different. There was soothing jazz playing in the background as we entered; loud enough to be heard but not so loud to drown out the conversation. There are several seating areas to BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi, with a counter of about 15 seats, a couple of tables behind those, and then some private rooms for large groups of people that were booked out on the day we went.
There are ten taps of craft beer on at BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi, with seven of those being dedicated to Fujizakura Heights beer, and the other three being guest beers from across Japan. The prices and sizes are where it all gets a bit confusing. The beers on the menu come in two sizes; medium and large, though the sizes for each beer differ. Large beers are either 400ml for the guest beers, or 500ml for the Fujizakura beers, except the pils, which is 400ml. Regular beers cost from ¥1,000 to ¥1,200 but those prices don’t include tax. The medium beers are either 250ml for the Fujizakura beer or 300ml for the guest beers with prices from ¥700 to ¥900. There is also a maß/mass beer, which is German for measure, that is 1,000ml and costs ¥1,900.
Apparently, the food at BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi is similar to the Sylvans Restaurant in Yamanashi though we didn’t go for any food today as we were pretty much wiped out when it came to paying for the beers. The small otoshi we got, when asked, was for two people and consisted of three thumb sized pieces of Iberico pork and seven nuts. With that sized portion for ¥648, I can’t imagine the food sizes being enough for two people either.
As an aside, BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi does also offer a points card scheme where you get one stamp for every ¥3,000 spent to encourage you to come back for me. For example, after spending ¥6,000 you get one regular beer.
BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi Details
Open: Weekdays 17:00 ~ 23:30 Weekends 16:00 ~ 23:30
Phone: 03-5411-3333
Homepage (in Japanese): http://www.beerbar-fujizakura.jp/
SNS: Facebook / Twitter
How to Get to BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi
The closest station is Roppongi on the Tokyo Metro Oedo Line and Hibiya Line. Take exit number six on the Oedo Line, and walk straight until you pass an AU shop. BeerBar Fujizakura Roppongi is located in the basement of the building.
