Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku The Bottom Line
Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku is nothing like the other two branches in Kyobashi or Tamachi – it’s far more upmarket and not really aimed at craft beer drinkers. Instead, it’s aimed at the local office workers – as I found out on the day. While it follows a similar vein to those two other branches we’ve been too, it is far more upmarket with perhaps it being more in line with the Ikarashitei Yui Swan Lake Pub Edo Niigata or Roppongi branch being more apt representations. Unfortunately, like that branch, there is a table charge of ¥500 and also prices do not include tax either. Moreover, Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku also has sensationalized smoking so make sure you ask for non-smoking else you will be put into the smoking section regardless. It;s also a tough place to order as there was the bare minimum of English on the drinks menu, and the food menu had no English on it – omotenashi has clearly not made its way into this part of Shinjuku yet. There is some good though at Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku as there are plenty of vegetarian options.
Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku The Full Review
Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku opened in July 2017 and ever since, I’ve been trying to get in there but everything single time, I’ve been turned away due to office parties or large groups having already booked. However, not to be deterred, I’ve kept going back in the hope that the ever dwindling numbers of people who want to go there with me will finally let me in. And this time, alone, I got in. And seated at a table for 8 – way to rub it in Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku. Thanks.
Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku is located in Shinjuku, about 10 minutes walk from the west side of the station. It’s easy to miss it as it’s hidden by a Starbucks and there isn’t much way of actual signage outside besides the yellow banner. When you do get downstairs, you’re greeted by a traditional Japanese style izakaya with lots of wood, sliding doors, and curtains in the entrance. Once you’ve (finally) gotten to your tables, it’s far more open than the entrance suggests. Inside there is space for 60 people, all seated mind, and the bar is split into two sections – smoking and non-smoking – with the entrance splitting up the two sides. Unfortunately, there is also a ¥500 table charge which does get you an well-presented dish of small food, but when has rice really been counted as an appetiser?
The taplist at Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku is, unsurprisingly, mostly made of Swan Lake beers with an occasional guest tap too. The beers come in three different sizes: small (250ml) from ¥600, medium (320ml) from ¥740, and large (500ml) from ¥980 but none of these prices include tax. You can also order the same beers in some specially designed glasses but you don’t get to keep the glass, which seems a bit weird but hey, if people want to have a different sized glass than their co-drinkers, then so be it. Unlike other branches in the Swan Lake chain, Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku doesn’t have any kind of happy hour nor any kind of beer flight either.
As Niigata is where Swan Lake is based, the food at Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku is predominantly based around that area and very much seasonal too – so plenty of fish, seafood, and vegetables too. There are also some options for vegetarians, but unlike the drinks menu, there were no English menus on offer so make sure you have someone with you who can read Japanese.
Swan Lake Pub Edo Shinjuku Details
Open: Weekdays 11:30 – 14:00 (L.O 13:30) 17:00 – 23:30 (L.O Food 22:30 Drink 23:00) Saturday 16:00 – 23:30 (L.O Food 22:30 Drink 23:00)
Closed: Sundays & National Holidays
Happy Hour: None
Phone: 03-5309-2972
Homepage (in Japanese): http://www.swanlake.co.jp/main/pubedo_tp.htm
Social Media: Facebook
