Novus : The Bottom Line
If you’ve read our Pintology Craft Beer & Whisky review, then combine it with Novus for two very cosy places where you are made to feel welcome, with some cold craft beer and delicious food. While the tap list at Novus might be out there for “non-craft beer” geeks, I was happy that it wasn’t filled up with IPAs and the numerous variations offered now by most breweries. It’s a great little place that I will be returning to time and time again when I’m in the area.
The only downside to this place is that it does have a table charge; however, the otoshi you get for that is more than worth the price of admission. Finally, the whole place is non-smoking and also has free WiFi.
Novus : Background
Novus grew out of the experience of its owner, Koji Konuma, who took a somewhat unconventional route into hospitality. Originally from Ibaraki, Konuma moved to Tokyo with ambitions of becoming a hairdresser. After about two and a half years, however, he became interested in the food and hospitality world and took a job at a popular open-air café in Yoyogi-Uehara. That experience eventually convinced him that running a small neighbourhood establishment was more suited to him than working in the larger, more urban restaurants where he had gained experience.
He subsequently opened NIVAL, a small curry and spice bar in Hachimanyama, and spent around nine years developing it into a successful local business. Rather than simply opening another restaurant, Konuma wanted his next project to reflect something he had personally become passionate about: craft beer. Novus opened in November 2023, combining craft beer with handmade hamburgers and creative bistro food and is located less than two minutes from Keio Hachimanyama station.
Novus : Atmosphere & Interior
Novus is tiny, with just nine counter seats inside, plus a small terrace area outside. The compact size is important because it gives the place a distinctly intimate, almost hidden-away character despite being only about a minute from Hachimanyama Station. It seems designed for that post-work or evening “one drink becomes several” sort of visit rather than somewhere people rush in, eat a burger and leave. The counter becomes the heart of the place as you’re close to the action, watching the food being prepared and interacting with the staff rather than sitting anonymously at a table. That suits Novus’s concept particularly well because the beer isn’t treated as an afterthought.
Though there is a table charge for Novus, the numerous times I’ve been here, the otoshi has always convinced me to buy some of the food here – and it seems that those little morsals of food are prepared with the idea around the beer helping them out. Finally
Novus : Beer & Tap Information
There are six taps at Novus, with them mostly being based around domestic craft beers. The beers come in three sizes small (150 ml) from ¥750, medium (300 ml) from ¥1,170, and large (470 ml) from ¥1,360 with tax being added on top of that. The beers are at the pricier end of the scale though it tends to be that the rarer the beer, the more it costs. Novus doesn’t just sell beer from interesting breweries, but sometimes gets involved closely enough to have beers made specifically for the bar. One particularly good example is “Novas” (ノウス), a collaboration/anniversary beer brewed by Nami no Oto Brewing in Hyogo.
Though outside the bar does advertise takeaway craft beer, I couldn’t see any prices on the menu nor any option as to how to get the beers to takeaway. Finally, there’s no happy hour nor any offer of a beer flight.
Novus : Food & Menu Information
The food! Wow – it’s delicious. Now I am no foodie, but I do love a good burger from time to time, and Novus does some absolutely delicious burgers that are well worth of your time. Of course, there is other food on the menu; however, when you have a blue cheese and bacon burger, I will be ordering that. Paired off against a nice crisp saison, and life really doesn’t get much better than that. The burger is the obvious centrepiece, but in the evening the kitchen moves into small-bistro territory, with seasonal dishes designed specifically to work with the beer.
If you do come to Novus, then it’s worth noting that the menus are mostly in Japanese, with just a smattering of English being used to name the beers, with all the food menus being in Japanese so you will need someone to help you with ordering.
Novus : Bar Details
- Open : Tuesdays & Wednesdays 18:00 – 23:00 (L.O Food 22:00 Drink 22:30) Thursdays to Saturdays 12:00 – 14:30 (L.O Food 13:30 Drinks 14:00) 18:00 – 23:00 (L.O Food 22:00 Drink 22:30)
- Closed : Sunday / Monday
- Happy Hour : –
- Phone : 03-6304-6047
- Homepage (in Japanese) : –
- Social Media : Instagram
