Craft Beer Bar & Pub Tatemachi Che The Bottom Line Craft Beer Bar & Pub Tatemachi Che may not have an expansive lineup of beers compared to other places in Kanazawa, but its chilled, welcoming atmosphere makes up for that and the slightly higher than average prices in the area. The owner of the bar is chatty – not in …
101 Tokyo in Ebisu, Tokyo
101 Tokyo The Bottom Line I really wanted to be able to recommend 101 Tokyo, but the prices for beers and the food push it into the realm of needing a second mortgage to be able to have more than four or five beers with some food. Moreover, the peculiar table charge system ticked me off as well – sit at a …
Standing Bar Beer Boy in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo
Standing Bar Beer Boy The Bottom Line Standing Bar Beer Boy tweaks the tried-and-tested idea of Craft Beer Market to create something different, and it works. The casual atmosphere of being able to pop in for a quick beer, without the hassle of waiting for a seat, or having even to book a table, is still welcome. The prices do …
Fukuoka Kitchen in Matsumoto, Nagano
Fukuoka Kitchen The Bottom Line If it wasn’t for the table charge and lack of tax included in the price, then Fukuoka Kitchen would be the craft beer bar to go to in Matsumoto. Right now, it’s just a recommended place but don’t let that get you down too much. Fukuoka-san is a great host – even on a Monday night – …
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Kazenori Merry in Shimo-Kitazawa, Tokyo
Kazenori Merry The Bottom Line Kazenori Merry felt a Ushitora Mk 1.1 – which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your view point of the bar. The whole interior and decor hasn’t changed since opening and it seems that neither have the prices either. It’s one of the more expensive places to drink in Shimo-Kitazawa but …
August Beer Lab Kitchen in Nihonbashi, Tokyo
August Beer Lab Kitchen The Bottom Line They say you shouldn’t go back to old loves – August Beer Club “B” in Hiroo was mine and I regret going back to the chain with this branch. August Beer Lab Kitchen is located a bit far from anywhere in the area, and the beers on tap are expensive for what you get. Plus the …
Gora Brewery & Grill in Hakone, Kanagawa
Gora Brewery & Grill The Bottom Line Perhaps Gora Brewery & Grill should be renamed Gora Grill & Brewery because I’m sure the grilled food is miles better than the beer produced. The setting for Gora Brewery & Grill is second to none – beautiful views over the valley, Japanese zen garden, a foot bath for you to rest your weary feet. But …
Swan Lake Pub Edo Roppongi in Roppongi, Tokyo
Swan Lake Pub Edo Roppongi The Bottom Line I so wanted to like Swan Lake Pub Edo Roppongi but I left feeling cold and done over. Having visited two of their other branches in Tokyo – the Kyobashi branch and also the Tamachi branch – this one just pales in comparison. The beers are some of the most expensive in the area and the dreaded …
Gambrinus Roppongi in Roppongi, Tokyo
Gambrinus Roppongi The Bottom Line It’s hard to recommend Gambrinus Roppongi over Two Dogs Taproom mainly because of the prices for the beer and the food but Gambrinus Roppongi does offer up a nice cosy drinking atmosphere with a decent selection of beers on tap. The pairing of tempura and craft beer works well enough that you will eat and drink plenty but …
29BY in Kannai, Yokohama
29BY The Bottom Line Craft Meat and Baird Harajuku Taproom both show that with the right prices and menu, you can’t really go wrong with meat and craft beer – if it’s priced right and the servings are good. Perhaps someone should have told 29BY about these two places as it’s hard to recommend the place in its current form. At the …