Bar Orchard Ginza is Takuo and Sumire Miyanohara's fruit-driven cocktail counter on the 7th floor of a small Ginza building. No menu, pick a fruit, get a bespoke drink.
Tip: Take the lift to 7F. No phones, parties of four max. Cover charge 1,000 yen, closed Sundays.
Address: 6-5-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
The Bellwood in Tokyo's Shibuya is Atsushi Suzuki's 2020-opened bar designed as a Taisho-era cafe. Cocktail kaiseki: sakizuke, yakimono, gohan courses translated into drinks.
Tip: Ask for the cocktail kaiseki tasting if seated at the counter. The unmarked Bell Sushi room behind serves a 12-piece omakase.
AiiRO Cafe in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the open-air gay bar marked by a blue torii at the gateway corner of the district. Pavement crowd, mixed friendly, late-night focus.
Tip: Drinks 700-900 yen, no cover. The street outside fills up by midnight on Fri-Sat, English spoken at the bar.
Arty Farty in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the long-running 2F dance bar and its sister Annex. Mixed crowd, pop and house DJ sets nightly, the dance floor of the strip.
Tip: Free entry, drinks 700-1,000 yen. Dance side and bar side connect through the building; pace yourself, no last orders until close.
AiSOTOPE Lounge in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the biggest events room in the district. Drag, theme parties, EDM and 80s nights from a dedicated stage and dance floor.
Tip: Cover usually 1,000-2,000 yen depending on the night. Check the AiiRO/AiSOTOPE Facebook for the calendar; events typically run from 22:00.
Eagle Tokyo in Shinjuku Ni-chome is the Brooklyn-style bear bar that opened in 2016. Behind AiSOTOPE Lounge, beer-and-shots room, mixed bear-leaning crowd, all welcome.
Tip: No cover, drinks 700-900 yen. Open until 04:00 on Fri-Sat; sister venue Eagle Tokyo Blue is on the same block.
Campy! Bar in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the loud drag-and-friends room opened in 2013 by celebrity host Bourbonne. Mixed-orientation crowd, no seating charge, cash on delivery.
Tip: No seating fee unless you book a weekend sofa (1,000 yen). Cash for each round, the queens speak some English.