Canal-side neighbourhood with cherry trees, modern izakaya, the Onibus Coffee flagship and the converted-warehouse rooms that the design press features every spring.
Yakitori Omino in Tokyo's Meguro is the one-Michelin-star yakitori counter where Akihiro Omino grills jidori chicken over binchotan in a hidden basement.
Signature: Tsukune meatball with raw quail yolk, Yakitori omakase course, Sansho-charred wings
Order: The 14-skewer omakase; the tsukune meatball with quail yolk is the signature.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Reserve through Pocket Concierge two months ahead; dinner only.
Tonki in Tokyo's Meguro has fried tonkatsu since 1939, the canonical Tokyo cutlet counter. Cash only, walk-in only, white tile and theatre of frying.
Signature: Hire-katsu lean cutlet, Rosu-katsu rib cutlet, Cabbage refills
Order: Hire-katsu (lean) set with miso soup, rice and unlimited cabbage refills.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays and third Mondays. Queue from 16:00; cash only.
Solfa in Tokyo's Nakameguro is the basement bar-lounge club that opened in 2008. RCF Italian rig, capacity around 100, the local underground room for house.
Tip: Tiny dance floor, around 100 capacity. Cover 2,500-3,500 yen, photo ID needed. Reservations via the official site for headline nights.