Tokyo's busiest train hub feeds yakitori under the tracks at Omoide Yokocho, all-night ramen, golden-era cocktail bars and Kabukicho's late-night izakaya.
Udon Shin in Tokyo's Yoyogi is the much-photographed sanuki udon counter near Shinjuku Station. Hand-pulled noodles cooked to order, opens 11:00 daily.
Signature: Carbonara udon, Curry udon, Kake udon with grated daikon
Order: The carbonara udon with bacon, soft-boiled egg and black pepper; curry udon in winter.
Tip: Queue from 11:00; midweek lunches turn fastest. Cash only at the counter.
Tsunahachi Shinjuku Honten in Tokyo has fried tempura over sesame oil since 1923. Counter and tables; the lunch set is the local lunchtime introduction.
Signature: Tempura lunch set, Anago saltwater eel tempura, Shrimp tempura skewer
Order: The tempura lunch set with anago and the shrimp opener.
Tip: Open daily 11:00-22:30. Lunch queue is fast; dinner counter seating turns quickly.
Katsukura Shinjuku in Tokyo Takashimaya is the Kyoto tonkatsu chain's department-store branch. Tableside sesame-grinding ritual, sauces blended to taste.
Signature: Kurobuta rosu cutlet, Hire-katsu lean cutlet, Sesame-grind sauce service
Order: Kurobuta rosu set with cabbage refills and the grind-your-own sesame sauce.
Tip: Inside Takashimaya Times Square dining floor. Open 11:00-22:00; weekend dinners queue 30 minutes.
Shinjuku Pit Inn is the basement jazz room running since 1965, the canonical Tokyo room for serious modern and free jazz. Two sets daily on a tight 100-seat.
Tip: Matinee at 14:30 is the bargain; evening set 19:30 is the marquee. Cash on the door, no reservations, no food.
Shinjuku Loft in Tokyo's Kabukicho is the basement live house anchoring the Loft Project network. Indie rock, punk, and noise tours, a 25-plus-year Tokyo.
Tip: Standing room basement, doors usually 18:00 or 19:00 on weeknights. Bar at the back stays open through the set, cashless accepted.
New York Bar on the 52nd floor of Park Hyatt Tokyo reopened December 2025 after the hotel's 19-month renovation. Nightly live jazz, the Lost in Translation.
Tip: Music charge after 20:00, smart casual enforced. Window seats need a reservation; the new cocktail menu nods to the film.
Bar Benfiddich in Tokyo's Nishi-Shinjuku is Hiroyasu Kayama's 17-seat counter built around herbs and spirits he grows on his Chichibu farm. World's 50 Best.
Tip: Take the lift to 9F; no menu, just describe what you like. Cover charge applies, reservations help on weekends.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tip: No seating fee unless you book a weekend sofa (1,000 yen). Cash for each round, the queens speak some English.
Dragon Men in Shinjuku Ni-chome is one of the largest clubs in the district. Open dance floor, big stage for drag shows, all-you-can-drink set deals through.
Tip: Cash only. All-you-can-drink set is the standard order; the dance floor opens up after midnight Fri-Sat.
Bar Gold Finger in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the lesbian bar that anchors the queer-women scene. Retro decor, library corner of queer books.
Tip: Saturday nights are women-only; other nights mixed. No cover, drinks 700-1,000 yen, cash easiest.
Donzoko in Tokyo's Shinjuku Sanchome is the dive izakaya bar that opened in 1951. Mishima and Kurosawa drank here; the Showa-era counter and side rooms run.
Tip: Cash easiest; the sake menu is the move, ask for a tokkuri pairing. Tucked off Suehiro Street, look for the small lantern.