Music
DJ Bar Bridge, World Kitchen Baobab (below), Grandfather’s (below right)
Music for the soul
Turn your evening tipple into something more soulful at these top music bars. Words Kunihiro Miki
I
t’s easy to find a club in downtown Tokyo, where the music will be thumping and you can lose yourself on the dancefloor. But it’s a little harder to find a local music bar where you know the tunes will be quality and they’ll suit a more reflective mood. Here, we round up five of our favourite bars that are known for their refined record collections, for hosting choice DJs, and for generally just being havens for serious music lovers.
DJ BAR BRIDGE
Since opening in 2014, DJ Bar Bridge has steadily established itself as a standard-bearer for music lovers. Besides its outstanding location on the 10th floor of a building that’s just at the entrance of
Nonbei Yokocho (‘Drunkards’ Alley’) and overlooks the centre of Shibuya, it features appearances from superb veteran DJs every day of the week. Whether you just want to nurse a whisky while enjoying live DJ tunes in the background or hit the dance floor, you’re in good company here – the regular clientele features a mix of music and fashion industry insiders, young club-music fans, and dedicated partygoers. Yet everyone here is unassuming, simply here to enjoy some of the best music on offer in Shibuya. 10F Parkside Kyodo Bldg, 1-25-6 Shibuya, Shibuya (Shibuya Station). 03 6427 6568. tinyurl.com/TOTbar-bridge. Daily 8pm-5am. Entrance ¥1,000.
WORLD KITCHEN BAOBAB
A cosmopolitan spot where you can enjoy music, food and alcohol from around the world, including the Caribbean, Africa, and Central and South America. World Kitchen Baobab is almost considered a sacred place by world music fans; it’s full of precious records and miscellaneous goods collected by the owner on his travels. Live events are also held here from time to time, offering performances by excellent Japanese musicians playing everything from Latin music to reggae to styles from Africa, Brazil and more. On occasion, they also feature overseas artists. B1F Ohara Bldg, 2-4-6 Kichijoji Minamicho, Musashino-shi (Kichijoji Station). 0422 76 2430. tinyurl.com/TOTbaobab. Mon-Thu & Sun 6pm-1am, Fri, Sat & day before pub hols 6pm-4am. 52 For your full, up-to-the-minute guide to Tokyo visit timeout.com/tokyo
GRANDFATHER’S
Established 40 years ago, the aptly named Grandfather’s started out with a playlist style that was uncommon at the time, blending together rock LPs one song at a time. Today, the tunes are a selection of popular music (mainly AOR and funk and soul) from the ’70s, when vinyl records were mainstream. However, the owner is constantly on the lookout for new music and if a modern artist wins his favour they’ll get some ‘airtime’ too. (We recently heard him spin a few tracks by Joss Stone and Rumer.) After all these years, the interior is still well maintained, giving off a rich ambience that’s appropriate for such a venerable bar and that lends an extra level of charm to the music. B1F Flat Bldg, 1-24-7 Shibuya, Shibuya (Shibuya Station). 03 3407 9505. tinyurl.com/TOTgrandfathers. Daily 5pm-3am.
GRANDFATHER'S: MANABU MOROOKA, ALL OTHER IMAGES: KEISUKE TANIGAWA
Music
Everyone here is unassuming
