Bar Four Seasons
Tokyo
Katsaus
Arvostelut
A traditional Japanese cocktail bar with a narrow main room and a small six-seater private booth which we used. On a Friday night there are plenty of staff behind the bar and bartender service at the booth table. Very helpful and efficient, wearing smart uniforms that are key to the Japanese cocktail scene. They even had slicked back hair as a throwback to another time! I ordered an Old Fashioned and later a Pisco Sour. The bartender knew both cocktails without question and was helpful recommending options to my friends. They don’t have a menu which I usually take as a good sign that they can whip up whatever you order. The Old Fashioned was perfectly balanced, the ice melted just enough, the orange matching the bourbon (I assume it was Woodford Reserve as that is a popular base for this in Japan although because we were at the booth we didn’t get to see the bottles used). The only personal complaint about the cocktail is I am in love with the Japanese ice technique where they sculpt a single large block that fits perfectly in the glass. Four Seasons used lots of small chunks of ice. Never the less it was delicious, one of the best I’ve had so far. Other drinks we had: Bloody Mary, Martinis (including the Vesper), and a Caipirinha all of which were expertly constructed and very much enjoyed. It wasn’t quite a five star cocktail bar for me because it didn’t quite have the attentive personal touch from the bartenders that my favourite cocktail bars have. But some visitors might prefer the simplify of excellent and polite service.
This place is an absolute gem in Tokyo. Bartenders make delicious cocktails, they are attentive and meticulous. I didn’t know what to choose and I asked for a vodka cocktail, the bartender came to my table to ask if I wanted a sweet/sour cocktail or long/short drink and he made me a cocktail with fresh pear juice and it was absolutely stunning! I’ve been there every time I went to Tokyo and it never disappointed. The vibe is old school Japanese, the waiter took our jackets and hung them, then gave them back to us when we were living and held the elevator door for us. Proper class!
Service and ambiance were fine, but the cocktails were a joke. Upscale prices for less than average quality: we had a whiskey sour and a gin tonic. No egg white in the whiskey sour and half the volume. The Gin Tonic was so small that they put away half the little fever tree tonic bottle back in the fridge. We paid the same at the Mitsui Hotel Bar in Kyoto: more upscale, same price and excellent quality.
We had such a lovely experience here!!! Upscale cocktail bar with very friendly staff. For two Americans from Philly, our first time in Japan has been nothing short of amazing. They surprised us with a little bottle of Japanese whiskey on our way out. So kind!
