Shot Bar Zoetrope ゾートロープ

Shot Bar Zoetrope is hidden in the back alleys of Nishi-Shinjuku. It’s on the 3rd floor of a commercial building so we almost missed the entrance. Although it’s so hidden, it’s packed with Japanese whisky lovers since it offers over 250 varieties which some are no longer available in the market.

We visited Shot Bar Zoetrope in 2014 and 2015 so they still had a lot of rare whiskies available like Ichiro’s Malt Deck of Cards. I highly doubt they had any of that left available though. But some house rules don’t change, best to go in small groups as seats are limited, no nosing straight from the bottle, ask the owner if you can take a picture of the bottle and a cover charge of ￥600 per person.

The average price has gone up to ￥5,000～￥5,999 per person as it still offers some rare whiskies like Hibiki 30 years and Nikka Taketsuru 35 years. Despite the price, it’s a really popular whisky bar so if you want to skip the line up, best to go earlier!

Address \\ 7-10-14 Nishishinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo
Phone Number \\   03-3363-0162 (Takes reservations)
Hours \\   Monday – Saturday: 5pm – 11:45pm (Last order)
Average Price \\ ￥5,000～￥5,999
Payment Method \\   Credit Card Accepted
Rating \\   3.55/5
Website \\   Shot Bar Zoetrope (Japanese only)(To make reservations online)

Demmaru 伝丸 銀座店

Demmaru is a local ramen chain with multiple locations in Kanto and Chubu regions. It’s a Hokkaido style miso ramen base with curly thick noodles. I thought they had spicy ramen but it wasn’t spicy at all. They’re known for thick soup base but I think it was a bit too oily for me.

A lot of shops and restaurants are closed early in Ginza so if you’re hungry in the middle of the night, this ramen shop is opened a little later. It was convenient for us when we stayed at at Hotel Monterey Ginza Hotel, it was only a minute walk away so it’s convenient to satisfy your ramen craving in the middle  of the night.

Address \\ 2-11-12 Ginza Chuo Tokyo
Hours \\   Monday – Sunday: 11am – 11:30pm (Last order)
Average Price \\   Lunch: ￥999 – ￥1,999
Payment Method \\   Cash Only
Rating \\ 3.00/5
Website \\  Demmaru (Japanese only)

Jikabaisenkohibon 自家焙煎珈琲 凡

Jikabaisenkohibon is a hole in the wall. We literally walked by this place many times and missed the entrance completely. But once you find the entrance and go downstairs you’ll find a hidden gem. The decor in this coffee shop is absolutely stunning! I highly recommend to sit by the bar so you can see the whole collection of tea cups behind the glass display.

There’s a list of English Tea, hot and iced coffee to choose from along with a few cake selection. And of course, their most popular cake is the Strawberry cake. My friend is a coffee addict and he loved this place. Great coffee, tasty cake and beautiful decor!

It could get a little tricky if you need to visit the bathroom. When you’re at the end of the restaurant, you’ll see a bookshelf, the bathroom is right behind it. How cool is that?! Overall, it’s a great experience to visit this coffee shop even if you’re not a coffee addict.

Address \\ B1 Floor 3-23-1 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo
Phone Number \\ 03-3341-0179 (Cannot make reservations)
Hours \\   Monday – Sunday: 12:30pm – 10:40pm (Last order)
Average Price \\   Lunch: ￥1,000 – ￥1,999
Payment Method \\   Cash Only
Rating \\ 3.55/5
Website \\   Jikabaisenkohibon (Japanese only)

Matsuya 松屋

Matsuya is a huge chain in Japan and you’ll always find one near wherever you are. All Matsuya locations are opened 24/7, this is my go to place when I’m jet lagged and need an early breakfast.

If you’re travelling on a budget, Matsuya is a great option as all meals are under ￥1,000. The best part is, you can choose between mini, regular, large and extra large portions for all their meals. So instead of paying full price, you only pay for the portion that you order. Matsuya is known for their thin sliced beef rice bowl but they also serve curry rice and traditional Japanese breakfast like grilled fish and natto. A pint of beer is only ￥150! A great budget restaurant for travelers on a budget!

Address \\ 26-9 Udagawacho Shibuya Tokyo (Multiple locations, check website for locations)
Phone Number \\ 03-5489-7401 (Cannot make reservations)
Hours \\   24/7
Average Price \\  ￥999
Payment Method \\   Cash Only
Rating \\ 3.05/5
Website \\   Matsuya( English Website)

Dolce MariRisa ドルチェマリリッサ

Dolce MariRisa is a little cafe/cake shop tucked away in Omotodesando. They may be a small shop but they have a ton of cakes to choose from. When in Japan, you must try their Strawberry Cake and Mont Blanc Chestnut cake! Those are the two most popular cakes in Japan and you’ll find it in every cake shop.

Although Dolce MariRisa’s rating is lower, but I think that reflects more on the lunch menus they offer. I personally think their cake is pretty good. It’s a nice little shop to stop by for a little tea break.

Address \\ 3-7-4 Kitaaoyama Minato Tokyo
Phone Number \\ 03-3400-1245 (Takes reservations)
Hours \\   Monday – Sunday: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Average Price \\   Lunch: ￥1,000 – ￥1,999
Payment Method \\   Credit Card Accepted
Rating \\ 3.23/5
Website \\   Dolce MariRisa  ( English & Japanese)