Izy
Adding a big dose of cool to this quieter bit of Club Street is swish joint Izy, helmed by chef Kazumasa Yazawa (formerly of Waku Ghin). As you’d expect, he takes the traditional bar menu to new heights with small plates like ocean trout carpaccio ($28). With snazzy interiors straight out of a cyberpunk movie, and a list of sakes, small batch single malts, craft beers and bespoke cocktails to work through, it’s no surprise that this place is always packed with cool cats.
KOI Sushi + Izakaya
Another fresh new Club Street offering is KOI, a cozy bar which spills out onto the road on weekend nights. It’s a great spot to nurse a Hitachino Nest beer ($15) or interesting concoctions like the Cherry Blossom ($16)—Effen black cherry, Kirei umeshu, cherry, lime—and the Truffled Japanese Whisky Sour ($16). The vibe here is pretty low key, with local artworks lining the walls and simple but satisfying bar bites like scallop sashimi.
Sumiya
This retro (think vintage enamel signs and copper crockery) grill and izakaya has been packing in crowds with its DIY-style meals. But if you’re here to drink—and you will, because this joint’s got the cheapest Asahi in town at a mere $4.90 a pop—you’ll want to go for all-you-can-grab edamame ($6) and deep-fried goodness (from $6). Oh, there are shochu cocktails and sakes, too, if you can somehow resist their beer deal.
The Horse’s Mouth
Thanks to a big sign outside the shopping mall, this underground drinking den is no longer as hush-hush as it used to be, though parting the unmarked curtain in Uma Uma Ramen and heading down the dark steps still feels excitingly illicit. Although you’d expect too-cool-for-you barkeeps and impenetrable menus here, the mixologists are truly friendly, chatty and do their best to deliver a fun cocktail experience.
