For many travelers, discovering a city's nightlife is as memorable as visiting its temples or museums. A great bar isn't just a place to grab a drink, but often serves as a window into local culture, creativity, and connection. That spirit of exploration is what The World's 50 Best Bars celebrates each year. Compiled from the votes of more than 800 bar industry experts across the globe, the list represents a global snapshot of excellence in hospitality, creativity, and experience.
Each panelist votes for the bars that have most impressed them over the past 18 months, based solely on personal visits. There's no application process, no sponsorship influence, and no single formula for success, just the collective taste of some of the world's most seasoned drinkers.
This year, three Tokyo bars earned their place among the best.
No. 18 – Bar Benfiddich, Shinjuku
Hidden high above the streets of Shinjuku, Bar Benfiddich is a world unto itself. Owner-bartender Hiroyasu Kayama crafts farm-to-glass cocktails using herbs, roots, and botanicals grown on his own Chichibu farm. Every visit feels like an experiment in flavor and storytelling, blending ancient recipes with fresh harvests. With only 17 seats, guests gather around a walnut counter to watch Kayama's alchemy unfold in an intimate setting.
No. 45 – Virtù, Otemachi
Perched atop the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo, Virtù delivers both sophistication and warmth. Head bartender Keith Motsi and his multilingual team balance French spirits and Japanese ingredients with effortless charm, with drinks like the Smoked Ume Fashioned to a martini built on Japanese gin feeling globally inspired yet deeply local. In addition to its recognition on the World's 50 Best Bars list this year, its smooth service and genuine hospitality earned Virtù the prestigious Art of Hospitality Award in 2024.
No. 48 – The Bellwood, Shibuya
In lively Shibuya, The Bellwood reimagines the art of drinking through the lens of kaiseki dining. Bartender and owner Atsushi Suzuki transforms the structure of a traditional multi-course Japanese meal into a progression of cocktails, each one inspired by classic dishes and seasons. The result is elegant and distinctly Tokyo. Hidden within is Bell Sushi, an omakase counter that extends the same spirit of fusion and storytelling in edible form.
Together, these three venues show just how diverse Tokyo's cocktail culture has become, from the botanical precision of Benfiddich to Virtù's cosmopolitan charm and The Bellwood's culinary creativity. For travelers who enjoy a well-crafted drink, the list is solid proof that Tokyo isn't just a destination for food lovers, but is one of the world's great cities for cocktails, too.
