Jey's — Restaurant in Hakodate

The atmosphere is unexpected — you would never expect it from the neighborhood of dive bars and the required Lucky Pierrot (it is Hakodate, after all). After opening the door, you descend a short set of stairs that leads you to a well-crafted bar. Delightful bottles are well-lit behind the bar, showing a nice selection of Scotch and cocktail mixers from around the world.

After informing you of a table charge (which is usually assumed in Japan) totaling ¥800 for both of you, they show a long list of cocktails and liquors available (in English and katakana). If you want whiskey, as I did, there is no list but the bartender will be happy to help you decide. I ended up with something from a small bottle, something I had never tried. My date had a sidecar that was lovingly made. Delightful.

The table charge ended up being worth every yennie, unlike most bars in Tokyo. A cup full of nuts for both, a saucer of chocolates (because it’s near Halloween, of course) and endless water in a cocktail glass with house-chipped ice.

And to top it off, they give you a bottle of water from Scotland to take home with you. Can’t ask for any more from your...

We had a really special time visiting Bar Jey. Secret underground bar with unsuspecting exterior. The lovely owner since 1999 kindly shared with us his insights and recommendations into different whiskeys of the world. He patiently and generously spent a lot of time conversing with us using a translate app on his phone. I’m not so much into drinking and with an extensive list of cocktails I wasn’t sure what to drink. I asked for something ‘sweet and fruity’ - which is exactly what was crafted in a Paradise cocktail. My husband tried a local Japanese, Taiwanese whiskey and scotch. We really enjoyed the experience and would recommend to anyone passing through Hakodate who would appreciate personalised service. There is a cover charge of 800 yen per person which was reasonable. We were given lots of bar snacks to go...

I'm very happy that my partner and I stopped by this bar on our last night in Hakodate, and my only regret is that we didn't visit it sooner. The master seemed a bit hesitant at first, but after we did our best with our limited Japanese, we built a friendly rapport. I think the master will like anyone who appreciates good whisky. He recommended what one of the top whiskies I've had, which is wonderful and a shame because I know I won't be able to get it again easily. The atmosphere is perfection, with excellent jazz in the background, moody lighting, and retro posters. We were able to try some local whiskies and enjoy some light snacks. Highly recommended for anyone who loves small cozy bars. Smoking is allowed, so keep that in mind if it makes a difference for you. We didn't...