THE NIKKA BAR — Restaurant in Sapporo

Very disappointing experience. Upon being greeted, the host asked if we agreed to the seating charge and service fee (I think they were 1100 JPY and 400 JPY respectively.) We planned on spending a fair amount on top shelf drams, so we agreed and were sat at a table. We tried ordering two of their flights from the menu. They said they were out. I tried to order one of the special whiskies, but they were out. I asked which of the special whiskies they had. They said they were sold out. They only had the basic Nikka line you can find at any store or bar around town. The menu had nothing crossed out or any mention of being sold out. The host made no mention that they were sold out when we entered. We wouldn't have taken a seat if we'd known they were sold out of everything above the entry level. A basic highball with the entry-level Nikka is not worth the seating charge and service fee.

My understanding is this is a bar that licensed the use of the Nikka name, but it is not in itself operated by Nikka. I still love Nikka and visited the distillery the next day for an amazing tour and tasting experience. Go to Nikka Distillery and any other whisky bar in town, but skip this one.

It's also worth noting they allow cigarette smoking in this bar and the ventilation isn't good. It wasn't a deal breaker for us, but it's worth noting if you're...

Atmosphere is great. This is a nice swanky place that overlooks the streets of Sopporo. Note there is a 1,000 yen table charge per person in addition to the drinks which is noted upon arrival. We ordered two whiskey flights and a cocktail and a wine. Pours for all drinks were about half of normal places and my cocktail was extremely weak. There was also a description of a blend of fruits for this specific cocktail I ordered and I was only given mango. We also asked for a cigar menu to find out only half were available to order. We also repeatedly tried to get our the waiter’s attention for the check and were ignored. Another Japanese businessman was kind enough to get his attention and let them know. We got the vibe it was not foreigner friendly, which is fine, but I would have preferred being turned away altogether than had this experience for the...

Spotting the iconic Nikka Whisky signboard in Sapporo's Susukino district piqued our interest in finding a place to sample their whiskies. We discovered this establishment and, despite not having a reservation, hoped to find space at the counter bar. Upon entry, we were informed of a seating charge, which we readily accepted as it's customary in Japan. We were initially led to a table, but seeing the empty bar, we asked to be seated there. While the first staff member declined, another kindly accommodated our request. We savored a whisky tasting flight, three additional drinks, and two snacks, thoroughly enjoying our time. We'll certainly be back before...