Bar Martha — Restaurant in Tokyo

Came on a Sunday night kind of expecting the worst as I had read the reviews in advance and knew that there are rules, a table charge and that it might be a bit pricey. Followed the approach of trying to send the right message as a non-Japanese patron: I came here to enjoy the drinks and the music by myself. And they did not disappoint.

The result was an incredibly positive experience, as the staff struck up conversation and when I told them I am Brazilian he even requested the DJ to put on some Bossa Nova as a way of making me feel more at home, which was nice. Both him and the DJ were pleased that I enjoyed the gesture, and it did show the extent of their good taste in music.

So I guess in the end it’s the same rule for foreigners in Japan pretty much anywhere: yes, staff may make assumptions about your behavior at first, so it’s a matter of sending the message that you understand there are rules and will respect the atmosphere. Having to deal with noisy people who disregard the concept and expect to be treated the same as they are in other bars is not something they need to put up with. Obviously speaking a little Japanese goes a long way, since it was what broke the ice in my case. Will definitely come back to appreciate the music, the vibe and the...

Was told to keep my voice down and not take any photos the instant I walked in. Fortunately, my welcoming was not indicative of the night to be had. This is a very cool bar; it's clear the owner had a very specific feel in mind and spared no expense in achieving it. It's difficult to say what's more impressive - the collection of vintage audio equipment or the staggering number of classic vinyls. It felt like I had stepped into the shoes of character from a novel; sipping my whisky I was transported into an otherworldly experience of sensory delight unlike anything I had ever seen. I'd have given this place a perfect score based on my experience had it not been for the overbearing amount of smoke - it really was a mood killer.

On a final note, I'm well aware of the infamous snobbery of the staff; fortunately nothing provoked them while I was there. That being said, I'm sure they can approach their concept a little less aggressively. You can absolutely have strict policies in place for your establishment, but you can also enforce them without being an a**hole. Be aware that visiting may be a coin toss. The staff mirrored the respect I showed them, but they definitely came off as a little...

All those people who were complaining about boorish staff who either asked them to turn their volume down or leave the place, had to be obnoxious, ill-manered, arrogant jerks to be honest. During our couple-hour-long stay at Bar Martha we witnessed only ONE incident of a waitress asking two neighbouring clients to lower their voices right after they literally started to SCREAM THEIR LUNGS OFF (which obviously got on our nerves). This is definitely not a disco club to shout and squeal as much as you like, people go there to enjoy a good talk, music, and delicious drink, so as long as you respect that, you will love that place.

Things you need to know before you go: the bar does not have an English menu so as long as you know your drink of choice you're good to order the owner and staff, however, do know English (some to limited degree but still ;)) so they might help a little there's an additional 800 yen cover charge when you decide to stay, but do not fret, you got plentiful of free snacks and lovely, quality music included the bar has "no photos" policy, please respect that

All in all, Bar Martha is a really cool and worth visiting place. 4 out of 5 stars only for no...