Shinjuku Whisky Salon — Restaurant in Tokyo

I am writing this because the customer service was so unconvincing and awful.

I used to give 5 stars. Because by giving a high rating, I was given a small bottle of whiskey sample. However, I feel that it is too undignified to rely solely on the power of marketing to attract customers from overseas due to the reviews it receives. I am writing this as I personally feel that there is a large gap between the actual customer reviews of the store and the level of customer service, etc., although the product lineup is good.

First of all, the reason why this store has many high ratings is because "at the time of opening, a high rating of 4 or 5 on googlemap was scored". When the store opened, I was given a tasting bottle of whiskey on the condition of a high googlemap rating. So I gave myself 5 stars at that time. I feel guilty about changing my rating now after receiving it, however, I am not convinced, so I am writing this review.

I entered the restaurant in December 2022 around 23:00. The restaurant was busy, but entry was smooth. However, for 15 minutes after entering the restaurant, there was no response. No hand towels, no asking for the menu, nothing. On the other hand, the customer who came after me did. Why is this?

We were left too much alone. I had brought a guest who wanted to try whiskey for the first time, and I felt bad about leaving her like this. So I gathered up my belongings and told the waitress that I was leaving because I couldn't even get a hand towel. Then I left the store without being stopped or being apologized to. At that moment, I thought that we were just customers that the store did not need.

If I were the owner, I would have thought there was something wrong with the way we handled the situation, and either the owner himself or one of his employees would have gone after her to apologize. However, this store has none of the above. I thought we were uninvited guests. We should have sat down because we were allowed to enter the restaurant. But we are ignored.

I left my umbrella in the store and returned to the store once after leaving. Even though there was a Mr.shizuya of master of wisky as well as part time staff in the store, we were overlooked as if we had not entered the store. They have no interest in customers who enter the store and then leave. The fact that the store can operate without worrying about it must be because of the great clientele.

Guests from abroad will enjoy Japanese whiskey in a very Japanese atmosphere. The store welcomes visitors with background music, an assortment of products, and snacks. I think this is a wonderful thing for visitors to Japan.

But is that all there is to it? Shouldn't the bar provide the same service it normally provides to everyone, equally to all customers?

I have no desire to come back to this restaurant. Rather, I feel that it is a store that treats its customers dishonestly. I can't help but feel that this is a high-flying store that would not be taken seriously by a customer who is not of gorgeous status, let alone someone who can pay an inexhaustible amount of money.

At the very least, I will never go here again, no matter how much whiskey I...

Having been to quite some whisky bars all over the world, this whisky bar is unfortunately brought us a really disappointing experience. There is no service at all honestly - waiter who was serving us has been having the attitude looking upon us with all his wordings with harsh manner - judging a book by its cover is not really how you should be doing especially if it is such a high-end whisky bar. We were basically just paying for the whisky we can rarely have in other places, but zero respect by judging us on having cocktails with smokey whisky which no one from the bar had been even trying to recommend / introduce to us. Keep asking us with the word of “zhi” (which i could barely understand) but without asking if we want to go for straight, rock or with water(?) is very unhelpful to customers in a whisky bar.

As an experienced whisky drinker - it was quite an unexpected experience. The price of its whisky is not even cheap at all, while the staff later on has been trying to convince us on the most expensive whisky in the bar without even telling the price, but only with the word of “very expensive”. All in all - ridiculous, and you should go if you want to understand...

Wow. The selection and place is truly phenomenal. Popped in after dinner on my final night in Tokyo and if I didn't have to catch a flight tomorrow I'd spend the next day or two here.

I started by asking for recommendations. The bartender inquired about what types of whisky I enjoy and with a bit of information he went about selecting 4 fantastic bottles for my flight. They were amazing.

We chatted and he was full of insight and information about each selection. After finishing my flight, we talked about what options are special Japan drams and I was offered a coupe really cool bottles. One was available exclusively at the bar and it's ultimately what I went with. Absolutely phenomenal.

As I write this I'm finishing that drink and thinking I need to try one more. This place is so special. From the atmosphere, to the people working here, and the selection of spirits. You have to come check...