Star Bar Ginza — Restaurant in Tokyo

My boyfriend and I love these types of cocktail bars and Star Bar was one of the best we've been to in Japan. Normally the cocktails on bar menus are too sweet or fruity for us, but there were lots of interesting and stronger options and each one was worth the price considering we've spent the same at tourist establishments with mediocre drinks before. If you're looking for just a vibe it might be a little expensive, but if you really appreciate quality cocktails, this place is worth going out of your way for.

No reservations so you just walk in and try your luck. We loved this concept bc we don't speak enough Japanese to book in advance, and we never know when we'll be done with things so it's hard to be on time anyways. We went around 9pm on a friday night and got a table for two, then were moved to the bar when seats became available. This is a place where you want to sit at the bar - not a table! Then you can watch them making the drinks and get a view of the gorgeous bar setup during your visit.

The staff are very attentive here and we appreciated the service! They noticed that I was giving my boyfriend the side olives, so gave me crackers instead. They were also courteous enough to change our seats as mentioned above, without us even letting them know. I was also waiting for the bathroom for a little while, and the staff came to open the door for me because I mistakenly thought someone was in there the whole time, which was dumb of me but smart of them...

Drinks were good but didn’t seem to have any cocktails on the menu I haven’t had at any other bar that serves cocktails. Even though the restaurant had only 30 minutes left until closing, they charged a 1,100 yen cover charge per person. That’s barely enough time to order 1 drink, so maybe stop the cover charge in the last 30 minutes of the bar being open. If there’s something I’m missing, let me know, but drinks were overpriced. Like 2,200 yen per drink. I don’t even pay that much for a cocktail in the U.S. Adding the cover charge, it’s just too much. Also, they make each person order a drink. My friend doesn’t drink alcohol, and since I dragged him along with me, technically bought a drink for him, then drank it myself. Isn’t his cover charge I paid for him enough for him to not buy a drink?? So ended up paying 6,300 yen for two drinks. Workers were nice, but would expect some sort of fun history lesson or extensive information about each cocktail given by the workers on the bar, or some very unique cocktail, to make...

Have been supporting Star Bar for years, but today’s experience was the worst my friends and I have received from the Japanese “hospitality”.

Firstly, my group was 5 pax, but they insisted that the table was for 4 pax only. My husband gave in, and sat by himself along the counter.

After the second drink was served, 2 other friends arrived. The left-most table of 4 was empty & my husband suggested that he and the 2 pax could sit together, but they refused entry to my friends. Shortly after, a group of x3 pax Japanese entered and were offered the same table seats.

Thereafter, customers sitting at the middle table, which was a 2 seater, left as well. The waiters/waitresses quickly pushed one of the chairs away. And they eventually refused entry to my friends, saying that “because both tables know each other, the second group of 2 pax are not allowed into the bar”.

We are paying guests, not there to take up seats or air 🤯 What is this ridiculous...