Bellwood

Absolute must visit in Tokyo. We showed up around 6pm on a Friday and got lucky and got walk-in seats. However it does seem like most early spots are reservation, and they switch to walk-in only after 9pm. I’d suggest probably making a reservation if you want to go, as they did turn away lots of people. That said this place was worth it. We’ve been to probably a quarter of the top 50 bars in the world - and can say that this probably is our favourite in terms of unique cocktails. Service was super friendly - we received a lot of wine and cocktail bar suggestions from the staff (thank you gentleman from Florida). Only small complaint is the 4 spice nachos had perhaps too much Sichuan pepper. Our mouths were tingling, which sort of overwhelmed the taste of the cocktails we ordered.

On my travels, I often visit bars recommended by 50 BEST Discovery. The Bellwood is currently ranked Number 48 on The World’s 50 Best Bars and Number 79 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars (2025). Reservations are essential, as the venue is very small and walk‑ins are unlikely to secure a seat. It’s best suited for couples or small groups. As a solo female traveler, I was seated at the bar, which I didn’t mind at all — it gave me the chance to watch the bartenders at work. The service was outstanding; the bartenders were exceptionally friendly and welcoming. If, like me, you don’t drink alcohol, simply let them know and they’ll craft a mocktail tailored to your preferences. I asked for something with a little spice that wasn’t too sweet, and the result was perfect — one of the best mocktails I’ve ever had. I was genuinely blown away. Had I not already booked a dinner reservation, I would have stayed longer. I loved the intimate setting, which felt like stepping back in time, with historic touches drawn from stained glass, polished wood, and sepia tones.

I sat at the counter right in front of the owner, which turned out to be the best decision of the evening. Watching him work was genuinely enjoyable. He's friendly, easy to talk to, and clearly passionate about what he's doing. Nothing felt forced or performative. The whole place has a relaxed confidence about it. I had three cocktails. The Bloody Mary twist was great, the Wasabi Gin & Tonic far better than it had any right to be, and the Kissa-ten pudding cocktail somehow managed to taste both familiar and completely unexpected at the same time. If somebody had described it to me beforehand, I probably wouldn't have ordered it. I'm glad I did. The funny thing is that when I think about Bellwood, my first memory isn't even from this visit. About a year ago I booked the sushi omakase room and it ended up being one of the most memorable meals I've had in Tokyo. Every piece was inspired by a different city or country. One course referenced New York cheesecake, another bánh mì. Reading the menu, I kept expecting at least one idea to fall flat. None of them did. I've been lucky enough to visit some excellent bars and restaurants over the years, and Bellwood remains one of the very few places where both the drinks and the food have stayed with me long afterwards. Not because they were flashy. Just because they were that good.

lucky to secure the outside counter seats early in the evening without reservation but do not recommend since the bar itself is really small and you’ll definitely need to queue. love the concept of the bar which draws inspiration from “kissaten”. ordered 2 drinks, the first one is with kombucha which is bubbly and easy to drink. the second one is melon colada, the presentation totally steals the show. both drinks are delicious with nice layering of flavours. glad to be seated outside since inside can get a bit noisy with the music. glad to come check out this asia top 50s.