Tokyo: New York Bar at Park Hyatt

On the 52nd floor in the elegant Park Hyatt hotel, high above Tokyo’s bustling streets, is New York Bar. This is the place to sip Bellinis and listen to live jazz music while taking in beautiful views of the city. Don’t let the posh surroundings scare you off. Everyone is welcome as long as you dress for the occasion and you’re ready to pay the 2200JPY cover charge, which applies after 8pm (on Sundays after 7pm).

New York Bar is featured in the movie Lost in Translation, in which Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray spend several evenings in the classy surroundings, but even before (and certainly after) the movie, this place was a popular spot among those in the know.

New York Bar is one of my favorite bars in the world, and I only rarely visit Tokyo without grabbing a drink or two at this fabulous place. There’s a long, common table close to the bar, which is where I usually sit, but if you prefer your own, private table, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance, as the place fills up quickly some evenings.

There is a bar menu with snacks and light dishes, but if you’re looking for more filling food, go for the upscale steak restaurant New York Grill, which is in the same space as the bar.

There are live jazz performances each evening, and on Sundays, New York Bar hosts the UNPLUGGED jazz event, featuring local jazz artists. Drinks are around 1800¥ + a mandatory service charge of 10% + cover charge. Expensive? Yes, but definitely worth it.

• Dresscode: Except for beach sandals and sports outfits, there are no restrictions, but most people dress up a bit to match the grandiose atmosphere.

• The bar ask visitors to be respectful to other guests, when it comes to photography.

New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo, 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 163-1055, Tel.: +81(0)3-5323-3458
Address in Japanese:
〒163-1055 東京都新宿区西新宿3-7-1 2 パーク ハイアット 東京 52F

> Visit New York Bar’s website