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Have you heard? Monday, August 4 is Beer Hall Day at The Dubliners’ Irish Pub. What is Beer Hall Day, you might ask? For one day only, pints of draft beer will be sold for just ¥500. At which branch? All six of ’em! And if you can’t wait until then, stop by any of the locations (in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akasaka, Shinagawa, Toranomon or Ikebukuro) between July 28 and August 3, and for every pint you drink, receive a ¥100 discount ticket redeemable on or after August 5.
It’s easy to grow tired of visiting the same Roppongi watering holes week after week. Opened last month, Zero Bar (1F Roppongi 410 Bldg, 4-10-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 03-5775-0100; www.zerobar.jp) promises something fresh—and refreshing. This new champagne bar just steps from the Tokyo Midtown complex offers a selection of over 100 bottles of bubby and wine. The small-ish space is dimly lit, with a wood counter and comfy low-back bar stools and the drinks illuminated under red lights. To find it, look for the number “0” in the bar’s ground-level window.
Up for some live jazz, pops, bossa nova, samba or chanson from leading Japanese musicians? At Boston Dreams (B1 Roppongi Five Bldg, 5-18-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 03-3583-3988), just off Gaien-Higashi Dori, you can enjoy three sets of live music (7:40-11pm) six days a week. Stop by during happy hour (5:30-7:30pm) and pay ¥1,000 for two drinks and popcorn, with additional drinks just ¥500. Entry starts at just ¥3,000, but mention Metropolis and get in for half-price. BJM
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by Steve Trautlein
Limapuluh
An old favorite gets a makeover, and we’re still in
love
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| Photos courtesy of Limapuluh |
The La Place shopping and dining complex, which is located
right around the corner from the Metropolis office, has helped
us kill a lot of time over the years. The open-air courtyard
is an enjoyable place for a smoke break, the flagship French
eatery Café Genoise has hosted many a company lunch,
and the eponymous outdoor bar is the perfect spot to meet
for drinks after work.
So when we heard that Genoise was undergoing a facelift, we
took the news with a bit of apprehension. Would we be losing
one of our prized hangouts? What would emerge after the workmen
put away their tools and took down their tarps?
As soon as we saw the redesign, however, our fears were put
to rest; the new version is quite an improvement. Not only
has the space been spruced up, with smarter seats, a shrewder
layout, and an overall more oshare feel, but the café/restaurant
has added DJ facilities and now hosts weekend music events.
In other words, we’ll be spending a lot more of our downtime
there.
The old Café Genoise, we now realize, was somewhat
dowdy, with a single main dining area, patio, pastry counter,
and not a lot of charisma. The new version adds a sleek bar
and distinct seating sections, including a semi-hidden lounge
and an airy indoor cafe. Unchanged is the patio, one of the
city’s best, which has about a dozen tables and offers
a chance to watch all the comely passersby. Remaining the
same, too, is the clientele, an interesting mix of creative
types and dressed-up lady lunchers. Lots of eye candy here.
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On a recent afternoon, we met up with a friend-cum-business
associate in the al fresco seating area, and commenced shop
talk over a couple glasses of Guinness (¥900) and Tsingtao
(¥700). (Note to boss: This was a work meeting. Seriously.)
Thanks to Limapuluh’s weekday 5-7pm happy hour, the drinks
were half price, but because we were in that nether region
between lunch and dinner, we opted not to try any of the bar
food (¥700-¥1,400). We can say from many lunchtime
visits, though, that the kitchen’s French-influenced
fare is uniformly delicious, and bar patrons can order from
the full menu at will.
The chummy-yet-respectful staff made sure our glasses stayed
full, and like our fellow customers—on this visit, mostly
well-dressed locals—we enjoyed an easeful afternoon under
a cloudless sky. It’s comforting to know that no matter
what time we show up, Limapuluh has some form of entertainment
ready for us. And it’s even more comforting to know that
one of our favorite haunts is still around to welcome us—and
is better than ever.
Minami Aoyama La Place, 3-13-21
Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3401-1193. Open daily 11am-11:30pm.
Nearest stn: Omotesando, exit A4. www.mayanddee.co.jp
Would
you like to comment on this article? Send a letter to the
editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.
Discuss bars with METROPOLIS readers at
http://forum.japantoday.com
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