Disclaimer: In exchange for a review, I was invited to Tokyo Confidential.
In the upscale Tokyo neighborhood of Azabu-Juban, a short walk away from Tokyo Tower and Shiba Park, lies a laid-back rooftop bar called Tokyo Confidential.
Open Mondays – Saturdays 6pm – 1am, and Sundays from 6pm – 12am, the bar is located on the 9th floor of THE V CITY AZABU JUBAN PLACE building, roughly between the South 1 (南1) and South 2 (南) exits of Azabu Juban metro station.
Tokyo Confidential was founded by Holly Graham, a London-born journalist with whom I easily got along due to the unexpected playing of ’80s Cantopop during my time there. However, once I learned about her background, it shouldn’t have been that surprising to hear that genre.
In addition to running this cool spot, Holly authored the book Cocktails of Asia (published earlier this year), edits DRiNK Magazine, and has lived in rural Thailand, Hong Kong (hence the Cantopop), Seoul, and of course, Tokyo. Not to mention, she’s a prominent figure on the Bar World 100 chart, which ranks influential folks in worldwide bartending.
Given her extensive background in the industry, Holly has managed to get Tokyo Confidential on both the 2024 and 2025 “Asia’s 50 Best Bars: 51-100 Extended List.”
As a limited-time bonus, she also operates Niseko Confidential in Hirafu, Hokkaido. It will be open from December 13 through the ski season, and possibly for a second summer period, during summer 2026.
Keep in mind, it has only been open since 2023.
Walk-ins might be in luck with a terrace seat facing Tokyo Tower…
but the indoor bar is neat, too.
That goes double for patrons who like cats.
As an homage to Holly’s general affinity for cats, the 2025 menu is all about neko, the Japanese word for cats.
Maneki-neko, the legendary lucky cat with one-paw raised to beckon visitors to businesses, shares the stage with other felines, be it through statues, dolls, or framed artwork.
In fact, the menu is called Neko no Densetsu, or legend of the cat. It refers to the folktale behind maneki-neko, and shows off some cool drawings that relate to each special cocktail.
As one example, this fellow Legend of Zelda fan thought to give a shout-out to a drink called “Hyrule,” even though I didn’t try it.
My first choice, however, was “One Eyed Wonder,” named in honor of one of the founder’s cats.
As I’ve mentioned many times on NoWorkAllTravel, trying foods and drinks that aren’t so common elsewhere is important to me; that’s why I went with the sansho (Japanese prickly pepper) spirit.
It was a good start, not too sweet, even with the white chocolate-covered ice cube, ehem, chilling in the middle.
But I couldn’t help but notice the words peanut butter and sesame on the cocktail menu. O.K., so they’re not as uncommon as sansho, nevertheless that drink was a must.
Oh, that Cheung Fun Old Fashioned was excellent.
I could see why it was in Holly’s Hall of Fame. The earthiness and nuttiness of the peanut butter and sesame joined forces with the Angostura bitters to create one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. The sesame brittle resting atop the massive ice cube was the icing on the cake. Or, the sesame brittle on the cocktail. Either way.
Three drinks was a lot to have without food, so I opted for a Doosan {hot} dog.
I’m all about Korean flavors, so I dug the kimchi and doenjang that helped fill up the bun. I’d never complain about crispy onions, so their texture added a delightful bonus.
If you, too, want to experience the Tokyo Tower nighttime views, eclectic music, solid drinks, and affable staff at Tokyo Confidential, make your reservations here.
Leave a Reply