Bar TRENCH

My favorite bar I went to in Japan. The drinks were amazing. The vibe and atmosphere were great. Rogerio’s hospitality was unmatched - he was so welcoming, easy to talk to, and kind. Overall a great experience - bonus points for carrying Malort! A must visit if in Tokyo!

We came here as it was highly recommended. It lived up to the hype. The ambience is beautiful, the drinks are unique and delicious, the music is great. Arthur behind the bar is very welcoming and nice to chat to. We will definitely come back and keep passing on the recommendation to others.

Trench Bar is a very popular mixology bar located in an alleyway in Ebisu. We were able to get 2 seats within 5 minutes at 10 pm on a Saturday night and were served by Arthur, a very hospitable Kiwi expat who spoke fluent English and Japanese. We ordered the Trench 75 (Nikka Coffee gin, lemon, honey, sparkling sake) and Una Vez Nada Mas (shiso-infused mezcal, elderflower, grapefruit, lime, absinthe, with a miso chili-salt rim) for a total of about JPY 4000. The Trench 75 had a subtle citrus edge that masked the alcohol well, while the Una Vez Nada Mas was a bit more tart than expected, though the miso chili-salt rim provided a nice savory balance. The drinks are definitely more interesting than what you'd find at an average bar. This spot is well worth a visit for any mixology enthusiast.

We randomly found this on Google Maps, a short walk from our Airbnb. Immediately we were weighed down by one of the staff members on the street and greeted warmly. Taken to our table and handed warm towels to refresh. Followed by very attentive service in being offered to hang up our jackets and then given snacks. Really good variety of cocktails. Very talented staff, and you can tell there's a lot of craft behind their work.

Nice bar and atmosphere, most importantly the cocktails are good! Did not try any food therefore cannot rate it. Might return.

This is must visit if you are in Ebisu, the ambience is so cool, chilled and well worth it. Cocktails of course were great, tried some signatures and some classics, would definitely come again. Service was top class.

Great spot. Staff is super friendly in both English and Japanese. If you’re not sure what to order they can really help you out. Reservations are a good idea.

Amazing spot to grab some drinks / cocktails. Aurther was our cocktail master and he was amazing at making our drinks and we enjoyed our small talk! Such a cozy spot, you definitely have to come here!

This bar really lived up to its ranking as #25 in asia's best bars list with amazing ambiance and unique drinks. There's seating outdoors, indoors, and in a separate open space across the actual bar. What we ordered: 1. peaches en regalia - Had more of a sour, citrus taste - Refreshing drink, perfect for summer - More sour than expected, lacked peach taste 2. negroni grapevine - Slushy texture with subtle hints of sourness - Mint flavor as aftertaste

We came at around 930pm on a sat and got seated right away at the annex. Service was great and drinks were solid too. We ordered the Bloody Mary, trench 75, milk punch and je ne sais poire. All the drinks are solid and deceivingly strong. Didn't help that we were already two drinks in when we got there so we were pretty buzzed by the end. We love the table snacks that they serve and kept getting refills. Would love to check out their other sister bars next time!

Pretty nice bar that deserves it's recognition on the worlds top 50 discovery list. The menu was really interesting but some of the drinks could've used some additional perfecting as far as far as the balance goes. The milk punch however was really excellent. The ambience and vibe and music though were all really excellent and I'd come back to the bar just for those aspects. Cool drinks and nice bartenders.

Color me impressed and satisfied with Bar Trench. I had this bar on my to do list for Tokyo and I now can cross it off. Bar Trencb is a small bar establishment that seats about 6 people at the counter. Maybe 8..., it was dark. I saw one table in the back. The drinks are what made them popular and on the top 50 of Asia bar list. When there I waited a free minutes to be seated at the bar. I ordered two drinks. One was the Trencb 75 and the other I can't recall the name. But I'll post the pic. Both drinks were stellar. S T E L L A R! It seriously made my night visiting Bar Trench. I can see how it can become crowded due to the limited seating. But it is worth the wait. The drinks were comparable to the prices I pay in the States (taking the exchange rate into affect). It's a short walk from Shibuya station.

When I was in Tokyo, my group decided on Bar Trench and they did not disappoint. I would advise to go before they open if you can, our group arrived 15 prior to opening and there were already a few people in line. The interior is small so it doesn't fit many. Our group had basically had ordered everything on the entire menu to try except the Bloody Mary and every drink was amazing. My favorite by far was the Yuzu Penichillin. The Trench 75 was also pretty unique and one of their most popular drinks. Service was great and the staff spoke English so you don't have to stress about ordering. I'll definitely revisit the next time I'm in Tokyo.

Highly recommended spot for foreigners! Everyone was speaking American English when we were there and the staff was also well versed as well. The drinks were all well crafted and the location itself is in a tucked away spot off the main streets. With all the options for "bespoke" bars in the area, I would definitely put this on my list of places to visit if you had to make a choice. It has a very strong western speakeasy theme in the atmosphere if you're looking for a bit of home away from home in Japan.

I'm a sucker for a good cocktail, we just happened to run into this place. It's has a very cool "hipster" vibe with amazing craft cocktails. You can tell they know what they are doing. 100% worth the price. We tried the mezcal milk punch and the flor de Jamaica. Both really good. The mezcal had the nice smokiness without overpowering the drink but balancing it out. The Flor de Jamaica was refreshing and light, not too sweet.

Really cool and small bar in Ebisu. Service was very friendly when I walked in and I was also served small bar snacks. The bar entrance is in a back alleyway which could be a bit confusing but I just followed google maps and found it alright. I ordered a gin based drink it was the first one listed. It was a bit sweet but it was good. I didn't particularly think that the drink menu was something super different than what you can find in America. Overall I do recommend this spot. Lots of tourists and foreigners so if you want to meet some other people it could be a good spot.

Tokyo, Ebisu. November 2022. If you are going to be in a bar in Tokyo, outside of Ginza, this place should be your standard. It has a dark moody London pre-WWII feel but the service is distinctly Japanese. Rogerio Igarashi Vaz is how you want all Tokyo bartenders to look like. Slim, dapper, courteous. He will always smile behind his mustache and look you in the eye. He speaks firmly but quietly. Vaz has the bearing and standing of an English gentleman. The cocktails are seasonal and can change monthly. The menu is laid out, light to spirit forward, from left to right and top to bottom. Absinthe is prominent. The music is modern and upbeat without being overbearing. A bartender will see you inside to a seat or table, take you coat or jacket, and patiently explain the menu if it is your first time. Come here alone or with a friend. They cannot accommodate any party larger than three. Larger parties will be directed or partially walked over to nearby sister bars. A nice trench you can hide in and lose yourself for a while.

6 years later and I was lucky enough to return to Bar Trench, aka my favorite bar in the entire world. Despite all of the huge coverage the bar has had from the Netflix documentary (Midnight Asia) and celebrities, the bar remains perfect and unspoiled. It's cozy, but we were able to get in immediately at 9:30 on a Saturday and the vibes were exactly how I remember...perfect. The bar tenders are world class and the drinks are out of this world, with the star of show for me being the "Hoshiko De Ipanema" which is an incredible cocktail celebrating Japanese plums and spice. I will be back!

I am very sad to say- that I had the worst service here. The guy who helped us was super rude, he thought that he was better than everyone, just by the way he was talking to us. My whole Japan trip was amazing except for that interaction. My friend and I had a drink, and left. We actually wanted to stay longer but we felt very uncomfortable. A guy sitting next to us accidentally dropped his drink and the guy (same guy who was helping us) was making faces and you could tell by his body language that he was bothered that he had to go help clean it. Accidents happen man. We ended up going to the Triad which was around the corner. It's like a sister bar to this one - and their service was amazing. This bar really should try to do better.

The place is possibly the best bar in Shibuya/Ebisu. I went to the annex location above Bar Triad (another great spot). The place doesn't really have top quality drinks but what it lacks in drinks it makes up for in cool ambiance and service. Definitely a spot to check out while you wait for your dinner reservation time to roll around.

Can't miss spot for the highest quality cocktails - highly creative menu, expertly executed by friendly staff, all in a sublime, cozy environment.

Bar Trench is one of my favorite bar in Tokyo, as I love the small intimate space, the creative drinks and great service. While I've heard that the bar fills up on weekends, it's been relatively empty on my 3 visits, although all were on rainy weekdays. My all time fave was the Dark Side of the Moon, which was mezcal based and super dark due to charcoal powder, but alas it's no longer on the menu. Bar Trench also does classic cocktails right, and they specialize in absinthe, so if you ever wanted to use a drip, this is the place. One of Asia's top 50 bars and for good reason - definitely worth a visit.

Amazing speakeasy find in Tokyo. Not ideal for groups of more than 3. Very small place. Fits 10 people total max. Trench 75 is great and also make an amazing dry martini which is harder to do than it seems. Snacks provided (I believe there is a mandatory charge of 500 yen for them. They are good. Cocktails are about $12-$15 a pop.

Such a cozy little gem tucked away in Shibuya/Ebisu! The service was very good and all the staff spoke impeccable English. The drinks were very unique and extremely well balanced. It only seats 8 so there may be a wait. We were seated right away because we got there shortly after they opened. It's a great spot for anyone who enjoys specialty cocktails that are a refreshing take on high-end cocktail fare.

Bar Trench is my kind of place- small, dark, talented bar staff, interesting cocktails. It was easy to find using Google Maps, a short walk from the station in Ebisu. We tried a few from the menu- the amaro long island was just ok, but the chai martinez was brilliant! B ordered an old-fashioned rif for #2 that was really tasty. I went with the bartender's choice and was gifted with a wonderful mix of Japanese whiskey and a light amaro that was exactly what I wanted. The head bartender is really personable, happy to answer questions about the many interesting bottles behind the bar. He was also kind in offering suggestions for other places to visit during our stay. Definitely recommend!

Fantastic service and cocktails Drinks are tasty, but they go fast Environment is dope They take CC It's expensive by Tokyo standards

Classics, twists, absinthe and the best playlist in Tokyo When have you last stepped into a bar and seen the 20th Century Cocktail on the menu? Welcome to Bar Trench. And not only do they put this mostly underrated classic on the menu, but they take it to a different level by replacing the Lillet Blanc with Tempus Fugit's Kina. Nice. Trench is a Western Style cocktail bar in Tokyo, with a well composed cocktail menu including old and modern classics, a small selection of bar food, a cozy interior with lots of memorabilia from the 70s to 90s and a great collection of absinthes. And unlike other Tokyo cocktail bars, they play a great contemporary soundtrack - the only bar in Tokyo where I was using Shazam! Trench is the second of three sister bars in the Ebisu neighbourhood, the other two being Tram and Triad. Takuya Itoh and his wife have created three different bars with some common denominators, but Trench remained my favourite for a number of reasons: one is that it's small and seats about a dozen people, so things stay calm and intimate (while Tram for instance gets really busy and lively). The other is Saito, the bartender who looked after me on both nights I was there - a great host and bar expert. One of my top three bars in Tokyo, hope to be back soon.

Classy yet friendly and intimate. Great drinks to boot! Came here on a recommendation from the staff at Bar Benfiddich. Off the main road location, but unlike so many bars this one is at ground level, facing the street, so easy to find. It looked like an old neighbourhood bar somewhere in Paris. Staff were welcoming and friendly without any stuffiness. English was spoken and on the menus: An Australian, a Brazilian and a Japanese are working in a bar... Sounds like the start of a joke! There is a menu of choices, subdivided to help you narrow down a selection. It would bore you to tears to recount the cocktails I tried - suffice to say, Nick (the Australian) suggested a 3-step progression for the evening which proved tasty and surprising at every step. I finished the evening with Rogerio recommending a couple of remarkable concoctions - 'Naked and Famous' and 'Death of a Disco Dancer' (I think!). Great spot - a must do!

I think of myself as a bit of an absintheur, but when it comes to cocktails, it tends to be difficult to truly incorporate absinthe into the mix beyond a mere rinse of the glass, due to its ability to overpower. The overwhelming positive of Bar Trench is the ability of the house bartenders to craft unique, outstanding cocktails using my favorite anise-fennel-wormwood spirit. This comes with a major negative, though. Let me just say that Trench was the first cocktail bar I visited in Japan. It was here that I came to a sinking realization that I would never truly have a great time drinking in a Japanese cocktail bar. Why is this? Well, it's simple - they ALL. allow. smoking. Trench, like many Japanese bars, is a fairly small space. When we arrived, it was nearly full, with about 75% of the crowd puffing away on their cigarettes, nonstop. The stench practically knocked me over, and the smoke made my eyes start watering immediately. It reminded me of the bad old days in the United States, before indoor smoking laws were passed and every bar was a nasty, smoke-filled hole. It boggles my mind that in Japan, a place where the best bartenders take such a serious, intricate approach to their craft, all of that is allowed to be shoved to the side, in favor of nasty cigarettes. Why bother crafting these exquisite cocktails with subtle aromatics, if they can't truly be enjoyed because the whole bar reeks? I don't get it. If I'm a Japanese bartender putting that much care into the drinks I'm making, there's no way in hell I'm letting you smoke at my bar. Thankfully, there is a small area out front where you can drink outside. While we waited for the smoky bar seating inside that in retrospect, I wish we never got, we enjoyed a couple cocktails in the fresh air. We were eventually called in when a space at the bar opened up. I would have preferred to stay outside, but I didn't want to come off as a rude foreigner, so....into the smoke we went. The bartender was fantastic, and was fairly stoked to talk to another absinthe fan. I was enjoying the conversation itself, attempting to smile through the pain. All in all, I made it through 3 cocktails, but had the air inside been something approaching breathable (seriously, is this too much to ask, Japan?) I could have stayed there all night drinking amazing cocktails and shooting the bull with the bartender. The music was fantastic as well. The whole vibe rocked my world, and I would have given it 10 stars, if not for the constant bloody smoking of the other patrons. I'd love to come back, and just sit outside again. Failing that, if you don't want to be bowled over by smoke, try to get here right when it opens. That was the one way I found to make grabbing a drink in Japanese bars somewhat tolerable.....just get in and out before all the smokers arrive. Oh, and don't worry if you aren't much of an absinthe fan. There's plenty of awesome libations on the menu to be had without it as well. It's all artful and very well-done.

World class cocktail experience. Cannot recommend enough. Sister bars are Tram and another T one (can't remember), but this one is my pick. Full English menu, so great for visitors to Japan.

I love this place! They have amazing cocktails, and the bartenders have a knack for whipping up exactly what you need, even if you don't know what it is that you need. The ginger ale is homemade and super delicious. I don't like ginger, but I'm a fan of how they make it with a strong yet not overpowering taste of ginger. Tuxedo and monkey gin fizz are also two good drinks to give a shot. The mixologists are also awesome. They speak English and are very worldly. They will make you drinks if you tell them how you're feeling. Give it a shot.

Continuing along the theme of speak-easy style cocktail bars, bar trench was recommended to us by our favorite bartenders from the Kyoto leg of our trip. This place didn't disappoint. Friendly barkeep (Brazilian origin if I recall) who made great cocktails. I had a couple of them (one whiskey based and one gin based) and was not disappointed. It's a small joint but we managed to get spots at the bar pretty quickly (its busy enough and quaint enough to be worth the visit - but don't be expecting a crazy scene). Will revisit for sure on my next trip to Tokyo.

This is our favorite cocktail bar in Ebisu! It's got a very nice, cozy vibe inside. The drinks were delicious and prices are what you would expect for craft cocktails. We liked it so much, we tried going back multiple times but our timing just didn't work out. We will definitely be back next time we're in Tokyo!

Bar Trench is my new favorite bar in Tokyo. I've been here twice now and Trench makes me miss those trendy NYC bars in the LES back home. I do love the traditional Japanese style cocktail bars but Trench is much more casual than those you would find such as Orchard and High Five. Bar Trench specializes in Absinthe and is not to be missed. Aside from the absinthe drip, I also loved their Sazerac as well as their original cocktails. The whiskey selection is quite good as well. Although it is expensive, I highly recommend a trip to Bar Trench. It was a nice change from the much more serious bars you would find in Ginza and the quality is just as good, if not better.

Best cocktails in Tokyo. Amazing atmosphere, service, and menu. The food is as good as the drinks. Don't miss this one.

Really great ambiance. We loved all the cocktails that we ordered. Server/bartender, Ricky, from the Bay Area California was awesome. Try to get there by 7pm, when they open, to score a seat. Would definitely go back if we are in the area.

This place is awesome, I like the vibe, it has good music and overall there's a good energy here reading of success

The sister of Bar Tram, Bar Trench is a stylish backstreet bar with the feel of a popular basement bar in London, New York, or Paris. The cocktail menu mirrors that of Bar Tram, but the counter seating puts you close up to the show its master bartenders put on. Their house gin is Monkey 47, which is one of the best craft gins in the world, and is beautiful in their Monkey Gin Fizz.

Located close to the Ebisu station, this is a dope little quaint bar that seats about 10-15 people indoors. Relaxed atmosphere, dim lights, and jazz music makes it a good place to just relax and enjoy their take on some classic cocktails. Old fashioned was delicious FYI...

It's a fun and trendy bar with a cool atmosphere. The staff are kind and professional. Everyone is dazzling and pristine. I loved the fancy cocktails!

Exquisite cocktails unlike I've ever tasted before! Wonderful compliments snacks. A MUST visit if you're in the area!

Great cocktails, nice music and very cozy atmosphere. Had a Sazerac and a Vieux Carré. I've had better Sazeracs but the Vieux Carré was top 3 (or maybe even top 2 :)).

Unique with cool cocktails, including absinthe, however for some reason I didn't feel the vibe here. Staff was extremely polite and kind, but something about it was off. The patrons were mostly English speaking when I went, which made me feel like I was transported to NYC. All in all in need to revisit this place to have another fair review.

While I did kind of feel like I was in a bar in Portland, Oregon - trench was a good experience nonetheless. Lots of foreign clientele, strong and delicious drinks, cozy atmosphere, and they carried Calvados - which I am always on the lookout for.

Absolutely mind blowing. Drinks are classics with a genius Japanese twist. Bar tending techniques are world class, all form and function, not all for show here. Ambiance is perfect, service was amazing and most important of all... The drinks were incredibly delicious. It's on my list of top 3 bars I've been to (others are Angel Share in NYC and Union Lodge No. 1 in Denver). If the man who made our honeymoon drinks sees this or the foreign blonde Canadian waitress sees this... Hit us up when you are in Colorado! We'll give you the tour of the best spots out there!

Super tiny, dude with a moustache behind the bar made some mean drinks though. I'm not much for cocktails but the guy beside me fancied himself some kind of connoisseur and said his bartender in Hawaii highly recommended this place. Probably only room for 10-12 people in there. Absinth seemed to be the specialty, but the menu had a lot of options and the bartender was happy to probe a little and make something more tailored to our tastes.

Best bar in Tokyo hands down. Drinks and atmosphere exceptional paired with a spectacular playlist. Will definitely come back.

This place is amazing. Good drinks. Vinyl music a da great atmosphere. The bartender speaks enough English to get your drink right and did in mention the atmosphere? You can't go wrong if you're looking for a spot to throw a few drinks back and have a chill time.

What an awesome place! The music selection complements the cocktails and absinthe so perfectly

Fantastic service. Delicious drinks and terrific presentation. Would highly recommend, but only 12 seats.