Shinjuku Golden-Gai
Tourist attraction · Shinjuku ·
Festive district of narrow alleys & snug taverns; unique bars
Festive district of narrow alleys & snug taverns; unique bars
"A new bar next to Wakuda at The Venetian Resort, named after the neon-lit Golden Gai/Gaibar district of Shinjuku, Tokyo, features a cocktail program overseen by beverage director Luis Lopez that pairs Fuji apples with premium Japanese whisky and includes a robust sake selection. Beneath pink and purple neon lighting, the bar serves hand rolls, katsu, and wagyu sliders. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday and Monday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m." - Janna Karel
"Golden Gai planned to take over an impressive 12,820-square-foot space at the Venetian, but the project hasn’t officially been announced by the property or the 50 Eggs brand. Already trademarked, the name Niku at Golden Gai has also been protected. Niku is the Japanese word for meat. Located close to Shinjuku in Tokyo, Japan, the namesake Golden Gai district hosts more than 200 diverse and eclectic tiny bars in a community contained within six short blocks. Most bars are only large enough for a handful of patrons, and the dark corridors and rundown atmosphere create a unique and hard-to-replicate experience." - Susan Stapleton
"A high-end, Tokyo-inspired restaurant and bar from restaurateur John Kunkel and his Miami-based 50 Eggs team is slated as an anchor tenant at the Grand Canal Shoppes, occupying an impressive 12,820-square-foot space—larger than the newly expanded Cut by Wolfgang Puck and considerably bigger than Kunkel’s other Venetian concepts, which occupy under 10,000 square feet. Bids for a remodel recently closed, with an estimated construction budget near $3 million, and the project is not expected to be ready until 2020. The concept appears on the company’s hiring page and the name Niku at Golden Gai has been trademarked (niku means “meat” in Japanese), while public confirmation from the 50 Eggs publicist was not available at press time. The concept draws direct inspiration from Tokyo’s Golden Gai district near Shinjuku—a dense, six-block enclave of more than 200 tiny, eclectic bars known for cramped interiors, dark corridors and a gritty, hard-to-replicate atmosphere—which suggests the new venue will aim to translate that intimate, atmospheric bar culture into a large, upscale Las Vegas setting." - Bradley Martin
"A tiny, six-seat hidden drinking den inside the restaurant inspired by Tokyo’s Shinjuku Golden Gai, intentionally low-lit and intimate and billed as one of east London’s smallest bars. The proprietors encourage a mischievous, late-night atmosphere—cocktails and shots flow and patrons are asked to leave iPhones at the door—while the drinks list focuses on a carefully curated selection of high-quality Japanese and Italian cocktails and wines." - Adam Coghlan
