The Global Drinker — World Bar Guide
Old Imperial Bar
Tokyo, Japan
A bastion of Tokyo's cocktail scene, Old Imperial Bar marked its centenary in 2023. It is set in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Imperial Hotel, and preserves the US modernist's designs throughout, from the furnishing to the etched glassware. Lloyd Wright designed the hotel from 1913 to 1922, and lived and worked in Tokyo throughout the build. During this time, he visited gardens, waterfalls and temples, which inspired some of his other projects such as Falling Water in Pennsylvania. Stepping inside the warm, inviting Old Imperial Bar is like entering a film set in the roaring 20s.
Imperial Hotel, Mezzanine, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo · $$$$