Bongout Noh

“It’s tough choosing a winner between Bongout Noh and their sister shop Buchi at the opposite end of Shibuya,” says author and manager of Bento.com Robb Satterwhite. “Both have great food, a good selection of relatively inexpensive wines, and a convivial but non-intrusive atmosphere.” 

Buchi gets props for its good selection of craft sake in convenient one-cup sizes, and for its role in helping to jump-start the recent trend in gourmet standing bars.   

Bongout Noh has the edge though, thanks to their better food menu, made possible by sharing a kitchen with a proper sit-down French restaurant at the same location. 

The menu has nearly 100 different dishes, with whole sections devoted to charcoal-grilled meats and home-smoked items. Iberico pork chorizo, foie gras terrine, and tasty grilled pork chops all are worthy accompaniments to the bar's wine selection, and spicy zucchini fritters make a fun starter. 

Most wines run between ¥2,500 and ¥4,500 per bottle, with France, Italy, Spain and the New World all well represented. There are around 60 wines by the bottle, and maybe 20 by the glass on any given night. 

The bar is up on the second floor of an office building, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the quiet side street below. 

“Another fantastic aspect of this place is that in addition to the spacious counter there are a few tiny tables next to the windows, with railings you can perch on,” says Satterwhite. 

Service is pay-as-you-go, and the bar is open every night until 3 a.m. (2.30 a.m. last order).