California wines, fabulous cocktails, and live music every night starting at 8pm. Y2000 cover charge after 8pm.[feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 3-7-1-2, Park Hyatt Hotel 52F. Open 5pm-midnight daily.

This intimate new branch of chef Ian Tozer's "American Brasserie" offers a wine-friendly menu of seafood, steaks and chops, including fresh lobster, Washington oysters, BBQ baby-back ribs and catfish burgers. The wine list covers more than 100 wines by the bottle (including some rare finds) and twenty by the glass, with three different carafe sizes so you can organize your own custom tasting. Budget around Y8000-9000 for dinner with drinks. [feedback]

Akasaka 9-7-5, Tokyo Midtown Garden Terrace 1F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

The dramatic entrance to this spacious wine bar takes you through a tunnel of wine, with bottles displayed behind plexiglass panels on the ceiling, walls and floor. The interior is chic and casual, with seating at two long, undulating counters running the length of the dining room. The wine list covers a broad range of California wines, with two guest vineyards every month each offering a half dozen wines by the glass. The food is casual Italian; budget from Y3000 at lunch, Y10,000 at dinner, or cheaper if you just drop by for a glass and a snack. [feedback]

Akasaka 9-7-5, Tokyo Midtown Garden Terrace 2F. Open 11am-3, 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.

This traditional American steakhouse has a small bar up front serving Oregon wines by the glass. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Higashi-Shimbashi 1-5-2, Shiodome City Center 42F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

This unpretentious wine bar offers a nice selection of California wines by the glass, with around a dozen choices priced Y420 - Y2000 per glass. There's cheese and hors d'oeuvres to nibble on, plus pastas (from Y800) and main dishes. [feedback]

Ogikubo 5-16-23, B1F. (from the south-west exit walk west along the tracks a few blocks, then go down the Suzuran-dori shopping street - it's on the right) Open 11:30am-2, 5-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

The smart interior here is a very Tokyo-exotic mix of baked-mud walls, heavy wooden furniture, and organic-looking extra-terrestrial lighting fixtures like something from the set of "Alien". But you're really here for the wine - over 100 different varieties, from all regions of Australia and New Zealand. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Shibuya 2-9-11, Aoyama City Bldg. B1F. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.

One of Tokyo's first Australian-only wine bars, with one of the largest selections of rare and expensive wines from that country. The food is mainly Italian, and consistently good. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Shoto 1-26-22. Open 6pm-2am daily.

Tucked into a quiet Ebisu back street, Aotea Rangi is one of the few places in town where you can experience the charms of genuine New Zealand cuisine. At first glance the small restaurant looks like an Italian trattoria with terrace seating, but once you're inside the atmosphere seem more like a casual cafe-bar. The lighting is soft and the mood is relaxed. Service is attentive, and the staff is more than ready to help you with the extensive New Zealand wine list. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Ebisu 1-21-18. Open 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.

Attached to this upscale teppanyaki restaurant is a separate wine bar space called Old Vine Cellar Door, with several Australian and New Zealand wines by the glass (and around 2000 bottles in the cellar) along with light snacks; budget around Y3500 at the bar. [feedback]

Nishi-Azabu 1-10-6. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6pm-4am daily.

Choose from about fifteen wines by the glass or bottle, or pick a Latour or Mouton from the back and put it on your expense account. France is amply represented, with biodynamic wines comprising nearly half of the choices on the frequently changing list. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Shinjuku 3-7-5. Open 5pm-2am daily.

With its red leather upholstered seats and wood and brass fixtures, Le Lion offers a little slice of Lyon on the backstreets of Ebisu. Welcoming staff, covered terrace seating, and excellently prepared brasserie - or, rather, bouchon - fare make this cafe/wine bar a lovely place for a casual meal or late-afternoon tipple. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Ebisu 1-21-16. Open noon-11:15pm (LO; -5:15pm Sun ). Open every day.

Hearty, authentic French country-style cooking. There's a small wine bar at the entrance where you can stop for a glass or two along with snacks like raw oysters and venison carpaccio. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Hiroo 5-17-11. Open noon-2, 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.

Like a good man, a predator-free champagne bar in Roppongi is hard to find. Fortunately, there's Zero Bar. Conveniently located near Tokyo Midtown, this place is just the ticket for a glass of bubbly before the last train at night, or before the first train in the morning (the bar stays open until 5am Tuesday - Saturday). [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Roppongi 4-10-5. Open 8pm-4:30am (LO). Closed Mondays.

Service is friendly, and staff are ready to help you choose from among the twenty wines by the glass, mostly from Roussillon, Langedouc and other southwestern French regions. The bar menu offers wine-compatible nibbles like a tasty rillette sandwich, or you can explore the more serious restaurant menu. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Azabu-Juban 2-14-2. Open 11:30am-3, 6-11pm (LO) daily.

This refurbished bar, hovering over the main lobby of the ANA Hotel, serves several different champagnes by the glass or the bottle, ranging from Y1300 to Y3000 per glass. There's also a limited food menu and lunch specials at midday.[feedback]

Akasaka 1-13-33, ANA Hotel 3F. Open 11:30am-11pm daily.

The small, bistro-style ground-floor dining room serves a Y4,800 prix fixe dinner until 10pm (last order). There's also a second-floor wine bar with an a la carte snack menu available till 2am. Saturday lunch starts at Y1800.[feedback]

Ginza 2-5-6. Open 5:30pm-2am (noon-midnight Sat.). Closed Sundays.

A combination bakery and brasserie; it also features a small standup bar serving ten wines by the glass - a good place to meet up before dining nearby. [feedback]

Marunouchi 2-7-3, Tokyo Bldg Tokia 1F. Open 10am-midnight daily.

Bistro-style food from Petit Bedon chef Philippe Batton (including perfect duck confit and world-class roast potatoes), plus an eye-opening selection of wines from southern France, with many choices available by the glass. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Kudan-Kita 1-10-2. Open 8am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

A stylish cafe at the base of Parco serving Spanish-style tapas, coffee in the daytime and Spanish wines in the evening.[feedback]

Udagawacho 15-1, Parco Pt. I, 1F. Open 10am-midnight daily.

A two-story late-night Spanish bar and restaurant, with your choice of bar snacks and wines or a complete Spanish meal. The upstairs restaurant has a nice selection of charcoal-grilled meats. They even do breakfast![feedback]

Dogenzaka 1-11-3. (behind Tokyu Plaza) Open 8am-4am daily.

This tiny Ebisu standing bar looks as though it's been plucked from the backstreets of Barcelona. Choose from a variety of tapas like bacon-wrapped dates or jamon iberico to snack on as you sip on a glass of wine (Y500-) or fino sherry (Y600-).[feedback]

Ebisu 1-12-5, 2F. Open 5:30pm-midnight (LO). Closed Sundays.

It's easy to appreciate the beauty of Bar Guapos, where Y1500 is enough for a glass of tinto or blanco and one or two tasty tapas. There are about fifteen Spanish wines on the drink list, plus a number of Sherries. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Ebisu-Nishi 1-3-8. Open 5pm-3:30am (LO; 5-11:30pm Sun, Mon). Open every day.

This stylish little late-night stand-up bar serves a nice variety of hot and cold Spanish tapas and pinchos (small snacks on bread), along with Spanish wines. Most food items are Y250-500, with wines from Y400/glass. [feedback]

Ebisu-Nishi 1-13-5. (near Ebisu Jinja) Open 5pm-5am (midnight Sundays). Open every day.

Occupying a skinny three-story building just off Ichi-no-hashi crossing, the late-night Spanish bar La Plancha has long skinny dining spaces on the two upper floors, but the lively stand-up bar on the ground floor is where the action is. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Azabu-Juban 4-1-9. Open 5pm-1am (LO). Closed weekends.

Choose from a wide assortment of sherries (well over 100), along with Spanish tapas. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Ginza 6-3-17, Yugen Bldg. 2/3F. Open 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Spanish food and reasonably priced French and Spanish wines, with convenient late-night hours. [feedback]

Ueno 7-1-1, Atre 1F. Open 11am-4:30am daily.

The small Spain Bar/ Spain Club chain has hit on a winning formula - good-quality wines by the glass, tasty tapas dishes and a down-to-earth vibe. The daily specials board covers some two dozen choices, and from it we recently enjoyed a big sizzling pot of garlicky sauteed mushrooms and some surprisingly spicy and juicy grilled pork on skewers - a nice match for our Y900 glasses of Rioja Reserva. Spanish travel videos play on the TV in the background. [feedback]

Kitazawa 2-9-22. Open 4-11:30pm daily.

This unusual wine bar and retail shop offers more than 80 wines by the glass - mostly French, but with a good selection from elsewhere around the world. Wines come in three different tasting sizes (20ml, 50ml, 90ml), with prices averaging Y300-700 for the 50ml size. A new-fangled nitrogen dispenser system keeps the wines fresh, and automatically dispenses your selected wine when you insert a prepaid card. (Cards are sold in various denominations.) The chef here trained in France and New York, and his food menu ranges from simple small-plate dishes (in the Y500-1000 range) to full meals; at lunchtime you'll find mostly sandwiches. [feedback]

Jingumae 4-12-4, Omotesando Hills B3F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

This international restaurant includes a spacious and popular bar with a good wine list and an excellent nighttime view of Shibuya.[feedback]

Maruyamacho 3-6, E Space Tower 15F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10:30pm (LO) daily.

The Buri group run a couple of popular standup sake bars (Buchi in Shibuya, Buri in Ebisu), and now they've opened a standup French bistrot, with similarly inexpensive food and 100 different wines. If you get tired of standing there's also a sit-down restaurant in back; snacks up front average around Y700, with main courses in the restaurant averaging Y1500. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Shibuya 1-10-12, Miyagi Bldg 2F. Open 5pm-3am daily.

This airy, open-plan bar serves several wines by the glass, four beers on tap (including the excellent Edelpils), and a limited menu of raw oysters (Y1000 for 3), shrimp cocktails, sausages and ceviche.[feedback]

Ebisu 4-20-4, Yebisu Garden Place Glass Square B1F. Open 3-10:30pm (LO), from 11am Sat/Sun daily.

A small, casual Italian wine bar that serves around twenty wines by the glass, in all price ranges, along with light snacks. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Higashi 4-6-3. Open 5pm-3am daily.

Mediterranean-inspired foods and drink from Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco, from TY Harbor chef David Chiddo. Enjoy one of Tokyo's friendliest wine lists; the bar is open late. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Minami-Azabu 5-2-40. Open noon-3, 6pm-2am (LO) daily.

If Shinagawa Atre were a hotel this would be the "lobby lounge" - definitely not the place for a discreet rendezvous. They're worth noting for their big wine selection - two dozen different choices at Y500/glass, thanks to a high-tech wine dispenser system. There are plenty of original light dishes to nibble on, including tasty smoked salmon sushi rolls and an excellent free-range chicken salad. [feedback]

Konan 2-18-1, Atre Shinagawa 4F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

As the name implies, pates - pork, duck, sweet potato, campagne and several more - are the specialty at this comfortable late-night wine bar. The chef here makes a point of using only organic vegetables and seasonal ingredients, and his menu also includes hearty country-style stews and raclette. Around a dozen wines are served by the glass, starting at Y650, and you can just drop in for a glass of wine if you like. There's also a cozy little restaurant down in the basement with a wider menu that includes pastas and main dishes.[feedback]

Azabu-Juban 4-4-1, Twin Ichi-no-hashi Bldg #2-kan Room 1. Open 11:30am-4am (LO). Closed Sundays.

The little tasting room in the back of this well-stocked liquor store is a good place to wind up a shopping afternoon or start off an evening in Ginza or Marunouchi. To accompany your wine, there are six different cheeses and other wine-friendly foods like pate, smoked duck and chicken pastrami. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Yurakucho 2-7-1, Yurakucho Itocia Plaza B1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

The wine bar of Salt (the Australian restaurant next door), WW offers around 1000 different wines from around the world, including a few dozen by the glass, plus a simple food menu (fish carpaccio, Australian steaks, pork confit). Budget around Y7000 at dinnertime. [feedback]

Marunouchi 1-5-1, Shin-Marunouchi Bldg 6F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

A branch of an Azabu-Juban wine bar, Pate-ya offers many wines by the glass, including three-glass tasting sets. You'll find cheeses and original pate variations to nibble on, plus more substantial bistro fare like grilled quail and duck confit at dinnertime (budget around Y3500). Pates are also ready for take-out. [feedback]

Marunouchi 1-9-1, Gran Tokyo South Tower B1F. Open 11am-10pm (LO; 8pm weekends) daily.

A liquor shop, a standing bar, and a casual sit-down grill, Bar Maru is many things to many people. Browse the shelves, and if you find something you like you can crack it open on the spot for a modest Y500 corkage fee. Pop into the tachinomiya next door for a quick drink, or head to the second floor for a more comfortable scene. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Hatchobori 3-22-10. Open 5-11pm. Closed weekends.

We certainly can't complain about a conveniently located indoor-outdoor cafe-bar that's open all afternoon and serves great food and drink. The menu offers simple but tasty dishes like duck confit and mussels steamed in white wine, along with freshly baked pizzas and wines by the glass, all at very reasonable prices. Our only worry is that they'll be too popular to get into. [feedback]

Koraku 1-3-61, Tokyo Dome City Meets Port 3F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

A very casual Italian cafe where you can find wines by the glass (from Y500) along with simple fare like salamis, grilled chicken and organic vegetable salads. [feedback]

Higashi-Shinagawa 2-2-4, Tennoz First Tower 1F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.

Exciting, well-centered modern American cuisine - drawing on European and middle Eastern and Asian influences - from this bayside brewpub. The wine list is fantastic, with good values at every price level. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Higashi-Shinagawa 2-1-3, Bond Street. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.

In laid-back Yoyogi-Uehara, magazine-reading, designer sneaker-wearing hipsters gather at Dish, a cheerful cafe just a stone's throw from the station. The space has an open, casual feel, decorated with urban mod flourishes - colorful sofas, fiberglass bucket chairs, and sixties-era bric-a-brac - that recall San Francisco's Mission district or Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Bouncy ska and Cuban R&B keep the mood lively, and original art is exhibited along the right-hand wall. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Uehara 1-33-16, Otsuka Bldg 2F. Open 11:30am-3am daily.

They've pulled out all the stops to recreate the feel of an open-air Italian caffe-bar here - barrel tables, chalkboard menus, old advertising posters, grafitti on the walls, hams hanging from the ceiling, with Italian radio providing the soundtrack. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Kitazawa 2-14-14. Open 3pm-2am (LO) daily.

A very friendly bistrot/wine bar/cafe with 1940s French antiques and a nice neighborhood vibe. There are three floors in all, with occasional live music on the top level. The menu is simple but well-prepared cafe fare. [feedback]

Kitazawa 3-30-3. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Tuesdays.