A lot of Tokyo's most congenial standing bars also tend to be rather basic in their decor, food and service, so it was a pleasant surprise to find someplace as stylish and sophisticated as Comaru that's also friendly and down-to-earth. There's a decent selection of craft sake to choose from, good sashimi and other small dishes to snack on, and helpful staff to solicit sake advice from.

Comaru has two sister shops nearby (called Marco and New Marco) with more traditional dining arrangements, but this standing branch attracts a solid customer base on its own merits. It's a very local crowd, representing diverse ages and a roughly even gender balance - pretty much the opposite of an after-work salaryman bar in terms of clientele.

Unfortunately it does get quite full at peak hours, and it can be a tight squeeze to get to the entrance or the bathroom. After a round or two of drinks you might be ready to move onto someplace with a bit more space, and maybe even seats, but this is a great place to start or end a Sangenjaya evening.