Tokyo has a rooftop bar problem. Not the problem you’d expect — there are too many of them. In a city of 14 million people, nearly every hotel, mall, and office building seems to have a bar on its top floor. The challenge is finding the ones that are actually worth your time and money. So I spent the month of May doing the hard work: I visited 27 rooftop bars across the city, from Shinjuku to Shibuya to Roppongi. I drank too many cocktails, ate too many small plates, and took far too many photos of sunsets. Here are the ten that stood out.
1. The Peak Lounge (Aman Tokyo, Marunouchi)
This is the most expensive bar on the list — cocktails start at ¥2,500 (about $17) — but it’s worth every yen. The view from the 33rd floor is unmatched: you see the Imperial Palace gardens, the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. The service is impeccable. The signature cocktail, “The Tokyo Sunset,” blends yuzu, gin, and a hint of wasabi. It sounds weird. It’s delicious.
2. Two Rooms (Aoyama)
This bar has been around for over a decade, but it’s still one of the best. The terrace overlooks the tree-lined streets of Aoyama, and the crowd is a mix of expats, creatives, and tourists who’ve done their research. The food menu is excellent — the truffle fries are legendary. Go for the sunset, stay for the laid-back vibe.
3. The Roof (Shibuya Scramble Square)
This one’s relatively new, opened in 2024. It’s on the 47th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, and the view of the Shibuya Crossing from above is surreal. The bar has a retractable glass roof, so it’s open-air in good weather. The cocktail list is creative — I had one with smoked cherry and bourbon that was perfect.