Located on the 24th floor of the Peninsula Hotel and surrounded by the Imperial Palace gardens is Peter: The Bar. Its magnificent views, spaceship vibe, violet lighting, and artificial trees will transport you to another world.
Photo by Vesna Kevork
The bar, which has no cover charge, offers cocktails priced at approximately ¥2,000 (plus service charge) on an average day, and also presents you with the option of ordering a bottle of exclusive Dom Pérignon Brut Rosé 2003 for ¥98,000—plus service charge—if your purse allows for such extravagance. All the beverages in the extensive menu are mixed by professionals, concocted with precision so it rightfully presents itself as an award-winning beverage.
Happy hour happens Sundays through Thursdays from 5 to 8pm. Here, choose from a select list of lavish drinks and bar snacks, priced at an affordable ¥800 (plus service charge)—mimosas, spumonis, margarita, and wine, among others. The accompanying snacks include small portions of nachos, fish and chips, beef cubes, olives, and cajun Peter-style fries.
Their signature Tokyo Joe cocktail is on this list—the bar’s homage to one of the greatest actors of all time. Upon chatting with the bartender, I discover the origins of the Tokyo Joe and it makes the experience even more significant. He explains that Tokyo Joe is the name of a movie filmed around this area, starring Humphrey Bogart as an American returning to Tokyo to see what’s left after World War II.
The cocktail celebrating the film is a beautiful drink and exquisite in its form—something of a Japanese version of a cosmopolitan. The concoction comprises Bombay Sapphire, ume (plum) liqueur, Drambuie, cranberry juice, and lemon juice. It’s served in the top of a martini glass, propped up by stilts. If one is to truly experience the Tokyo Joe, the cranberry and ume flavors must be savored, the drink’s unique presentation taken in, and its background story kept in mind.
Don’t forget the cajun Peter-style fries: These spicy carbs are positively addictive and make all the difference when looking for the perfect snack for your posh drinks.
And if you need a reason to raise your glass, remember that, in 1949, Humphrey Bogart was filming a movie close to this exact location. Kampai!
The Peninsula Hotel 24F, 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku. Tel: 03-6270-2763. Nearest station: Hibiya. http://meturl.com/peterthebar
