Did you know Kagurazaka was once the entertainment district at the western edge of Tokyo? Long before Shinjuku and Shibuya became the city’s commercial hubs (which is even further west), this hillside neighborhood thrived as both a geisha quarter and a nightlife hub. Today it remains a favorite going-out spot for local Tokyoites. Among its more recent arrivals is something few would expect: a bar devoted entirely to pálinka, the traditional Hungarian fruit brandy.

When the doors opened, even the local Hungarian community in Tokyo was taken aback. The city’s first dedicated pálinka bar wasn’t their idea at all; it came from a Japanese owner so obsessed with the drink that he built a whole bar around it.

The owner is recognized as a Pálinka Knight, in other words, a member of the Association of Hungarian Pálinka Knights, a group approved by the Hungarian government. After training at the acclaimed cocktail bar BenFiddich, he fell in love with the fragrances of pálinka and has since dedicated himself to exploring its possibilities.

Unlike grain-based spirits, pálinka is defined by fruit. Plums, apricots, pears, and cherries are the most common, but the variations are nearly endless. Producing a single 350mL bottle requires as much as ten kilograms of fruit. However, being distilled, it results in a spirit defined by clarity and the fragrance of fruit, not by sweetness. “The fruit shows itself in the scent,” the owner says, which is why pálinka is often called “drinkable perfume”.

Bar Pálinka’s atmosphere mirrors Kagurazaka itself: classy yet playful, adventurous yet not loud. It’s the kind of place to save on your map, whether you want to impress a date, friends, or yourself with a nice (and very strong) drink.

Bar Pálinka

Official Website
Sato Building 2F, 3-6-63 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku
Open 16:00–01:00
Closed Tuesdays and the 3rd Monday of each month

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