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Originally, the bar located between Xinzhuang Street and Guanshin Road has moved to the city center. The decoration style has been almost completely preserved. If you didn’t know, you might think it was just copied and pasted. 😂 The wine wall is super impressive, and the space inside is quite large. The downside is that the bar counter is very high, and the bar stools are also quite high, so you have to step up on a little ladder.
The minimum consumption is one drink, and there are no time restrictions for dining. There are a few board games available to play inside.
The drink menu is very thoughtfully curated and is huge. They charge a 10% service fee. Looking at the prices might seem a bit expensive, but their drinks are all large. The alcohol content in cocktails is almost 1.5 to 2 times the normal amount, so having one drink here can be equivalent to having two elsewhere.
For the "Kaohsiung": it has a light, easy-to-drink alcohol flavor, with fruity notes accompanied by floral scents, and a bit of fizz. It’s suitable for those who enjoy lighter, fruity drinks or for a first drink.
For the "Negroni": the menu warns that the bartender takes a long time to prepare cocktails, so if you lack patience, it’s best not to order. This cocktail took the bartender about 200 spins to serve up. 😂 It isn’t too bitter, with a balanced alcohol strength.
For the "Aviation": when drinking this, the last thing you want is it to taste like laundry detergent; however, this one doesn't! 👍 But it does have a slightly sour and astringent taste, which I’m not a big fan of.
This bar is located on the streets of Asakusa in Tokyo, Japan... I stumbled upon it! From looking inside from the outside, we felt it had a great overall vibe, so we walked in without a reservation!
We were lucky that there was just one last empty table available and two spots at the bar. It seems that even on weekdays, the business is pretty good—if anyone plans to come here later, it might be a good idea to make a reservation to avoid waiting too long at the door!
We ordered a cheese platter and a seasonal fruit cocktail. The fruit used now is strawberries, and I love the sweet and sour taste of fruit, so I was really looking forward to what kind of cocktail could be made with strawberries. However, I was a bit disappointed; I’m not a fan of milkshake-like cocktails, and that’s exactly what they made—a strawberry milkshake. It also had a bitter alcohol taste that wasn’t balanced well. Although it wasn’t unpalatable, it just wasn’t my preferred flavor. Compared to strawberry cocktails, I prefer something like a strawberry margarita that I had in Hawaii!
However, my friends' whiskey and old fashion cocktails were very well made, with a rich smoky flavor, and the straight whiskey quality was quite decent! The cheese platter we ordered was also good; I must say that Japanese cheese really has a high standard, even blue cheese doesn’t have that strong unpleasant smell.
Overall, there weren’t any major issues—the bartender was enthusiastic, the atmosphere was nice, and the cocktails were decent. It just happened that my cocktail didn’t match my taste. If anyone is in the area, feel free to experience it and let me know if you have other cocktail recommendations! ^_^
I've always tried Michelin-rated places and have a small hobby of pursuing the top 50 restaurants or bars in Asia.
Upon seeing this bar, which is ranked among the top three, I immediately made a reservation to experience it on the second night of my trip to Tokyo 🇯🇵! However, scheduling is never perfectly precise, so I actually arrived early at the venue.
Due to its immense popularity, we couldn't be seated early and had to wait upstairs for a bit.
The drink menu upstairs 🍷 is different from downstairs! You can see this in my photos.
The first drink I had was the ❤️Tom Yum Cocktail 🍸.
I have to say, it was quite magical! I can't understand how they managed to make a cocktail that tastes so much like Thailand's famous tom yum soup, with that slight acidity and a hint of spiciness 🌶️ perfectly captured in a drink! And it doesn't taste off-putting because it's served cold. I think it's a fantastic interpretation! I highly recommend people who visit the bar to try it!
Later, when I went downstairs, I ordered another drink, the ❤️the bathtub…..
I forgot the full name, but I only remember that the presentation was very cute, making me feel like I was drinking something that came out of a bubble bath 🛀. It had a lightly sweet flavor that blended well with the alcohol! It's another cocktail I highly recommend!
Overall, I really recommend coming here with a few friends to have a drink, but the seating can be quite limited. I suggest making a reservation online to avoid waiting outside for too long!
I accidentally came across this bar online. 🥃 I originally made a reservation on the internet but canceled it because I wanted to eat the omakase next door and was worried about timing! Thankfully, we had time to drop by for a drink before dinner—it was a stroke of luck that we could go, and since it was raining, there weren't too many customers in the bar!
Once we entered, two servers were very warm, polite, and provided detailed introductions. The overall environment was very quiet and comfortable, giving off a jungle-like vibe. Since there weren't many customers, we could enjoy a good chat.
We ordered:
❤️ Cheese platter 🧀
The cheese platter had four different types of cheese, and even the blue cheese didn’t have that overwhelming odor. Each flavor was rich and fragrant, and it paired well with soda crackers! I think it’s a great choice to enjoy with drinks!
❤️ Bacon 🥓
This ham was smoked in a special way, giving it a delightful aroma. The texture was a bit firm, but I found it very flavorful!
❤️ Sakura Sour
Girls who are fond of cherry blossoms will find it hard to resist seeing this drink. I chose this one for its appearance and was pleasantly surprised by the taste—it wasn’t too astringent!
❤️ Shishido Margarita
I highly recommend this drink. For those who aren’t afraid of spicy food, you should give it a try! The flavor from the green chili is very intense and adds a vegetable-like sensation while drinking!
Overall, I highly recommend it. If you're traveling to Tokyo, feel free to give it a try!
The overall atmosphere and decor are great, clean, and simple. The service is also very good. The butter and spicy minced meat noodle dish is very spicy and aromatic; highly recommended. The braised pork rice with plum is thick-cut, which is a bit greasy for my taste. I personally prefer thin slices of braised pork, so I’m not quite used to it. The cocktails are very creative and have great flavors. Birthdays in the same month get a complimentary cocktail; you can choose between the nuclear one or the lightning cream puff, both are very strong, so choose carefully 😂. I will definitely come back if I have the chance.
It has been almost 48 years since the opening on March 29, 1977. It's truly amazing that a bar started operating during a time of martial law. I can't even imagine how bustling it must have been back then. After all these years, through ups and downs, it still stands strong. It's so much older than me that I feel completely unqualified to comment on it, haha!
Everyone thinks the drinks are quite good, with a wide variety available, but the highlight is the food, which is absolutely on par with the best restaurants. The fried chicken is juicy, and the stir-fried dishes are spot on. After finishing the stir-fried clams, you can even use the broth to cook noodles, and not only do you get noodles, but there’s also additional seafood. It's really impressive! Everything is incredibly fresh and delicious. Good food, good drinks, and good times!
#Open during the New Year
Closed for three days from New Year's Eve to the second day of the New Year, normal business starts on the third day.
"I saw this shop on Instagram before, and since then I've been very interested. Finally, I can come and give it a try!" by Me, who wants to get drunk when I'm in a bad mood but will restrain myself.
#Open during New Year
Open from New Year's Eve to the third day of the new year~
<About the drinks🥣>
Now let me introduce the drinks~
First drink: Amsterdam Ximen 15.5% $300
When you drink it, there's a unique aroma in your mouth, and the taste is sweet and slightly sour. I heard from the owner that this is the taste of cannabis, as it was designed that way from the start. 😂
Second drink: Roselle Berry 18.5 - courtesy shot from the owner
It's sweet and sour; when you take a sip, it doesn't taste very alcoholic at all, more like juice. 😂
Third drink: Sherry Hawaii 28% - courtesy shot from the owner (pity I didn't get a photo)
The almond flavor is quite strong; although the alcohol content is 28%, the alcohol flavor is not obvious at all and is even somewhat sweet.
Fourth drink: Rémy Martin VSOP 40% - courtesy shot from the owner
Drinking it felt quite smooth; it starts off a bit spicy, but the taste is nice afterwards and not too stimulating.
Fifth drink: Season 13.5% $250
It has a sparkling sensation, tastes slightly sour but is basically still sweet. The first sip has a strong alcohol flavor, but it gets better afterwards; it's also a drink with a rich aroma.
<About the staff👨🍳>
The owner is quite talkative and lively, very interesting.
<About the environment🐾>
The music is quite cheerful; it doesn't really feel like a bar, more like a supermarket, which somehow makes me feel a bit better. 😂
During the New Year period, it can be a bit challenging to find a bar that is open, but after searching on Google Maps and Instagram, I discovered this place located in the Model Market. The owner is a beautiful young woman, and she has been running this place for five years.
This bar is different from many of the ones I usually go to; the lighting is bright and perfect for face-to-face conversations. In addition to alcoholic beverages, a significant selling point is that they offer late-night desserts, all handmade by the owner, which has attracted a loyal group of customers who come specifically for the desserts.
The special drink I ordered was called "Rootless," with a base of rum, combined with spices and herbal tea. It is a cocktail that starts off sweet, but the finish brings layers of bitterness. However, just as the owner said, "No matter how bitter it is, life isn’t bitter." It truly is a signature cocktail that represents the character of the bar.
Although the owner speaks in a calm tone, she is actually quite chatty and seems to have a lot of emotions swirling inside her. 🤣
#OpenDuringTheNewYear
Business Hours: Open throughout the New Year period.
During the Lunar New Year, I wanted to go out for a drink with friends who just returned from abroad, but it was a bit challenging to find an open bar during this period. However, we ended up here through the introduction of the owner of the first bar we visited.
Dazhonggang follows a somewhat nihilistic and retro style, which is quite common in bars in Tainan, but this place also has a touch of modernity. The decor inside, the cleanliness of the restroom, and the little detail of snacks and candies placed in the corners show the owner's care and attention.
This time, I ordered "Careful of the Scumbag." The base liquor used is a type of strong liquor commonly found in Taiwan, but it doesn't often appear in bars. This is the owner's clever idea to promote Taiwan's traditional drinking culture within a modern business model. This base liquor pairs well with the tangy roselle, making it very smooth. Even the younger generation, who may not be fond of traditional hard liquor, can easily accept it. If you guess the name of this spirit correctly, you’ll even receive a free shot.
Additionally, the braised beef tripe is really delicious and a must-order.
#Open during the Lunar New Year
Business hours: Open from the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year!
What I drank this time:
Gin and soda
Whiskey and soda
Platter of marinated snacks $180
Overall impression:
The shop is located in an alley and doesn’t have many seats, so it’s recommended to make a reservation. The drinks are served in large glasses, and only gin and whiskey are available to choose from, but you can take a sniff first. Overall, it’s a relaxed place suitable for having a drink after work. This time I enjoyed a bottle of French gin that had a flavor of apple peel, which I liked very much.