10 best outdoor beer bars and drinking terraces in Tokyo

Open-air boozing, Sumida River views and barbecue come together on the second-floor terrace of the Lyuro hotel. All employees are self-proclaimed pitmasters (barbecue experts) – hence the name of this dog-friendly restaurant and bar – who'll eagerly serve you grilled or smoked dishes including pulled pork and spare ribs to go with some craft beer.

The onsite Kiyoshubashi Brewery produces seasonal brews, and they are complemented by Pitmans's selection of domestic and imported craft beers. There's natural wine on the menu, too, with options made by Fujimaru Winery in Kiyosumi Shirakawa. Pitmans opens bright and early at 7am, but you might want to start with a caffeinated drink by Leaves Coffee Roasters first.

For one of the best craft beer bars in Shibuya, make your way to the trendy backstreets of Oku-Shibuya (‘inner Shibuya’) for ØL Tokyo. A local offshoot of Oslo Brewing from Norway, this relaxed bar has a serene outdoor terrace tucked away from Shibuya’s maddening crowds.

On taps are about 20 craft beers – a mix of Nordic and house brews, imported labels and made-in-Japan ales. It’s easy to get lost in time here, as the La Cabina food truck parked out front can readily satisfy your hunger pangs with tacos and quesadillas, so that you can keep on trying the various craft brews available.

TY Harbor, a veteran among Tokyo’s brewpubs, has been around for more than 20 years. It produces a range of Californian-style ales and porters, and the attached restaurant serves up straightforward, decent New York-style fare.

The canalside location is one of the few places where you can sit outside and drink on the waterfront, and the roof ensures a pleasant experience even on rainy days. You’ll want to start off with the pale ale, a refined brew with a strongish citrus flavour, but our seasonal favourite is the wheat ale, a light and fruity creation just right for the summer heat.

More than just a coffee joint, Quays Pacific Grill at Yokohama Hammerhead occupies a prime spot along the waterfront, complete with a spacious terrace boasting spectacular views of the city. The ground floor houses a roastery where those seeking a hit of caffeine can enjoy a cup of freshly roasted coffee while on the second-floor brewery and gin distillery, drinks of a different kind are in order. 

The on-site Number Nine Brewery offers five house brews on tap, including the award-winning #9 Hazy (cloudy and aromatic) and Hammerhead Ale (light and refreshing). You’ll also find two guest beers that are swapped out from time to time. Eat as you drink: Quays Pacific Grill’s food menu serves up steamed mussels and smoked salmon alongside heartier options such as Texas-style barbecue ribs, pastrami sandwiches and pulled pork burgers.

Tokyo Torch Tower in Otemachi may still be under construction until 2027, but you don’t have to wait another five years to visit. Recently opened in one of the newly completed complexes surrounding the main tower is Craft Beer Market, which offers approximately 30 craft brews on tap including lagers, stouts, pale ales and fruit beers.

The house-made gyoza go exceptionally well with beer. The selection is pretty varied, too, with inventive fillings such as tomato basil, pork kimchi, prawn shiso, and lamb mint, all at ¥480 per plate. There's also spiced karaage fried chicken (from ¥630), or falafel (¥480) if you’re vegetarian.

While the abovementioned snacks are great for sharing, we highly recommend getting Craft Beer Market’s signature curry dish (¥1,200), which gets you a choice of two curries – choose from coconut chicken, pork keema, vegetable or the weekly curry – plus a generous amount of veggie toppings.

To get the most bang out of your buck, opt for the course meals (from ¥4,800) in the evenings. You’ll get some of the bar’s most popular dishes such as gyoza, falafel and prawn crackers with salsa, alongside an all-you-can-drink menu of craft beer, whisky, wine and soft drinks for two hours.

This Roppongi bistro in Tokyo Midtown is perfect for relaxing outdoors, especially if you’re with a group. The open-air terrace can accommodate up to 92 people whilst the inside seats 100. The menu offers a range of grilled meats, including a special black beef from Iwate prefecture that has been aged for about six weeks, and can be prepared oven-roasted or grilled. There are chicken and pork dishes, too, plus cheesy Chicago-style pizzas and vegetable tapas to share.

Pair your meal with one of Rio's two Belgian beers brewed with special yeast suited to Japanese taste buds. The fruity Uijin wheat beer in particular is light and refreshing, reminiscent of the staple beers offered in Japan, making it the easiest beer to pair with any meal. There’s another version called Uijin Yuzu Blonde, which is infused with aromatic yuzu citrus peels from Kochi prefecture. Both are available on tap.

An oasis in the office tower jungle of Otemachi, this rather descriptively named eatery bathes in natural light thanks to wall-size windows and a partially glass-encased terrace. Pub grub including fish and chips, pizza and lamb chops is combined with a competent lineup of beers, including six varieties turned out by the Kawagoe-based Coedo brewery.

We like the classy, citrus-flavoured Coedo Marihana, which goes perfectly with 14's beef tendon and kujo negi pizza, while the Coedo Shiro, a fruity wheat ale, is best paired with some blue mussels – these are actually steamed in the same beer. The terrace is always popular, so consider heading over from 5pm, which is when the restaurant starts serving dinner.

Housed in the Manseibashi Station complex, Hitachino Brewing Lab operates as a top-of-the-line bar with ten original beers on tap as well as a good selection of bottled beers. Start small with a beer flight of three brews (¥1,080), or go big with the ¥2,000 all-you-can-drink option which gets you an hours’ worth of drinking. Looking to stay longer? There’s also a two-hour option for a mere ¥3,300.

The food menu, curated by Ibaraki-born star chef Noriyuki Sugie, mostly consists of classic Japanese pub grub such as potato salad (¥580), sausages (from ¥680) and cheese platters (¥980). For something more substantial, we recommend getting the saba (mackerel) or Ibaraki pork ham sandwich (¥780).

While there’s plenty of indoor seating, it’s worth asking for terrace seats by the river for a view of Akihabara.

Beer behemoth Kirin's craft venture is part of Daikanyama's Log Road complex and features one of the nicer terraces in the area. It offers a six-variety standard lineup, including the refreshing Daydream white ale made with domestic ingredients such as yuzu and sansho pepper, the crisp 496, and the rich, fragrant Afterdark.

You'll also find several limited-edition brews and so-called experimental beers, which can be anything from exciting to ridiculous. We recommend trying the Beer Flight option, which lets you sample the entire lineup in 120ml tasting portions. 

Step out of Okutama Station and you'll soon come across this traditional Japanese house with a pretty garden and a river running down in the valley just in front of the building. It's home to a beer hall that serves five kinds of home-brewed beers, including the fruity, moderately bitter Session IPA, plus two limited-edition varieties. They've got their own hop field a 20-minute drive away too, so it's all very local.

Having a glass in the garden while snacking on some beer-batter onion rings, listening to the sound of the river and admiring the trees around you will make your clock tick slower. Those visiting Okutama for rafting or hiking will want to keep Vertere in mind – even if it's only for a quick break while waiting for the train home.