Upstairs balcony seating

Cafe Cotton Club is listed here not because it has a huge number of beers on offer, but because it’s one of the few places in Tokyo that not only has balcony seating, but has good food and some good beer. It’s surprisingly hard to find good beer and good food in one place in Tokyo – you usually have to settle for one or the other.

Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit and Le Guillotine

Ok, so the good beer is limited to just two Belgians – but Le Guillotine is a fantastic beer, and it really is nice to sit drinking it on the balcony with the street on one side and the large attrium (complete with tree) on the other. There are also some “standard” beers like Bass Pale Ale. In addition to the beer, there are cocktails, wine, and whisky.

Food at Cotton Club

Food is brasserie-style food and includes decent salads, pasta, and pizza with freshly made bases (not prebought bases or thin tortilla’s). They also have a few specials – last time I was there they had Scotch Eggs, the best I’ve had outside of Britain.

Inside Cafe Cotton Club

Cafe Cotton Club’s website is here. Beware there’s a Jazz bar called Cotton Club near Tokyo station – it’s a different place (website here).

Access is from Takadanobaba - JR or Tozai Line. From the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line it’s directly next to exit 7 – come out the exit and turn right. It’s opposite Wendy’s. Google Street View link here. Phone number is 03-3207-3369. Open from 11:30am to 5am daily.

The atrium tree through a fisheye lens - downstairs seating here is nice and relaxing

My opinion? Ok, so it’s not a beer lover’s dream – but it has what many places don’t: good food, nice beer to drink it with, and some outdoor space. I make special trips to come to Cafe Cotton Club, usually after shopping in Shinjuku. It’s a great place to relax, eat, and drink.