Lamp Bar

Located in Japan’s ancient capital Nara, Lamp Bar is owned by Michito Kaneko, who was the global winner of the Diageo World Class cocktail competition in 2015. The creativity of his cocktails reflects his artistic upbringing—his parents are ceramic artists, and make some of the bar’s one-of-a-kind cups. The bar is divided into three antique-furnished rooms: one references the origin of cocktails, another is about the journey of cocktails, and the third, “the dark side of drinks”, which showcases his family’s unique artworks. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, it’s absolutely worth a visit. There’s no menu, but if you’re a Negroni drinker, we recommend Kaneko’s Negroni Fashioned from Campari infused with burdock and hinoki cypress from Nara. He has also worked with a local sake brewery to create a sake-based vermouth for the perfect Japanese martini.

Tatler Tip

Plan to enjoy a session’s worth of cocktails instead of showing up for just one drink. And definitely ask for a serve of Kaneko’s eponymous Moscow Mule.