When she wasn’t reading or working in Tokyo — or visiting restaurants or traveling — Uli liked going to bars to socialize. Some of her favorites in the city, tried during the years she lived here and her later visits:
BAR TRAM (Ebisu): Her favorite cocktails were Yuzu with Champagne and Hoshiko Matador (pineapple, lime, bitters).
BAR TRENCH (Ebisu): A signature drink was the Shunga Cocktail (shochu, grapefruit juice, cucumber-basil shrub, absinthe).
BAR MARTHA (Ebisu): This bar offered simple drinks but an excellent sound system and extensive record collection. The owner is known for throwing customers out of his bar if they talk too loudly. But Uli made him smile, and he gladly played her music request.
THE BAR (Roppongi/Ritz-Carlton Hotel 45F): One of her most favorite, also one of the most expensive.
LITTLE SMITH (Ginza): Another great favorite. The Bellini was the freshest she ever tasted, also good was the Bloody Mary.
PARABOLA (Hiroo): Owned/run by Richard, a friendly and knowledgeable Englishman who held many wine-tasting events for a number of years, popular with the foreign community. The bar has since been sold.
BAR RADIO (Omotesando): Based in a converted house, with many drinks named after film stars. The elderly owner, a celebrity in the bartending community, has since passed away.
SKY LOUNGE STELLAR GARDEN (Shiba Koen/Prince Park Tower Hotel 33F): Great view of Tokyo Tower, one of Uli’s favorite constructions. During one summer visit, she stayed in the attached Prince hotel.
GEN YAMAMOTO (Azabu-Juban): This bar offered sittings at fixed times each night, at which excellent cocktails were selected and served to guests by the bartender.
TWENTYEIGHT (Shiodome/Conrad Hotel 28F): Floor-to-ceiling view of Tokyo Bay.
THE LOUNGE (Otemachi/Aman Hotel 33F): Great view of Tokyo, in a huge space with a ceiling 30 meters above the floor.
THE BVLGARI BAR (Yaesu/Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo 45F): Newer bar with another great view of the city, overlooking Tokyo Station.
PETER (Yurakucho/Peninsula Hotel 24F): Convenient and easy to get a seat.
VIRTU (Otemachi/Four Seasons Hotel at Otemachi 39F): A top-rated bar in Asia, like several others in this list.
LOBBY BAR (Toranomon/Edition Hotel 31F): Newer bar with a good view of the city.
BAR NAPOLEON (Kioicho/Akasaka Prince Classic House): Dimly lit bar inside the restored residence of a prewar royal family.
SKY GALLERY LOUNGE LEVITA (Kioicho/Prince Hotel 35F): Floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Tokyo.
AGAVE (Roppongi, now in a different building): Tequila bar where Uli and friends met a few times early in her stay here.
Uli enjoyed these (in moderation) and others.
Wish i could visit Tokyo and try them out! Thanks Jeff!
If you or others at the online remembrance who shared their memories of Uli visit Tokyo, I’ll be happy to show you one or more of the bars; you can find me on Uli’s Facebook page.