Goodbeer Faucets (Shibuya)

Goodbeer Faucets changed Tokyo’s craft beer scene by offering something previously unavailable: a dedicated craft beer restaurant in a stylish, sophisticated setting. Who said beer bars had to be about wooden counters, folksy décor and pub grub? Faucets proves that swank is good, too, when enjoying a huge selection of beers.

The centerpiece of Faucets is its state-of-the-art server system built by brewery engineer Hori Teruya. The shiny island behind the bar seems to have been inspired by similar designs Hori must have seen in his travels to bars in other world cities with robust drinking cultures. The island is fitted with 40 taps in all, while there are also three hand pumps for real ale. The draft beer is a combination of some of the best that Japan and the U.S. have to offer. Faucets has a policy of honesty in their pours. While they serve in a pint glass, they label it as 400ml to account for head. Prices range from ¥900 to ¥1100 on average, and for ¥600 to ¥750 for half servings. Faucets also has roughly 50 bottle selections, including great Belgian beers. During happy hour from 5pm to 8pm, Sunday to Thursday, all pints are ¥200 off. During those hours, they can lay claim to some of the most affordable craft beer in Tokyo!

Food is certainly not an afterthought at Faucets; they’ve given obvious attention to having a variety of tastes and styles, making for countless pairing options. Of course there is typical pub fare like fries, pizzas, sausages, ham, salami, and pickled bites, with prices starting as low as ¥500. But customers hankering for something different will definitely want to select one of the many meat options, including spareribs cooked in dark beer, juicy varieties of pork, and steak. There are also seafood items aplenty and numerous healthy salads. For some outside-the-box pairing items, try the falafel or hummus.

Faucets’ interior is sleek and modern, with digital screens on the walls providing both animated images as well as information on beer and menu items. In addition to table and counter seating, there are several stand tables. Faucets would be appropriate for semi-formal business dinners as well as casual dates. Oh yeah, speaking dates, one of Tokyo’s largest love hotel districts is just across the street.