Explore the Best Bars in Tokyo Serving Fragrance-Inspired Cocktails

Hana, ĖDIT(h)'s Concept Store and Fragrance Bar, Quarter Room

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東京都心部｜東京西部

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Even on hot summer nights, Tokyo's nightlife offers unique things to do you won't find anywhere else. A fresh wave of bars is serving up creative cocktails with fragrance infusions that merge mixology with Japanese perfumes. In this feature, we highlight two buzzworthy new bars spearheaded by Japanese fragrance brands, plus one run by a bartender who also works as a perfumer.

Three courses, five fragrance profiles — Hana

Hana is a two-story bar where your nose takes center stage. It opened in March 2025 in the traditional “Nonbei Yokocho” alleyway near Miyashita Park at the heart of Shibuya.

Hana was established by the Japanese niche fragrance company NOSE SHOP. Japanese for both "nose" and "flower," Hana features NOSE SHOP's fragrances in its menu, offering a sensory experience customized for patrons.

Hana offers five-drink "courses" that invite you to choose an aromatic adventure from three categories: "Variety," "From Grape," and "Sober." The menu changes depending on the season. The drinks and aromatic wines offered are curated by Mitosaya Botanical Distillery, known for its distilled spirits made from fruits and botanicals grown in its fields. Each course is paired with fragrances from NOSE SHOP.

"Variety" showcases original cocktails crafted with aromatic liqueurs, whiskies, and gins, such as the Magnolia and Le Lectier Spritz, which incorporates high-quality, sweet Le Lectier pears and a floral scent profile.

"From Grape" explores the aromatic potential of grapes through wine and wine-based cocktails, including Le Canon Rouge red wine featuring a spicy aroma and flavor.

For those avoiding alcohol, "Sober" presents refined mocktails. One highlight is the Cold Brew Tonic, a beverage with fruity coffee undertones and a refreshing flavor featuring cucumber and grapefruit tonic water.

You can then choose from five fragrance profiles: Floral, Fruity, Spicy, Herbal, and Woody & Green. Foodies should add Hana's pairings of sweets, curated to match the drinks on offer.

Hana is located inside a former yakitori joint that sold grilled chicken skewers. Architect Daisuke Motogi transformed the slim building into a stylish bar while preserving touches of its past, including its narrow staircase. The intimate bunk bed–like layout has standing room and seats for four downstairs (no reservations required) and six upstairs (reservations required).

A fragrance shop and bar blending tradition and modernity ― ĖDIT(h)'s Concept Store and Fragrance Bar

Opened in April 2025, ĖDIT(h)’s Concept Store and Fragrance Bar is the flagship location of the Tokyo fragrance brand ĖDIT(h). The shop sells ĖDIT(h)’s original products alongside items from other labels. The back is a bar where you can enjoy fragrance and cocktail pairings. It is located in Kagurazaka, a neighborhood known for blending modernity and tradition. Its minimalist, modern interior retains elements of the building's past, like an exposed wall and ceiling beams.

Rooted in Japanese craftsmanship dating to 1905, the brand traces its origins to the Nikko Jirushi brand of shuniku Japanese red-ink pads for stamps traditionally used like signatures elsewhere. The brand blends heritage with innovation by incorporating Asian aromatics used for generations to scent their ink pads into their fragrances.

During bar hours, try the establishment’s signature “Fragrance Pairing Cocktail.” Start by telling the bartender your desired scent or exploring the fragrances on the counter to find one that appeals to you. Once you’ve chosen a scent, the bartender will craft a customized cocktail inspired by your selected fragrance.

ĖDIT(h)’s fragrances offer one-of-a-kind stories and aromas. For example, “Yuzuki” transitions from citrus to floral to woody based on yuzu, geranium, and sandalwood notes. The “Souchong journey” fragrance evokes the travels of merchants clad in the scent of Lapsang Souchong, a Chinese black tea smoked over pine. Imagining what kind of cocktail might be created is also a fun part of the experience.

The fragrance we chose for our visit was Green Velvet, a spicy green scent derived from galbanum, a type of fennel. To complement it, the bartender created a cocktail based on Hoshiko, a plum liqueur. The resulting masterpiece featured a refreshing sweetness accented with herbs and spices, reflecting the essence of the fragrance.

Also not to be missed is the bar’s signature cocktail inspired by its namesake fragrance, the Rose Mojito. This drink blends rosehip tea, spearmint, lime, and ginger syrup with sugarcane rum and amaretto to evoke a radiant rose-based scent.

Each drink comes with a blotter card and a two-dimensional code for deeper exploration. No two drinks are identical, even when inspired by the same scent, thanks to the staff's creativity and expertise. They speak English, and the service is both warm and knowledgeable. A selection of beautifully crafted mocktails makes the bar welcoming to all, even if you don't want to drink alcohol.

Art-inspired drinks with delightful aromas ― Quarter Room

Quarter Room offers a cocktail experience where each drink excites the senses. Its concept centers on the fusion of iconic artworks and cocktails, with a menu inspired by the colors, visuals, eras, and imagery of the original pieces. Take a seat at the bar’s theater-style counter and embark on a journey through tastes, scents, and visuals.

The central figure of Quarter Room is Soran Nomura, a bartender with a background in both art and fragrance. Nomura moved to London to study at an art school, spending seven years as a bartender to cover his tuition and living expenses—a natural choice given his fondness for drinks and the fact that his family ran a small restaurant. Embracing the idea that “fragrance is one of the components of a cocktail,” he also worked on perfumes.

Nomura’s dedication to fragrance is evident throughout Quarter Room’s cocktails and the service provided by the bartenders. For example, the recommended cocktail “Flowers × White Russian” is inspired by Andy Warhol’s iconic Flowers. This drink reinterprets the classic White Russian—traditionally made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream—by using a foam of pistachio and avocado instead of cream. Quarter Room’s creative twist not only enriches the flavor but also makes the cocktail vegan-friendly.

White Russians are known for bringing out a sweet flavor in vodka and the aroma of coffee, but Nomura takes it even further. He soaks ylang-ylang perfume into a coaster right in front of the guest, creating an aromatic first impression. Wrapped in the rich floral scent, guests can experience a sensory continuity with the drink that enhances their senses.

Another cocktail, “Composition × Bloody Mary,” is a reimagining of Mondrian’s abstract paintings. The vivid red of the artwork is expressed through the classic Bloody Mary—a mix of vodka and tomato juice. At Quarter Room, it is served with a spicy tomato base and topped with shrimp foam. For a dramatic finish, mezcal is torched and sprayed over the drink, adding a distinctive smoky aroma.

Quarter Room is about a 10-minute walk from Shimo-Kitazawa Station, allowing guests to enjoy the neighborhood. The friendly, English-speaking staff serve stylish cocktails and offer clear explanations of the menu, which includes photos of the art and cocktail recipes. This approach makes the bar welcoming to all, including those with dietary restrictions.