Yoshidamachi has quite a few excellent bars and restaurants for such a small area, with the fairly new Wa Barrel adding to the neighborhood’s entertainment appeal. Following the success of Barrel Pod just a block away, the owners opened this second location. Its emphasis is wine and sake, though the cocktail and food menu is notable, too. The bar is also open until 5:00 a.m. No, it’s not so people can get drunk and rowdy into the early hours of morning; it’s not that kind of bar. Rather, the subdued ambience helps create a space suitable for unwinding after a long day. Wa Barrel is especially attractive to other bar and restaurant employees that want a place to go when they finish work.
The sake menu features eight selections that rotate depending on availability. Small glasses are generally between ¥600 and ¥700. You can get an “ichi-gô” serving size (180ml), which is perfect for sharing, for between ¥900 and ¥1200, depending on the variety (sometimes higher for rare sake). For a twist on Japan’s national drink, try the sake sangria for ¥650. Your first glass will be served with “otoshi” (‘obligatory’ appetizer), which we don’t normally like, but this was actually really good and paired well with the sake–we didn’t mind paying a few extra hundred yen for it. On the wine side, the feature is Japanese wine: a couple of selections of red (glass/¥800~) and about five of white (glass/¥700~). Beyond these, the bar has an ample selection of cocktails, whiskeys and other alcoholic beverages for around ¥800 or less on average. In our opinion, the ume-shu (plum sake) selection was as good as the wine.
Although we are featuring Wa Barrel here as a bar, it is equally as good as a restaurant. It serves excellent seasonal washoku (classic Japanese) and fusion, with a regularly changing menu. Always check out the daily recommendations, like battered and fried oysters (¥550 for four). Most dishes are very affordable (¥500~¥800) and similar to tapas dishes. Looking for a meal? Try the tempura!
Wa Barrel’s seating is limited, with just bar seating (at what probably was once a sushi bar) and a few tables suitable for one or two people. Yes, this place would be great for dates.
