隠れBARギルド at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

A hidden late-night bar near Ikebukuro north exit, open till 7am with no cover charge, karaoke and drinks from 600 yen.

Kakure Bar Guild, literally the Hidden Bar Guild, is a late-night drinking spot tucked into the basement of the White BL building on Ikebukuro's north side, about six minutes from the station. It trades on the idea of a true hideaway, found down a side turn past a 100-yen Lawson off the theatre-dori route, and opens its doors from 20:00 right through to 07:00 the next morning, closed only on Mondays. The welcome is broad: solo drinkers, couples and groups are all encouraged, and the room is set up for a noisy, sociable sort of night. The pricing is unusually simple for the area, with no cover charge, drinks starting from 600 yen, snacks from 500 yen and a service tax of 15 percent that rises to 25 percent after midnight. Karaoke and games are on hand for those who want them, and the bar runs new-customer promotions such as a one-hour all-you-can-drink deal to ease first-timers in. The overall feel is of an unpretentious neighbourhood bar dropped into the middle of a busy entertainment district. For travellers who miss the last train or simply want to keep the night going, Guild's dawn-closing hours make it a practical as well as a fun option. The staff are relaxed, the room invites mingling, and the no-frills pricing keeps the evening honest. It is the sort of place to end up by accident and remember for the right reasons.