Shot bar ELM 池袋西口 at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

Twelve-seat counter bar near Ikebukuro West Gate pouring original Japanese whisky, sake cocktails and a calm, Japanese-aesthetic mood.

Shot bar ELM is an intimate twelve-seat counter bar on the third floor of the Soma Building near Ikebukuro's west exit, built around a Japanese aesthetic of form and beauty. The mood is calm and grown-up, with soft lighting, a night-view counter and a sense of retreat from the bustle outside. The bar's headline spirit is an original Japanese whisky called Harunire, aged in mizunara and white-oak casks, complemented by a range of Japanese sake and a signature sake cocktail made with Motozake. Hours run from 18:00 to 05:00 every day, credit cards and PayPay are accepted, and Wi-Fi and power points are available for guests. For a late-night drink in Ikebukuro that prizes quality and atmosphere over volume, ELM is a quietly excellent choice. Take a counter seat, let the bartender guide you, and savour a considered pour of Japanese craft.