Vege Bar Itaru at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

A vegetable-focused organic Italian bar in east Ikebukuro, pairing organic produce with a huge drinks list.

Vege Bar Itaru is a vegetable-led Italian bar in east Ikebukuro that makes organic ingredients the starting point for everything it serves. Produce arrives direct from farms across Japan, and the kitchen builds creative dishes on an Italian and French foundation, folding in Japanese washoku touches for good measure. The headline attractions are a cheese fondue made with a rich blended cheese and low-temperature-cooked wagyu beef, alongside roast beef and seasonal vegetable plates. The drinks list is one of the deeper ones in the area, with more than two hundred choices spanning organic wine, sake, homemade sangria, cocktails, imported and domestic beer, whisky, shochu and non-alcoholic options. Courses and party plans are available, and the compact room can be hired for private gatherings seating around twenty or standing near thirty, complete with an all-you-can-drink option. Card and PayPay are accepted, and the location a short walk from the east exit makes it handy for Hareza Ikebukuro and Grand Cinema Sunshine. If you like your dinner to feel both wholesome and a little indulgent, Vege Bar Itaru strikes a pleasing balance. The affectionate, slightly hidden setting suits a girls' night, a birthday or simply a quiet weekday treat, with a complimentary dessert plate for celebrants. Reserve a table and let the seasonal vegetables and a well-chosen glass carry the evening.