high above
Imagine that in the kinetic city of Tokyo, you could experience serenity, luxury and world-class cocktails all at the same time. On the 33rd floor of Aman Tokyo, located above the twinkling city lights in Chiyoda-ku, this becomes a reality at The Black Bar. On a Friday night, at half-past eight, the bar is unsurprisingly packed, but not so packed that you overhear your neighbour’s conversation.
The spaciousness of the bar makes you forget that you’re in downtown Tokyo. Here, patrons are dressed to the nines and the twinkling lights of Shinjuku are visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Black Bar takes its name seriously, with cutlery, menus, uniforms and signature cocktails in the same colour. I kick off the free-flow cocktails and appetiser package (¥7,800, RM295, for 120 minutes) with the Black Espresso Martini. It offers what its name suggests, with the ideal amount of coffee and gin topped with velvety egg white, letting the simplicity of its ingredients shine.
The accompanying savoury bites range from satay to Vietnamese spring rolls to deep-fried tofu, an unmistakably Southeast Asian theme replete with peanut, bamboo, miso, sweet chilli and black pepper condiments. A second drink of Black Chocolate Manhattan reveals peated whisky, which dovetails with creamy chocolate notes. Then, to end the night and begin my night-time exploration of Tokyo’s unending hubbub, I have the Black Rum Mojito which provides a pleasant burn and the scent of fresh mint oil.
