Did you know that Nara city in Japan has one of the most exciting bar scenes in Japan? One of the most well-known bars in Nara is called Lamp. It is ranked as one of the top 50 bars in Asia and it’s well-deserved. I highly recommend visiting.

The owner of Lamp is one of the international champion bartender named Michito Kaneko. He makes his own vermouth from sake with the help of a brewery nearby which is totally worth tasting! The bitters are also house-made.

There is no cocktail menu and you order based on your personal preference. It can be any liquor and/or seasonal flavor you prefer. Please don’t feel intimidated with the lack of menu or feel shy and tell the staff any flavor you are interested in.

One thing I really love about speakeasy bars that I have been to so far is how they will happily explain to you the unique liquor and cocktails that you might not usually have. Of course, you can have the classic drinks commonly drank like gin & tonic, negroni, etc.

The difference is though is the slight twist they add onto the classic drinks along with other drinks you might never heard of.

One of the really popular drinks are “The Beginning”. The drink is inspired by South Africa, the birthplace of life and Johnny Walker, the birthplace of blended whisky.

According to Lamp Bar’s website, this cocktail was created for the World Class 2015 World Championship. A cinnamon stick is placed under the egg-shaped ceramic cup, creating the image of an egg, symbolizing birth. It uses two types of whisky, smoky black tea syrup (lapsang souchong tea syrup), marmalade, lemon juice, and seawater. As seen in the video above, the cinnamon around the edge is toasted, transferring the spice-infused smoke into the cup. If you love whisky, I recommend this unique drink.

Another popular drink is the Lamp Negroni (seen above). As you might know, Negronis are one of the classic cocktails that are popular around the world. I personally love Negronis as well for its sweet yet slightly bitter taste. I got this information from their website as well and it seems like although the taste of Negronis are still quite unfamiliar to many Japanese people in Japan, lately it's gaining some popularity.

The Campari used in the Lamp Negroni is homemade and the drink is infused with burdock root, grapefruit peel, and Nara cypress for a special, smooth flavor that feels rich and different. Burdock root or in Japan called gobo, is a very popular vegetable in Japan and used in many common Japanese dishes. Looks like a tree root but softens when cooked and has a mild and distinct flavor so I found it interesting that this was used in the infusion. The Nara cypress (Japanese cypress also called hinoki in Japanese) was also an interesting choice as well and I found the combination in the drink to go very well together. An unforgettable Negroni!

The interior of the Lamp bar reminds me of traditional-style bars in the UK looks like. And as someone who always loved British-style designed and lived in the UK, it feels nostalgic.

Again, I highly recommend checking this place out if you happen to be in Nara. It is slightly hidden but not a far of a walk from all the main tourist spot full of deer.

Lamp Bar

Location: 26 Tsunofuricho, Nara, 630-8224, Japan

Directions: Located within the touristy Nara area. Can easily walk there from the Nara station or after you are done with Nara park area.

Opening Hours: 5pm-1am on Mondays to Saturdays; 5pm-10pm on Sundays

Website: About Page 

Reservations: Doesn’t look like they accept reservations.