Shimbashi Dry-Dock

Tucked under the railway tracks near Shimbashi Station, the nautically themed Dry-Dock is certainly one of Tokyo's most distinctive beer joints, with a sunken bar area, portholes for windows and a ship's wheel on the counter. It's also got some unorthodox ideas, not least an enthusiasm for Asahi Super Dry that some microbrew enthusiasts might consider tantamount to heresy. The owners claim that their state-of-the-art dispensing equipment and meticulous attention to detail make even Japan's most ubiquitous lager taste great – but if you'd rather not put that assertion to the test, they also have Belle-Vue Kriek, Chimay White and the locally produced Sumidagawa Weizen and Porter on tap, as well as a slim selection of guest beers and over 60 bottled varieties. The kitchen offers well-executed pub grub like fried chicken, 'napolitan' spaghetti and hot dogs, though book ahead if you're looking to have a sit-down meal in the small table area upstairs.