Within Okayama City, there are a number of unique bars scattered around JR Okayama Station. This time, we will be introducing five recommended bars to you by Mr. Nori Maeda of Bar Maeda , Vice Branch Manager of the Okayama Prefecture Branch of the Japan Bartenders Association.
2025.11.14Visiting a bar in an unfamiliar city is a special experience where you can feel the local atmosphere.
One of the joys of traveling is listening to the local bar owner tell you stories about Okayama's food and history while sipping your drink.
-
Table of Contents
- The appeal of Okayama 's bars
- 1. " BAR LYTTON N" Located along Haremachi Street, this authentic bar is easy for groups to enter.
- 2. "Utena Bar" Enjoy a quiet drink while looking out over the Nishigawa.
- 3. " Hawaiianbar MAGIC PAN" is an authentic Hawaiian dining bar that also welcomes groups.
- 4. "Cocktail Bar SAMSARA" A hidden authentic bar with beautiful interior.
- 5. "Kadentsa" - Enjoy a fruit cocktail prepared by the master dressed in traditional Japanese clothing.
- Conclusion
The appeal of Okayama 's bars
Bar Maeda , located close to JR Okayama Station, opened in 2012. It is run by Maeda Nori, vice-chairman of the Okayama Prefecture branch of the Japan Bartenders Association, and will be introducing us to our recommended bar this time.
We stock over 300 types of domestic and international rum, with a focus on Japanese whiskey and spirits.
With their extensive knowledge and experience, they will suggest recommended brands and drinking methods to suit the customer's preferences.
This is a hideaway for adults where you can enjoy a quiet moment with a fragrant cup of coffee.
According to Maeda, Okayama City is dotted with unique bars, and each area has a different atmosphere.
The area in front of the station is convenient for hotel guests and business travelers, and the Nishigawa River is lined with small restaurants where you can relax with a drink after a meal. In tourist areas such as Okayama Castle and Korakuen, there are also sophisticated bars where you can stop by after dinner.
The charm of Okayama's nightlife is that you can visit shops with different atmospheres within walking distance.
Additionally, at bars in Okayama, the kingdom of fruit, you can enjoy cocktails made with seasonal fruits.
Strawberries from winter to spring, mint from Yakage Town in early summer, white peaches and Muscat in summer, and Pione grapes, pears, and persimmons in autumn.
This bowl, which highlights seasonal ingredients, has a special flavor that can only be enjoyed at that time of year.
When you visit, one of the things to look forward to is asking the owner what he recommends for the current season.
Bar Maeda
Address: Yoshii Building 2F, 1-6-7 Nodaya-cho, Noda ku , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward
TEL: 086-225-6578
Business hours: 17:00-24:00 *Saturdays from 15:00, Sundays from 15:00-Last orders 23:00
Closed: Mondays
Number of seats: 16
Parking: None
1. " BAR LYTTON N" Located along Haremachi Street, this authentic bar is easy for groups to enter.
Located along Haremachi Street, this authentic bar has a stately atmosphere that has been passed down from its predecessor. The floor with a wooden counter is decorated with a cherry blossom tree as its symbol, and there is a spacious interior with about 40 seats where you can relax.
In addition to cocktails made with fresh fruit, the bar also serves popular food prepared by a master who honed his skills at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
"It's a large bar that showcases skill and playfulness, with frozen cocktails made with liquid nitrogen and more," says Maeda. It's a place that can be enjoyed by groups at your own pace.
BAR LYTTON N
Address: 1F, 2nd Tomozawa Building, 3-9 Saiwai-cho, Kita-ku , Okayama City , Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward
TEL: 086-224-9540
Business hours: 5:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Closed: Sundays
Number of seats: 40
Parking: None
2. "Utena Bar" Enjoy a quiet drink while looking out over the Nishigawa.
This authentic bar has been run by two generations of a father and son since it was founded in 1997. Located on the third floor overlooking Nishigawa Ryokudo Park, you can spend a quiet time watching the night view from the window.
The straight zelkova wood counter is impressive, and classical music plays softly inside the store.
Maeda describes the bar as "a space for adults to relax and enjoy a relaxing evening in Nishigawa ." Guests are encouraged to enjoy a drink that exudes the unpretentious spirit of Okayama , including the " Shimizu White Peach Bellini."
Utena Bar
Address: Ferris Building 3F, 8-11 Nishiki Town , Kita-ku , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward
TEL: 086-231-3327
Business hours: 17:00 - 1:00 AM *Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays: 16:00 - 24:00
Closed: None
Number of seats: 11
Parking: None
3. " Hawaiianbar MAGIC PAN" is an authentic Hawaiian dining bar that also welcomes groups.
This Hawaiian dining bar, with striking palm-shaped lighting, is reminiscent of a tropical beach bar. The staff wear aloha shirts and the space is open with Hawaiian music playing.
With a wide selection of tropical cocktails and Hawaiian food, it attracts a wide range of customers. It is the only bar in Okayama where you can see performances by flair bartenders who have competed in world championships.
"It's casual yet authentic, and recommended for those new to bars," says Maeda.
Hawaiianbar MAGIC PAN
Address: 2F Daiichi Tomozawa Building, 3-10 Saiwai-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward
TEL: 086-234-2121
Business hours: 7:00 PM - 3:00 AM *Fridays and Saturdays - 5:00 AM
Closed: Sundays
Number of seats: 36
Parking: None
4. "Cocktail Bar SAMSARA" A hidden authentic bar with beautiful interior.
This authentic bar is a hidden gem located in the Tamachi area along the Nishigawa. Established in 1994, the striking vermilion counter is a space that pays homage to the bars painted by French painter Toulouse-Lautrec.
The cocktails created by Master Nose, who has won numerous awards at competitions in the Chugoku Region, are highly artistic drinks that are like paintings on a glass.
According to Maeda, "It's one of the bars that represents Okayama in terms of both technique and atmosphere." This is a famous bar that adults looking for a quality time should visit.
Cocktail Bar SAMSARA
Address: Kimura Building 2F, 2-1-1 Tamachi, Kita-ku , Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward
TEL: 086-221-5396
Business hours: 7:00 PM - 3:00 AM (last order 2:30 AM)
Closed: None
Number of seats: 14
Parking: None
5. "Kadentsa" - Enjoy a fruit cocktail prepared by the master dressed in traditional Japanese clothing.
Located in an area close to Okayama Castle and Okayama Korakuen Garden, this bar has a Japanese feel, with shoji-style walls and a bar owner dressed in a kimono.
It is open from noon on Saturdays and Sundays, and its fresh cocktails made with seasonal fruits are very popular.
In particular, there is a wide selection of cocktails made with fruits from Okayama and the Setouchi, so be sure to order one.
Maeda also says, "One of the attractions is being able to order freely to suit your tastes."The Chiya Beef Hashed Beef is also popular, recommended as a dessert or to finish off your trip. This is a restaurant you'll want to stop by at the end of your trip.
Kadentsa
Address: 2-7-9 Okayama Prefecture, Kita-ku , Okayama City Kita Ward
TEL: 086-234-2354
Business hours: 17:00-24:00 (last orders 23:30) *Saturdays and Sundays: 13:00-
Closed: Mondays
Number of seats: 22
Parking: None
Conclusion
What did you think of the five bars recommended by Maeda, vice-branch chief of the Okayama Prefecture branch of the Japan Bartenders Association?
Experience the charm of Okayama through conversation while savoring a superb cup of coffee prepared by veteran bartenders in a unique space.
A leisurely stroll through the city at night is sure to add new memories to your trip to Okayama.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.