Pres Jazz Bar

Submitted by Mr. OK Jazz on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 16:31
Overview
Name: 
Pres Jazz Bar
The Outside: 
Type: 
Bar
Ku: 
Shibuya
Station: 
Shibuya-JR, Hanzomon/Ginza/Fukutoshi Subway Lines
Exit: 
Hachiko Exit
Distance from station: 
6-9
Review: 

Pres Jazz Bar is located up near the end of "Center Gai" street in Shibuya, not the most likely spot for a jazz bar. Named after the great sax -man Lester Young, owner Iwasaki-san opened the place about twenty years ago when there were still some jazz cafes and bars next door (unfortunately all gone now). The bar is now actually divided into two separate bars, linked by a small doorway. Pres is main room, Onyx the other room. They have separate entrances on street level, but you can sit in either space. Both Pres and Onyx are large, dark spaces with tables and chairs tidily arranged. There`s a piano in Pres, though Iwasaki-san says they rarely have live events anymore.

As expected, in Pres you will hear a lot of Lester Young cds (never a bad thing), while in Onyx the vibe is more soft-vocals. A Shirley Horn cd was playing when I went in, giving the place a real 2am-Frank Sinatra in a New York bar- kind of vibe. For a bar right in the middle of screaming teenage Tokyo, this is a valuable asset indeed.The table charge is steep, at ￥840, but beers cost ￥630 and the cocktails are reasonable.

0
Your rating: None
Editor's rating: 
4
User's rating: 
0
Price: 
3
Directions: 
The easiest way to get to Pres/Onyx is to walk up Bunkamura-dori from Shibuya Station, and turn right on the street right before Book 1st. Walk up one street to Center-Gai and look on the right, you`ll see a grey-concrete like building to the left of a noodle restaurant. You`ll see the Pres sign lit up above. The entrance to Onyx is around the right side, the same building as the Aldgate British Rock pub
Contact Info
Address: 
Utagawacho 30-4, Shibuya-Ku
Telephone: 
03-3463-2848
Website: 
n/a
Additional Info
Size: 
31-40
English spoken: 
No
No smoking area: 
No
Child friendly: 
No