Bar Curtis

curtisinside.jpg
curtisinside.jpg
curtis.jpg
Shinjuku-Ku, 3-chome 8-5
Shinjuku 3 Chome 8-5 Shinjuku-ku Tōkyō-to 160-0022 JP

Curtis is one of my favorite bars in Tokyo. As the name gives away, this is a soul music bar with an impressive collection of vinyl. Owner Ryutaro-san keeps the tunes flowing, jumping back and forth from behind the bar to hit the two decks. He also hosts DJ nights and parties; although it’s a small space there is also a roof patio where people can hang out and still hear the music.

I had many great nights in Curtis over the years, chatting music with Ryutaro and his very knowledgeable regular customers. Highly recommended spot.

Size
20-25
Food
Yes
Date published
1/16/15
Jazz Tweeter outside.JPG
1-19-11 B1F Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 0.04 km
Jazz Tweeter was opened a couple of years ago by long-time hotel restaurant chef Ishizuka-san. He...
index.jpg
Shinjuku 2-12-4, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-0022 0.08 km
The Pit Inn remains near, or at the top, of any list of live jazz venues in the Tokyo area. 2015 ...
IMG_4030.JPG
Chome 34-8, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 0.34 km
Someday is a nice, spacious club in Shinjuku, well known for their various big band and Latin jaz...
IMG_2862.JPG
B1, 3-35-12 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 0.37 km
Jazz Pepe is as old school as it gets. Opened in 1969 by the now 77 year old Okuma-san, Pepe is a...
Shiramuren.jpg
1 Chome−1−10, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 0.37 km
How can I describe this place? It’s small, dark and old; owner Otsuka-san was surly and u...
Samurai inside.JPG
Mori Bldg. 5F, 3-35-5, Shinjuku-Ku 0.39 km
Samurai is located in the building that used to house the Shinjuku Pit-Inn before they moved to t...
FS Bldg 4F, 3-20-6 Shinjuku 0.4 km
This is a quiet piano bar with live music nightly though more BGM style, not really a live club. ...
Old+Cat_-2.jpg
3-26-2 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo 0.41 km
03-3354-935403-3354-9354
The Old Blind Cat in Shinjuku has a long and fascinating history, as much as any jazz bar in town...
Maruha Bldg. B1, 1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku 0.41 km
03-3204-202803-3204-2028
200 types of Bourbon, cool jazz playing on the system. That about sums it up. Small place, go alo...
photo(14).JPG
Ebisu Kaikan Bldg, 4F Kabukicho 1-10-5. Shinjuku, Tokyo 0.43 km
In 2013 Black Sun moved from it’s long time home in Nishi-Shinjuku to the heart of Kabukich...
Kissa Sakaiki inside.JPG
2-4, Dai Kyo Machi, Shinjuku-Ku 0.43 km
Kissa Sakaiki gives me hope that the spirit of the Japanese jazz-kissaten will survive. Owner F...
Royal Mansion B1, Shinjuku 5-1-1, Shinjuku-Ku 0.43 km
Old basement club, lots of vocalists on the schedule. Mellow vibe and not too expensive.
Pearl Bar outside.JPG
Higashi Shin Bldg , 4F, 3-21-7, Shinjuku, Shunjuku-Ku 0.43 km
Pearl Bar is a real sleek “grown up” jazz bar in the center of Shinjuku. Lots of cock...
Jazz Room Stick inside.jpg
3 Chome−22, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 0.53 km
Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly beh...
Narushisu inside.jpg
2F, 1 Chome−13−6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 0.55 km
I found this tiny gem of a jazz cafe amidst the chaos that is Kabukicho in Shinjuku. It is a smal...
matchgreen.jpg
Nishi-shinjuku 1-4-20, Shinjuku-Ku 0.74 km
The Vagabond is a classic joint right next to the West Exit of Shinjuku station. I think the revi...
Hals Jazz outside.jpg
Daikan Plaza B-306, 7-10-17 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 0.83 km
It’s all about vinyl at Hal’s Jazz. Owner Ikeda-san keeps a few racks of cds in the c...
1-36-12 Yoyogi Shibuya 0.91 km
Sister-branch of Naru in Ochanomizu.
1−28−9, Shibuya, Yoyogi 1.13 km
Music Bar is part of the new development Yoyogi Village (read more about it here. It’s no...
Ribbon outside.jpg
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19 1.35 km
The Ribbon is what most people would think of when hearing the words “Ginza Jazz”. It...
Stardust inside.JPG
Minami Bldg B1 Asagaya-Kita 2-13-5 1.35 km
03-3337-132503-3337-1325
Masuda-san sadly passed away in 2012. Stardust is an old bar, first opened in Asagaya in 1971 ...
Tom inside.JPG
Inaba Bldg , 2F Asagaya-Minami 3-28-31 1.35 km
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
Cafe Ellington outside.jpg
Asagaya 3-37 1.35 km
Note: Closed in early 2015. I guess he couldn’t get many customers after all… Cafe El...
Scratch inside.JPG
Marco Polo Bldg 2F, 1-8-14 Hon-Chi, Kichijoji 1.35 km
Scratch is a quiet cafe/bar that’s been in heart of Kichijoji since 1974. They open durin...
Small Hours Cafe & Bar outside.jpg
Wako Bldg 1F 1-62-4 Kanda Jimbocho Chiyoda-Ku 1.35 km
03-5283-711703-5283-7117
Closed 2015 Small Hours is a new cafe/bar located in the back streets between Ochanomizu, Jimbo...
Ikebukuro Roudou Kijun Kyoukai Bldg B2, Ikebukuro 1-8-8 1.35 km
Jazz, Funk & Soul are on tap at Miles’ Cafe. The Ikebukuro area is not known for having...
Jazz Spot Dolphy.JPG
2F Dai Ichi Nishimura Bldg. 2F, 2-17-4 Miyagawa-cho, Naka-Ku 1.35 km
Jazz Spot Dolphy opened in 1980 but moved to its current location in 1990 and has kept up a ste...
Houdenasu.JPG
New Gold Bldg, 2F, 3-6-10 Shinjuku-Ku 1.48 km
Houdenasu (ほうでなす) is a small 2nd floor bar located right in the heart of Shinjuku 3-Chome,...
Kashiwagi Mura2 7-20-12, Nishi-Shinjuku 1.9 km
Swanky live club, heavy on the vocalists. Enjoyable but a bit soft for my tastes. It’s the ...
Haikara-Tei inside.jpg
Toyo Bldg. B1, 2-20-19 Yoyogi, Shibuya-Ku 1.93 km
03-3370-180103-3370-1801
Haikara-Tei is another Shinjuku jazz bar that somehow never popped up on my jazz radar after all ...
1-8 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-Ku 2.04 km
Eagle is really the prototypical jazz cafe. It opened in 1967 in Yotsuya, right down the street...
IMG_4032.JPG
Sasaki Bldg, B1, 2-8-3 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 2.38 km
Gate One is a small bar run by the husband and wife guitar-vocal duo Hashimoto-san and Kajiwara-s...
Jazz Nutty inside.JPG
1-17-4 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-Ku 2.42 km
03-3200-373003-3200-3730
Jazz Nutty opened in 2009 next to the campus of Waseda University. The wonderful Mr.& Mrs. ...
Intro outside.jpg
2-14-8 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 2.45 km
Jazz SPOT Intro in Takadanobaba is a tiny basement bar about 2 minutes walk from the station. I...
Jingumae, 3 Chome−5−2 2.49 km
Gekko Sabou (月光茶房 “moon-light-tea-chamber”, a wonderful name) is not a jazz cafe/...
Milestone inside.JPG
Igari Bldg., 1-23-9 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 2.51 km
Milestone sadly closed its doors at the end of July, 2019 after 45 years in business. As the nam...
B1, 3-23-5 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 2.51 km
Hot House is the world’s smallest jazz club! Maybe 8 or 10 customers max in this place. Mak...
4 Chome−3−1, Higashinakano, Nakano 2.61 km
Neighborhood cafe/bar/small live club. This is the kind of place you really only find in Japan; i...
Genius.jpg
スズノビル1F, 3 Chome-2-10 Honchō, Nakano-ku 2.77 km
03-3372-347103-3372-3471
Genius was one of Shibuya’s more famous jazz cafes for more than 20 years before increasing...