You might wonder, what is she doing in a cigar lounge?
Nope, I don’t really smoke cigars. But on that particular day, I felt a real need for real quiet place to chill following a long day trip to Kamakura. Alfie’s, a chic bar of Alfred Dunhill in Hong Kong, left a nice impression on me on days I needed some quiet. So I thought it would be nice to check out the one at Ginza, grab a drink before I head back to the hotel. The simple idea of a drink came with an unexpected cost.
The cigar lounge is a walk up the stairs, on the third floor. The place wasn’t empty on even on a late Monday night. Brown leather sofas adorns the space, complete with black modern glass tables, wallpaper with bookshelf prints – the perfect British setting for gentlemen talk with a long cigar on hand, and a Whiskey or Martini in the other. A few puffs of an aged Cohiba Lancero would definitely be nice (Not sure if non-Dunhill cigars are allowed there).
I was told the minimum charge for the bar was ¥1,000 – fair enough for a lounge like this. I ordered a beer costing ¥1,100 and enjoyed the watching the quiet street below. The bill came, and to my surprise there was an additional ¥1,000 charge for sitting at the lounge. A ‘lost in translation’ moment on the ‘minimum charge’. Was it worth it? You be the judge.
*Check out other chic dining restaurants in Tokyo*
The Aquarium at Alfred Dunhill
Address: 2-6-7 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel: +81 (0)3 3562 1893
Opening Hours: 5pm – midnight
K's Luxe Dining Table 