The biggest timewarp in town. When Bordeaux opened at the start of the Showa Period, it was furnished with foreign antiques — including a flag from the Crusades. Nothing has changed since. An elderly staff member says proudly that they can’t alter anything without changing everything, since the building breaches so many contemporary planning and safety regulations. The drink menu lists “Scotland whiskies” and seems not to have heard of any cocktails invented since 1930.
Until recently, Bordeaux was an elite members-only bar, but the dwindling (dying) membership forced the door open to the hoi polloi. It’s still not quite open house: Women aren’t allowed to enter alone, and it’s wise to dress smartly. Inside, you’ll find a table charge, a service charge and a “charm charge,” which combine to ensure you’ll be suffering a personal financial crisis by the time you leave.
What to drink: A sidecar (brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice)
Who drank there: Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the combined fleet in World War II
Nostalgic bars
The Japan Times, 24, October, 2008
“Bordeaux (Since 1927)
The biggest timewarp in town. When Bordeaux opened at the start of the Showa Period, it was furnished with foreign antiques — including a flag from the Crusades. Nothing has changed since. An elderly staff member says proudly that they can’t alter anything without changing everything, since the building breaches so many contemporary planning and safety regulations. The drink menu lists “Scotland whiskies” and seems not to have heard of any cocktails invented since 1930.
Until recently, Bordeaux was an elite members-only bar, but the dwindling (dying) membership forced the door open to the hoi polloi. It’s still not quite open house: Women aren’t allowed to enter alone, and it’s wise to dress smartly. Inside, you’ll find a table charge, a service charge and a “charm charge,” which combine to ensure you’ll be suffering a personal financial crisis by the time you leave.
What to drink: A sidecar (brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice)
Who drank there: Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the combined fleet in World War II
Credit crunch: ¥¥¥¥¥ (Meltdown)”