MachukaBar

Macska Bar sits in the middle of Akarui Hanazono 5-chome, one of Golden Gai's lanes, opened in 2005 by owner Machiko. The name "MACSKA" means "cat" in Hungarian, and the shop's mascot—a cat named "Mon-nyan"—was drawn by regular customer and manga artist Arai Hideki. Behind the counter you'll find Belgian beers (Hoegaarden White, Orval, and more) and UK ales like Samuel Smith's, and it's not unusual to glance sideways and find film critic Takahashi Yoshiki or Ozaki Sekaikan of Creep Hyp nursing a drink beside you. The YouTube series "Macska no Jikan" captures exactly this counter atmosphere on camera; Machiko began filming during the pandemic to tell young people struggling with life, "When you're old enough to drink, come here—there are adults like this waiting for you." That spirit shapes everything about the bar. Welcoming to first-timers and solo drinkers alike. Cover charge ¥1,000, drinks from ¥800. When the mood strikes, try pushing open the door with Mon-nyan on it.