Do I need to order in Korean or Japanese?

No. Pointing at the menu works, and it is a good place to test the one Korean or Japanese phrase you know.

What if I have never tried Korean liquor?

Start with somaek, which is light and easy, or stick with Japanese whisky, shochu or a sour.

No. Listening is fine. Put a song in only when you feel like it.

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Korean Bar for the First Time: What to Expect

2026.10.17

First time at a Korean bar? The two questions people actually have are how to walk in and what to order first. Short answer: open the door, take any free seat at the counter, and ask for a soju or whatever you usually drink. That is the whole entrance ritual. Here is a first night at HEAVEN TOKYO, step by step, from the door to the first glass. Opening day is October 23.

A bartender talking with guests across the counter (a sister bar of Korean Bar HEAVEN)

Step 1: Open the door and take a seat

The entrance is on the first floor of the GEST34 Building. Inside, pick any empty stool at the counter. With only eight seats, you are never far from the staff or from the person next to you. You do not need a Korean greeting; 'konbanwa' or a nod does the job, and if you try 'annyeonghaseyo', that is already your first conversation. Coat off, menu open, and step one is done.

Shelves lined with liquor bottles (a sister bar of Korean Bar HEAVEN)

Step 2: Choose your first drink

When in doubt, soju. If you have never had Korean liquor, somaek, soju topped up with beer, is an easy way in. Not in the mood for Korean drinks? Japanese whisky, shochu and sours are on the menu. If you want to try a few things, the all-you-can-drink plan is 2,500 yen per hour and covers about 80 cocktails, soju and makgeolli included. Ordering by pointing at the menu works fine.

Step 3: Raise your glass and let the night go where it goes

When the first drink arrives and you catch the eye of the person beside you, lift your glass a little. Japanese guests who love Korea and Korean guests who love Japan share this counter, so 'geonbae' and 'kanpai' both land. If a conversation starts, follow it; if not, drinking quietly on your own is perfectly fine. The karaoke machine has Korean and Japanese songs, and humming along when someone else sings is an easy way to join in.

FAQ

Do I need to order in Korean or Japanese?: No. Pointing at the menu works, and it is a good place to test the one Korean or Japanese phrase you know.
What if I have never tried Korean liquor?: Start with somaek, which is light and easy, or stick with Japanese whisky, shochu or a sour.
Do I have to sing?: No. Listening is fine. Put a song in only when you feel like it.

Bar information

Name: Korean Bar HEAVEN TOKYO
Address: GEST34 Bldg. 1F #103, 2-45-16 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (3 min walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station)
Opening: October 23, 2026
Hours: daily 21:00-05:00
Seats: 8 counter seats, karaoke available
All-you-can-drink: 2,500 yen per hour (about 80 cocktails)
Operated by Nagaza Inc., the owners of Korean bars HEAVEN, MOON and SARANG in Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Osaka

Google Maps · Our Osaka bars HEAVEN, MOON and SARANG (same owners)