Joao

Update October 2011 – Joao has now closed, but Taisho will be opening a new bar up on Gokomachi, just south of Marutamachi in November 2011.

Joao is a very nice (and spacious!) bar just south of Oike Dori on Higashinotoin. The owner “Taisho” has an extensive and eclectic record collection and if he isn’t too busy he will happily introduce you to some of his favorites: Leon Russell, Ry Cooder, Joe Cocker, Arethra Franklin and more… At lunchtime you can get a “bento” lunch box here for ￥５００ and ￥４００ meals are available in the evenings too.
Open from 18:30 – 23:00 in the evenings (closed on Sundays); come in and get a beer for ￥５００, listen to some tunes and get to know the locals. Here are some pictures:

Now doesn’t that look like a friendly atmosphere? Higashinotoin is one street east of Karasuma Dori and Joao is just a little ways south of Oike Dori. Tel: 075 223 5881
Here is a map.

Related: Our friend Nana on why she likes Joao: Musical Education.