With wasabi at the core and Japanese spices in harmony, these cocktails offer an entirely new flavor experience
Celebrated for its boldly distinctive design, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants operates in major cities around the globe. In Tokyo, Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo opened in October 2020 as a luxury lifestyle hotel. Inspired by New York’s art scene, it brings together installations, pop-up stores, and locally loved restaurants into a collection of experiences worth sharing. Since opening, it has continued to generate buzz, remaining a constant talking point.
The cocktails crafted by the hotel’s bartenders are another highlight guests can’t help but talk about. Drawing on independent research to anticipate food and cocktail trends for 2026, the team builds its menu around a garden-to-glass philosophy, showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients sourced locally. Starting this May, three original cocktails have been introduced, featuring distinctly Japanese elements such as Tokyo-grown wasabi, sansho pepper, and sake lees.
The rooftop bar 86 and terrace on the hotel’s top floor
At 86 (Eighty Six), the hotel’s rooftop bar on the top floor, guests can experience these truly one-of-a-kind cocktails. Centered on the idea of Tokyo’s terroir, the drinks are crafted with botanical elements, bringing together the character of local ingredients with Kimpton’s distinctive sense of playful creativity.
1st image: Tokyo Wasabi Garden
2nd image: Citrus Whisper
3rd image: Kasumi Negroni
The most striking of the trio is Tokyo Wasabi Garden, served in a bamboo vessel in place of a traditional glass. With Tokyo-grown wasabi at its core, fresh notes of mint, shiso, and citrus bring a cooling brightness to the light, effervescent soda base. It’s a drink that evokes the feeling of wandering through a Japanese herb garden.
Next is Citrus Whisper, which pairs Bear’s Book Gin with Tokyo-grown sansho pepper, harmonized with vermouth, Cointreau, lemon, and sakura bitters. The citrus freshness and the delicate tingle of sansho blend seamlessly, leaving a lingering ароматic finish.
Finally, Kasumi Negroni brings together Kyoto-born craft gin Ki no Bi with Tokyo sake lees, layered with rice shochu, cacao liqueur, yuzu, and jasmine tea. While rooted in the classic Negroni style, Japanese ingredients lend it a distinct character, elevating it into a deeply aromatic cocktail.
As fall comes to an end, let these avant-garde cocktails become part of your next stay, set against the early summer breeze.
Photos courtesy of Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo
Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo
Address: 3-4-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-6258-1111
Website: https://www.kimptonshinjuku.com/
