Stand Bar Maru

Step into the bottle shop right outside Hatchobori Station, weave your way past shelves lined with bottles, and a calm, atmospheric standing bar reveals itself in the back. As an outpost run directly by a liquor retailer, Stand Bar Maru combines an impressive, shop-backed alcohol selection with a diverse array of small dishes served along the counter. On weekday late afternoons, a happy hour runs from 15:30 to 18:00, making it an inviting stop for an easy drink to refresh your throat after work or between errands.

Starting with dishes that arrive quickly is the customary, easygoing approach at this counter. Appetizers like garlic-laced broccoli peperoncino, tangy marinated mushrooms, and potato salad partner naturally with an opening draught beer or crisp glass of white wine. Warm meat plates are also on hand, including slow-simmered beef sinew braised in red wine, pork stewed in beer, and chicken cacciatore—dishes that call for slices of baguette to wipe up every drop of sauce.

Wines from the Shelves and Beers from Around the World

Alongside wines poured easily by the glass, the option to choose a bottle from the immense retail stock right in the shop and bring it to your spot is one of the venue's distinctive pleasures. Bottled craft brews and international labels abound as well—such as Belgium's Chimay and Hoegaarden or Yamanashi's Touchdown—letting you sample across varied brewing traditions to match your mood. On evenings when you want a heartier meal, pairings run to full-fledged dishes like peperoncino with dried mullet roe and Kujo green onions, minced beef lasagna, or seafood paella.

You might assemble an assortment of cured meats featuring Jamón Ibérico alongside select cheeses shipped straight from France, then round off the visit with a glass of sake like Dewazakura, a dram of whisky, or a scoop of grappa ice cream. Welcoming walk-ins without reservations, this reliable Hatchobori haunt lets you enjoy your preferred glass and thoughtful food at your own unhurried pace.