Penguin Bar Ikebukuro
Penguin Bar is a themed cocktail bar in Ikebukuro's East Exit area where the main attraction is a glass-enclosed penguin habitat behind the bar counter. Live penguins waddle, swim, and occasionally stare at customers while a bartender mixes drinks a few feet away. The novelty factor is obvious, but the execution is surprisingly good. The cocktail menu is creative, with drinks named after penguin species and made with quality ingredients. Prices start at 800 JPY for standard drinks and reach 1,500 JPY for elaborate creations. The space seats about 30 people at tables and along the counter. A 500 JPY cover charge applies and includes a small snack. The crowd is heavily weighted toward couples and small groups taking photos, and the bar leans into this with Instagram-friendly presentation. The staff speak some English and are accustomed to tourists. Animal welfare questions are reasonable: the penguins are captive-bred and the facility is licensed and inspected.
Where to stay near Penguin Bar Ikebukuro
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
A clean, well-lit bar with actual penguins behind glass. The drinks are decent and the photo opportunities are constant. Expect a younger, date-night crowd.
Quirky, fun, and photo-heavy. Less bar and more experience.
Soft pop and jazz at low volume
Casual. Most visitors are in date-appropriate clothing.
Couples, animal lovers, anyone looking for a unique Tokyo bar experience
Cash and credit cards accepted
Price Range
Cover 500 JPY (includes snack), cocktails 800-1,500 JPY, beer 700 JPY
Cocktails ~$5-10/~4.50-9 EUR, cover ~$3.30/~3 EUR
Hours
18:00-00:00 daily, Fri-Sat until 02:00
Insider Tip
Book a counter seat facing the penguin enclosure for the best experience. Visit on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds and long waits. The penguin feeding happens twice nightly; ask the staff for the schedule.
Full Review
I went to Penguin Bar expecting a gimmick and left genuinely charmed. Yes, it's a themed bar. Yes, people come primarily for the penguins. But the drinks are better than they need to be, the space is comfortable, and the penguins are, frankly, entertaining.
The bar occupies a single room on the second floor of a building near Sunshine City. The entrance is marked with a penguin logo and leads up a staircase to a host stand where you check in. The room is arranged with the bar counter along one wall, the penguin enclosure behind it, and about a dozen tables filling the remaining space.
The penguins, a small colony of Cape penguins, occupy a glass-walled habitat with a swimming pool, rocks, and what looks like climate-controlled air. They're active and visible, swimming laps or standing on rocks watching the humans. During feeding time, a keeper enters the enclosure and the penguins queue up with a discipline that puts Tokyo commuters to shame.
I ordered the Emperor Penguin, a cocktail made with gin, blue curacao, and yuzu. It arrived in a penguin-shaped glass and tasted better than its presentation suggested: crisp, citrusy, and not too sweet. A second drink, a straightforward whisky sour, was equally well-made.
The crowd was almost entirely couples and small groups of friends, mostly in their twenties. Phones were out constantly, aimed at the penguins. The atmosphere was cheerful and light. Two drinks plus the cover came to 2,800 JPY. Not cheap, but the entertainment value was genuine.
The Neighborhood
Penguin Bar is in the East Exit area near Sunshine City, surrounded by restaurants, arcades, and entertainment venues. The anime and otaku shops of Otome Road are a short walk north.
Getting There
JR Ikebukuro Station East Exit, walk toward Sunshine City for about 5 minutes. The bar is on the second floor of a building on Sunshine 60 Street.
Address
1-17-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
Other Venues in Ikebukuro
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BAR Trash
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COLORSOL RESORT
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Rock Bar Oasis
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Mixalive TOKYO
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