Bar Gyu

This is an intimate cozy speakeasy bar with unique delicious beautiful cocktail. The view of falling snowflakes from inside was memorable. The staff were warm and attentive. We had old fashion and apple pie drinks (really tasted like apple pie with alcohol) before dinner. It was a perfect place for drinks before or after dinner with your love ones. Please note that the line was long since the place was small.

A gem that’s absolutely worth the wait!! Waited for about 20min around 7pm, but the vibes were immaculate inside — so glad we were patient. Drinks were incredible, I had the yuzu gin and tonic and loved it. Our group had one drink each and we were there for about an hour. Appreciate that they didn’t try to rush us out, but if you want to stay longer than that then you’ll likely need to order more drinks. A MUST!

The bar does not disappoint. Lining up on front of the fridge door, the waiting room and the fantastic cocktail. However once you are in with your cocktail in hand, there is not much else in terms that’d atmosphere … (hence the overall 4 stars). Very happy to have tried it. And the drinks and service are impeccable.

Amazing cocktails in Niseko in the cutest spot. Also handcrafted beers. Gets busy and you queue outside. Evenings the upper level is open versus during the afternoon only lower level.

Very trendy but was cool and drinks were great. Prices were high but pretty normal for fancy drinks and this area. We waited 20ish min to get it but they are punctual when you get in so that was nice

Bar Gyu is super small but cute. The cocktails are very much worth the wait. My favorite was Butter Me Down, it has a nice foam top.

A very cool bar known for its iconic fridge dor entrance. Getting in can be a bit of a mission due to its popularity and limited seating, but the staff is excellent at communicating these details and tries to advise guests on the best times to arrive (they open the second floor and double the number of seats at 5:30, and the line shrinks substantially later in the night. Well made cocktails that utilize a variety of local ingredients. Interior atmosphere is very cozy and homey, the addition of a coat rack for the guests is a thoughtful detail! Be prepared for a lengthy wait in the snow if you want to get in during peak hours though so dress warmly. I can see why this place is still going strong after 27years of business. Also, the (hand drawn?) menus are very nice and appear to change annually which is neat. Plus an excellent selection of Japanese whiskeys! Be advised, due to its small size I could see getting in with a larger group being a bit challenging.

I had this bar saved in my “Want to Go” list for a very long time and was genuinely excited to finally visit. I live in Japan and have been to many speakeasy-style bars, so I had high expectations for both the atmosphere and hospitality. The bar was extremely busy, with a long wait outside. That didn’t bother me at all — it’s peak season in Niseko, so that was expected. What was disappointing was that shortly after our party of three was seated and was sipping on our first round, we were asked to move to a much smaller table so another group could be brought in. While not a major issue on its own, it felt unusual for a higher-end establishment to relocate seated guests this way. We tried to brush it off as a minor inconvenience given how popular the bar is. However, things escalated when, shortly after we paid for our second round of drinks, we were told we needed to leave so another party could take our table — even though one person in our group hadn’t finished their drink yet. At that point, it began to feel rushed and impersonal. When we went to the coat closet to bundle up (it was freezing outside), we were again hurried because the next party needed access to store their coats. There was nowhere else downstairs for us to step aside and finish getting dressed, yet we were being pressured to move quickly. After being ushered out earlier than we intended, I asked if I could quickly take a photo of the bar and the well-known window view from downstairs — something I had mentioned when we first arrived. Even then, I was followed and told to hurry, and was only allowed enough time to take one quick photo. The drinks themselves were delicious, and the service while ordering was pleasant. Unfortunately, the overall experience felt transactional and rushed rather than hospitable. That was disappointing, especially compared to the level of service I’ve experienced elsewhere in Japan. I never experienced this level of impatience even in America. Because of that, I won’t be returning. 3 stars because it could have been worse. I guess?