Part of Tokyo's old downtown area, come here for izakaya, grilled mutton, fresh sushi, seafood ramen, cocktails and more.

Located just one station away from hipster epicentre Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, known as Tokyo’s coffee central and home of the capital’s first Blue Bottle location, Monzen-Nakacho is considerably more down to earth than its lofty neighbour. An integral part of the capital’s ‘shitamachi’ (old downtown), it retains an Edo-era (1603-1868) atmosphere thanks to the storied Tomioka Hachiman Shrine and Fukagawa Fudoson Temple and the plethora of eateries and shops that have been around since the olden days. Monzen-Nakacho (locals call it ‘Mon-Naka’) really comes into its own when night falls and the countless izakayas and small restaurants open, filling the air with tipsy chatter and smoke from charcoal grills. This is heaven for the budget-conscious drinker – if you know where to head, that is.