memento mori

Toranomon, Minato · Tokyo · Steep Index 8.3/10

A cacao-dedicated cocktail bar on the third floor of Toranomon Hills Business Tower where every drink on the menu traces back to the bean in a different and convincing way.

The Steep Index

The drink program is the reason to come: a cacao-forward cocktail menu that uses the fruit in ways most bars would not think to attempt, from the Cacao Pulp through to the dessert course. Atmosphere scores well for a room inside a business tower — the finish is considered and the interior takes itself seriously without feeling corporate. Staying power follows because the food and dessert menu gives the visit a structure that extends naturally beyond one round. Solo is honest: the concept is singular enough that going alone is not a loss, but the room suits pairs and small groups slightly better. Value reflects the Toranomon postcode and the ambition behind the concept.

• Coffee / Drink Quality: 9.0/10
• Atmosphere: 8.9/10
• Solo-Friendliness: 7.8/10
• Value: 7.1/10
• Staying Power: 8.5/10
• Overall: 8.3/10

Perfect for: impressing someone, first date, slow evening

The Space

A considered room on the third floor of Toranomon Hills Business Tower, finished with the kind of detail that signals the concept is taken seriously before a drink has been poured.

The Pour

The cocktail menu is built entirely around cacao, which reads like a gimmick until you taste the Cacao Pulp and understand that the concept has real depth. The food and dessert items are worth ordering and pair naturally with what is in the glass — the kitchen and the bar are clearly talking to each other.

Every drink on the menu starts with the bean and ends somewhere you did not expect. The Cacao Pulp alone is worth the trip to Toranomon.

The Vibe

The crowd is Toranomon: polished, deliberate, and happy to be somewhere that justifies the bill. The staff understand the program and will talk you through it without pressure, which is exactly the right call for a menu this specific.

The Verdict

memento mori is a niche within a niche and it pulls it off. If cacao cocktails sound like your kind of evening, there is nowhere in Tokyo doing it better.

Practical information

• Address: 1 Chome-17-1 Toranomon Hills Business Tower 3F, Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-6403
• Price: ¥¥¥
• Type: concept bar

Website

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