LAMP BAR, Nara - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number

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4.5

50 reviews

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38

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6

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Poor

3

Terrible

3

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AK95

Dubai192 contributions

Nice hidden quiet bar

Apr 2024 • friends

Really cool and hidden away bar in Nara. We came here on our way back to the station and would highly recommend to pop in for a drink. It has an old jazz style to it. It’s a small dark bar. They don’t have a drinks menu so you need to ask them what drinks they have. If you’re looking for a cocktail you tell them what you like and they will come up with something. I got a strawberry gin cocktail and it was divine. You’re looking at 12-15 dollars for a cocktail. I’m sure it’s also in Asias top 50 bars.

Written 11 April 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David Arredondo

Lorain306 contributions

You Must Try Lamp Bar!

Oct 2023 • couples

On our last night in Nara we did a search of bars nearby and discovered the Lamp Bar. My wife ordered an Old Fashioned and I a Dirty Gin Martini. The Old Fashioned was good as was the martini but it wasn’t very dirty. On the second round she stuck with the old fashioned while I had a Negroni which was excellent! Unlike the USA, cocktails in Japan are much smaller. The service was excellent. This is a class joint with the trappings of a 1930’s bar. The guys were dressed in suits and ties and gave good service. Location was a little difficult to find despite Apple or Google maps. Dress up as if you’re celebrating something, come here and enjoy your favorite cocktail. Black Manhattan anyone?

Written 10 October 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

llang629

17 contributions

Classic Cocktails

Jul 2024 • family

A little pricey, but perfectly concocted cocktails delivered in a classic fancy environment. Straight-up manhattan was perfectly executed, and the Japan-style negroni was a fine twist on another classic.

Written 15 July 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lady_pesto

Province of Genoa470 contributions

Avoid being made fun of and mocked by these “gentlemen”

Dec 2024 • friends

I wouldn't send even my worst enemy there. As soon as you enter you can sense the mockery of the waitress who mocks customers who are not Asian points out whispering in decidedly indecent English that you have to pay 550 yen each to sit. We sit back ignoring the warnings that would have suggested anyone leave. There is no list, she does not know how to propose cocktails, but it is you customer who must remember what you like to drink or what cocktails exist. Exhausted we choose cocktails that have nothing alcoholic. In addition to the waitress behind the counter there are two gentlemen who talk and interact with everyone who has Asian somatic traits. To say there is racism is little. Cocktails, if we want to call them that, are made by the waitress. Let's drink and go. To ask for the bill, at which point she is the one who can't hear unless we speak loudly, while when we entered she whispered and mocked us because we couldn't hear... Avoid being fooled by these “gentlemen”. Spend your money elsewhere. Never happened in Japan to be treated so badly, yet we toured Japan several times and for several years.

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Written 3 December 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lili L

Paris6 contributions

Good cocktails but poor service, borderline contemptuous

May 2024 • friends

Good cocktails, but poor service, bordering on unpleasant. There's no menu, that's why we come, we're supposed to say what we like and have a creation. We are greeted by a waitress who does not speak English. She ended up going to look for her colleague, an ordinary colleague, not "the" bartender of the place who had signaled to her to put us at a table rather than at the bar, even though there were two places... We are without probably too old? We are 50 years old, we present well and we were dressed properly, although with a small backpack each. So the colleague speaks to us briefly without giving very good advice. Our cocktails are good, not incredible either, expensive for here (c. 4500 yen for two cocktails and two cover charge of 550 Y). No one came to ask us if we wanted a second glass, so we left after more than 15 minutes in front of our empty glasses. Bottom line: if the bartender likes you, and you're sitting at the bar, it's nice. Otherwise, it's just snobbish!

Written 11 May 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jamie C

8 contributions

Cover charge to enter at 6pm…

Aug 2024 • couples

Would you pay a cover charge to enter an empty bar in Nara at 6pm? I’m happy to pay for over priced drinks in a nice venue, but really???

Written 24 August 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melinda G

Osaka507 contributions

Beautiful bar with delicious cocktails

Oct 2021 • couples

Our friends recommended that we go to this bar if we are in Nara. We’re so glad that we finally made it! We had one cocktail with pear in it and another with muscat grapes with a hint of absinthe. Both were very delicious.

Written 30 October 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Louie Boracay

Boracay235 contributions

Unforgettable experience in Nara Japan

Oct 2020 • solo

This bar blows my mind it’s beyond expectation truly a world class and an experience. It offer excellent drink there is no menu the bartender will just ask you what do you want to drink and deserve some of the mind blowing drinks I ever had truly a remarkable experience that I will never forget thank you

Written 1 September 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard G

Nara5 contributions

An iconic treasure....

Mar 2020 • none

The Lamp Bar is elegant and world-class. The owner and bartender epitomizes fine service and the drinks are exquisite. One of the finest establishments in Nara.

Written 18 March 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NICHOLAS T

Dubai10904 contributions

No room at the inn

Feb 2020 • couples

Fair enough, the small Lamp Bar was full when we tried to head in for a drink but to be laughed at by the girl serving was not great. No need for that!

Written 14 February 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Effie

9 contributions

Very nice atmosphere!

Oct 2019 • none

Wonderful service, excellent for couples and small groups. Nara doesn't offer many choices for nightlife, Lamp bar is though one of the best options.

Written 18 November 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stacey O

10 contributions

Way way way too expensive and threw in a cover charge after we had drinks in front of us

Nov 2019 • none

Honestly, I probably would have had a better experience if we had been primed for what to expect but we felt a little blindsided. Firstly, on Google, this place as listed as "$$" level expensive. My bad, should have looked on TripAdvisor where it is VERY RIGHTFULLY listed as "$$$$". We walked in, our coats were taken, we were seated and served nuts and then the bartender asked us what we wanted. We asked if we could see a menu and he looked at us a little blankly and said no, just let him know what you want and he'll bring it. I would have really liked to check out the prices but ordered a glass of house red wine figuring that couldn't be TOO much. When he brought it over he added "Oh and there's a 500 yen cover charge, I assume that's fine?" By that point our drinks were already in front of us and it was difficult to say no though that's probably what I would have done had he notified us when we entered. For one glass of house red ( that was about half the size of a glass I would typically expect) and a single shot of their cheapest whiskey on the rocks we paid 3850 yen, roughly $40 USD/ $50 CAD. We definitely felt a little cheated. From reading reviews, I understand that this is a very premium cocktail bar and we may have been better off ordering cocktails-- but we knew that would have meant paying even more than we did. I think if you're rich and money is no object you would find this place nice--the service is very good and the staff generally nice and it's certainly a cool vibe. If you're on any kind of a budget at all DEFINITELY skip it. You'll pay three times what you rightfully should for any drink--in my opinion even a premium cocktail should not cost 2000/3000 yen (which is what the people next to us were paying), and I did not enjoy going somewhere that didn't have a menu or prices you could review and being told at the last minute about the very steep cover charge. Wouldn't recommend unless money is literally no object for you.

Written 15 November 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

S4nnyBunny

2029 contributions

The type of bar Hemingway would hangout...

Oct 2019 • family

One of the coolest bars I’ve been in the world. I would say this is a must visit when in Nara, along with of course Nara Park and the Mochi guy. Everything here is done with so much attention to detail, from the decor, the staff, presentation, music and of course the drinks. Just tell the waiter what you like and they’ll take care of the rest. Spent an easy two hours here after a long day at the park. Unforgettable experience.

Written 17 October 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sally F

31 contributions

Proper cocktail bar

May 2019 • couples

We stumbled across this cocktail bar and kept going back. The service was fabulous, cocktails were top class and atmosphere was a throw back to 1950,s. The style and ambiance of the place took you to another time and the world class cocktails were prepared by experts in the field. Highly recommended,

Written 5 May 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David H

4 contributions

Great place, award winning bartender, and it shows

Apr 2019 • couples

If you love craft cocktails, this is the place. Old world ambi ambiance, internationally acclaimed bartender.

Written 27 April 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Lamp Bar

LAMP BAR, Nara - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor