Raise a glass to the ancient capital at bars in Nara Prefecture! 10 recommended picks by area, centered on Nara City

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Rump Bar is a 3-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. You can relax and enjoy drinks in spaces built around three different concepts.

One of the draws is that you can casually spend a Special time in a space that lets you feel the history of bars. People say it has a sense of weight and luxury.

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Beginning, which has won the world’s top cocktail award, serves a memorable cocktail in an egg-shaped ceramic glass.

It is made by heating peat and cinnamon, so you can really enjoy the aroma. Reviews say it is especially memorable even among cocktails.

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This place also offers a wide selection of Japanese style drinks.

The “sencha (green tea) Gimlet” is an original cocktail with a faint aroma of sencha. It is said to be a less sweet cocktail that still lets you clearly taste the alcohol.

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Nara Hotel The Bar is a classic bar lit by lamps. Located on the first floor of the main building of Nara Hotel, this elegant spot has a real sense of history.

In its rich, stately atmosphere, you can relax and enjoy your drinks at an easy pace. From the window seats, you may even spot venison.

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This bar uses ita-goori (block ice), and people say its careful attention to every detail is part of the appeal.

The "Tequila Sunrise" is made by shaving a fully frozen cocktail with a special shaved ice machine, and it still lets you clearly taste the alcohol.

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The hotel’s original cocktail, “Manyo Bijin.” It uses Nara nigorizake (cloudy sake from Nara), peach, and sakura liqueur.

It is said to have a bright aroma and soft sweetness, with a core of firm flavor. It is easy to drink, and its cute appearance is part of the appeal as well.

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Located near the shopping street on the south side of Kintetsu Nara Station, Bar Savant is a hideaway bar set in a renovated kominka (traditional Japanese house).

It has a long wooden bar counter, and a courtyard spreads out beyond the back window. Sofa seating is also available, so you can relax and enjoy an unhurried time.

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They have a wide selection of whisky and liqueurs, and the impressive counter is quite a sight.

They also offer authentic drinks, including high quality Japanese whisky such as Taketsuru and Ichiro's Malt, a craft whisky with a strong global reputation.

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They say you can enjoy classic authentic cocktails at this bar.

The "Sidecar" is a drink that is usually made by shaking, but here they deliberately finish it with a stir. People say this keeps the brandy from getting watered down and lets you enjoy its aroma more directly.

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Bar Fiddich is a bar located down a side street in the Naramachi area, on the south side of Kintetsu Nara Station in Nara City.

The interior blends the refined feel of a bar with the casual ease of a cafe. It is known as a comfortable, homey space where locals gather.

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This shop has a great selection of original cocktails.

"Mahoroba" is a cocktail made with Glenfiddich as the base, along with matcha liqueur, sudachi (Japanese citrus), and green apple syrup. It is said to represent Wakakusa-yama (Mount Wakakusa). The fresh flavor is said to be excellent.

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This place is also popular for its wide selection of cocktails made with seasonal fresh fruit.

They offer a wide range, from a hyuganatsu (summer citrus) frozen cocktail to unusual cocktails made with chestnut. They are said to be easy to drink, almost like desserts.

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Bar ‘Pippin’, an authentic bar in Nara, is located on the first floor of a building just steps from Shin-Omiya Station.

Counter and table seating are available. With stylish lighting and interior decor, plus the friendly personality of the master, it has a comfortable atmosphere.

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This bar is known for recommending drinks that match your taste perfectly when you tell them what kind of flavor profile you want.

One option is the Espresso Martini, which combines coffee with spirits. It is said to taste great, with the aroma of the coffee really standing out.

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The gin based cocktail “Hanky Panky.” It contains sweet vermouth and orange peel, making it a drink with sweetness and a touch of bitterness.

They also offer a range of other gin based cocktails, including classics like the “Martini” and “Gin Lime,” so you can enjoy many different styles even with the same gin base.

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Hana is a stylish bar tucked away on a side street off Nara Mochiidono Center-gai, not far from Nara Park.

Inside, there is counter seating, and you can also enjoy drinks outside in the open space. Reviews say the space has a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

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The shelf behind the counter is said to be lined with an impressive array of bottles. In particular, they have a wide selection of whiskey.

They also offer a broad range of whiskey, including the rare Akkeshi Joryusho (Akkeshi Distillery) single malt "Rittou" and the American bourbon "Four Roses."

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This restaurant also offers snack dishes that make you want to enjoy them with a drink.

There is a whole bone-in ham at the counter, which makes quite an impression. One item on the menu, "raclette," is said to go well with wine or beer.

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Nakada Yoshu Tei is a quietly tucked away bar in Teramachi, Nara City. Located in a residential neighborhood, it has the feel of a hidden retreat.

The master’s warm personality is part of the appeal, and some say it makes them want to come back again and again. The service is said to feel comfortable, with just the right sense of distance.

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This place is said to serve great coffee based cocktails.

The “Irish Coffee,” made with Irish whiskey and coffee, is served piping hot. The “Gin and Tonic Espresso” is said to have a slightly sweet flavor that makes it easy to drink.

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The fruit cocktails are popular for their irresistible frozen cocktails made with seasonal fruit.

Among them, the momo (peach) frozen cocktail is said to be especially good. Depending on the season, they also serve Shine Muscat grapes.

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Cotton Club is a well-known bar in Omiya, Nara. This authentic spot plays jazz and lets you enjoy a grown-up atmosphere.

The cool master is also a skilled cook, and his homemade pizza is popular too. His careful work really stands out, and he seems to be loved by the regulars.

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This place is well known in reviews for its fruit cocktails being especially good.

You can enjoy the many beautiful cocktails from the moment you see them. Each one uses plenty of fruit, and they are said to have an excellent balance of sweetness and alcohol.

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The restaurant is also well regarded for its great Homemade food menu.

They say you can enjoy a wide range of dishes, from the Today's Otsumami assortment that is perfect with drinks to filling Homemade pizza.

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Bar Charleston is on the second floor of a building a little way from Ikoma Station. It is a well-known authentic bar that represents Nara.

The interior has a calm feel with a sense of history. Centered around counter seating, the warmth of wood and soft lighting create a relaxing space.

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The "Mammy Tailor Nara ver." is a cocktail made with Scotch whisky, lemon, and ginger ale.

The restaurant's ginger ale is a carefully made house specialty, prepared from homemade ginger paste. They say the fresh ginger aroma is refreshing and the drink tastes great.

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The food menu, which pairs well with drinks as otsumami (snacks to go with alcohol), is popular. The prosciutto is said to have a great balance of saltiness, savory flavor, and melt-in-your-mouth texture, and it goes especially well with whiskey.

Reviews said the sausage in the photo is light and so tasty that you could keep eating it forever.

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THE SAILING BAR is a bar located on the fifth floor of an apartment building in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture.

A wide counter stretches across the space, where you can relax and enjoy your drinks. There is no menu, and they serve a drink chosen based on your preferences and the conversation.

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At this bar, the master, who is said to have done well in bartender competitions, will make your drinks.

The “Gin and Tonic” is made with KIKKA GIN, a craft gin from Nara. It is popular for its great balance of aroma and flavor, and is said to be a drink that captures the feel of Nara.

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Reviews say the food menu at this restaurant is surprisingly good.

The lineup includes luxurious dishes such as pasta made with truffles and beni-zuwaigani (red snow crab). They also serve just-right small plates for snacking, such as blue cheese and prosciutto.