Tokyo: Penguin Bar Ikebukuro (ペンギンのいるBar)

Tokyo certainly has its collection of unique bars and cafes, and you can find anything from cat cafes, dog cafes and bunny cafes to reptile, owl and hedgehog cafes in this busy metropolitan if you feel the need to pet a furry friend. If you're however more in search for some rare options when it comes to nightlife you could always pay a visit to the penguin bar in Ikebukuro.

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The penguin bar is situated in the northern area of Ikebukuro, just a 5-minute walk from the West Exit (石口). Be aware that in order to dine there you have to pay an 800 yen (+tax) entrance fee known as otoushi (お通し), and that you have to be over 18 years old to be able to enter.

And in the case you were wondering; no, penguin meat is not on the menu. Something tells me that the waiters get asked about this all the time, especially by foreign guests. (When my brother asked this question the waiter did however claim she would be up for trading one of the penguins for a new car).

Inside the bar you can find cute penguin artefacts such as penguin posters and teddy bears, and even the towels at the tables are folded to look like penguins.

They serve some light dishes, but all the food comes in izakaya style so it is both rather expensive and the dishes are small.

The penguins themselves can be found in the very back of the bar, where they have their own little area behind glass with a pool and a small penguin house. In a sense it is more like an aquarium than the "usual" pet cafe where you get to cuddle the animals; the penguins are kept out of reach of guests at all times.

If you're lucky you might be able to feed the penguins though; towards the end of our visit the staff told us that we could line up to if we wanted to give them a fish. I've added a short video below for those who might be interested:

All in all we had a good evening at the penguin bar. However, visitors should note that the bar in itself was pricy, and it is clear that this place is build up around the experience of seeing the penguins rather than serving good food (totally fine if you prefer izakaya style and don't mind the price though). The bar is open every day until 4 am, so if you find yourself stuck in Ikebukuro you might as well stop by for a unique Tokyo experience.

■ Basic Info

・Name of Cafe: Penguin Bar Ikebukuro (ペンギンのいるBar)
・Address：COSMY1 1st Floor, 2-38-2 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
・Phone: 03-5927-1310
・Opening Hours: 18:00-4:00 (Open Throughout the Year)
・Entrance Fee: 800 yen + tax
・Official Home Page：http://www.penginbar.jp/en/