TOKYO — Renowned bartender Hideyuki Saito has launched a graffiti-themed cocktail menu at the Tokyo Edition’s Gold Bar, weaving together his global experiences, artistic inspiration, and mixology expertise into a striking tribute to urban street culture.
Saito, currently serving as the senior director of bars for the Tokyo Edition hotels in Ginza and Toranomon, crafted the new menu after a decade-long career abroad. Having begun his bartending journey in Tokyo, Saito left Japan in 2010 to refine his craft in London, New York, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. His international recognition was solidified in 2017 when he reached the finals of the prestigious Bacardi Legacy global cocktail competition in Berlin.
In 2020, Saito returned to Tokyo to help launch and oversee the Edition’s acclaimed bar programs. He now manages both the Gold Bar at Tokyo Edition Toranomon—ranked 76th on Asia’s 50 Best Bars extended list for 2024—and the newly opened Lobby Bar at Tokyo Edition Ginza.
Opened in March 2024, the Ginza location spans 14 floors, featuring lush vertical gardens and a modernist metal facade. The Lobby Bar doubles as a café by day and a stylish cocktail lounge by night, with an opulent golden bar at its center surrounded by ivory-hued armchairs.
In contrast, the Gold Bar in Toranomon embraces a more intimate, dramatic atmosphere. Hidden behind a curtained, black-glass exterior, the venue boasts a monochrome design accented with traditional Japanese elements such as yakisugi—a wood-charring technique—and black Spanish marble. The centerpiece is a gleaming bar framed by twin marble structures and a fireplace adorned with a gold-leaf artwork by Los Angeles-based artist Guerin Swing.
The centerpiece of Saito’s latest creative endeavor is the “Graffiti” cocktail menu, featuring 12 drinks inspired by six cities around the world—two cocktails per location. Each concoction captures the essence of a place through flavor and is visually complemented by original artwork from Tokyo-based tattoo artist Haruka Sasaki, known for her bold and energetic style.
“The idea came from my travels and the incredible street art I encountered,” Saito said. “In cities like Barcelona, graffiti isn’t just vandalism—it’s a form of expression. It made me wonder: what if the energy of a city could be translated into a cocktail, just like it can be into art?”
Among the menu highlights is the Oku-Shibu 75, a vibrant reinterpretation of the French 75. It blends orange wine, gin, and verjus with yuzu and a hint of dried fruit chocolate, paying homage to the natural wine culture in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. Another standout, the Adoninas Sour, nods to Picasso’s Barcelona era and Spain’s tapas traditions. It combines sherry, vermouth, mango, and dark rum, served with Iberian ham and apricots.
Through these creations, Saito seeks to evoke each city’s character while offering guests a novel, sensory journey. “It’s not just about recreating a place,” he said. “It’s about painting it—through taste.”
With over 160 guests daily, live DJ sets, and a meticulously curated drink program, Gold Bar has become a destination in Tokyo’s upscale bar scene. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and American hotelier Ian Schrager, the space combines aesthetic sophistication with innovative mixology.
“What sets Gold Bar apart is this blend of global vision, local craftsmanship, and immersive storytelling,” Saito said. “Every cocktail is a conversation—a way to bring the world to life, one sip at a time.”
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