By Clay Bohle
After a day of questing through Tokyo, there’s no better place for a tired otaku to get a little R&R than Luida’s Bar. A ‘Dragon Quest’ themed tavern in Roppongi, the establishment offers real-world delicacies and “potions” modeled after in-game items. You can chow down a turkey leg branded with the Dragon Quest logo, a slime monster meat bun, or a curry with a delicious, detached hand in it. All the while, theme music from the game plays through the tavern’s speakers.
The drink menu looks like the brainchild of Willy Wonka, with several cocktails containing rock candy, icing, and sweet syrups. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll be sure to find something that strikes your fancy. Every item can be made with or without alcohol, so if you aren’t 20 yet or don’t drink, you can still enjoy everything on the menu. I ordered an electric blue cocktail made with gin, apple schnapps, blue raspberry syrup and tonic. It may have been repulsively sweet, but according to the menu, it restored 30 MP!
Having just celebrated its third anniversary, the popular otaku hotspot looks to become a mainstay on the Roppongi strip. Thankfully though, it seems the long wait times have disappeared. We went on a Sunday afternoon, and we were able to walk right in and get a table. The establishment is small, so it’s standing room only (we stood around an oak barrel), and the 90 minute time limit still applies to accommodate the bar’s popularity. If you are a fan of the Dragon Quest franchise, or just in the mood for something cool to do in Tokyo, you should definitely check it out.
Luida’s bar is easy to find. Just head to the main Roppongi strip and walk towards Tokyo Tower, and you’ll come across it on the righthand side of the road. There are oak barrels sitting out front, so you can’t miss it.
And the best part about the location? It’s only a block or two away from the HUB, the popular pub chain frequented by gaijin all over Japan. So if your 90 minutes are up and you want to continue the party, just head down the street for the best Happy Hour specials in Tokyo. Kanpai!
Visit the Luida’s Bar website to peruse the menu or find the address: http://www.paselabo.tv/luidas_bar/index.html
Photos courtesy of Moto.
