Adieu Lami

A Mellower Bar in Golden Gai

One of the more mellow bars in Golden Gai, Adieu Lami is easy to miss for a lot of people. When I visited Golden Gai, most bars were either full or not accepting “non-members” and Adieu Lami was relatively empty. I think it’s because it looked plain and stereotypical for foreigners. However, Adieu Lami is charming in its own right. The bar master keeps the place calm and with a hint of class through the countertop, seating arrangement, bar decoration, lighting, and even his clothing. Though his selection of spirits was limited at the time of my visit, with only a handful of options for sake and whiskey, a choice of plum wine, and two types of beer, he seemed to know what he was doing, judging from the way he prepared ice and how he mixed drinks for other patrons. The bar master’s English was basic but good enough to ask travellers how they wanted their drinks and to explain what was available. He’s a nice enough fellow, so if your Japanese is conversational, he’s more than happy to chat. Considering mine isn’t at all conversational, I was unable to converse, but I still enjoyed unwinding in the environment over a glass of plum wine on the rocks.