Beer and burgers; burgers with beer. Either way, that¡¯s a killer combination, especially when the bar in question features 12 taps of premium microbrews. Factor in a funky little building at the heart of one of Tokyo¡¯s classic carousing districts, and you know already the new Mikkeller Kanda is going to be great.

It¡¯s been three years since the hugely popular Mikkeller flagship bar opened on Shibuya¡¯s love hotel hill, adding its range of distinctive brews to Tokyo¡¯s burgeoning craft beer scene. Now it has a new sister operation on the other side of the city that¡¯s smaller in scale but boasts plenty of character of its own.

Just spitting distance from Kanda Station, it¡¯s a compact, three-story structure set back in a quiet enclave that¡¯s isolated from the brash surrounding nightlife action. Hamilton Shields, partner in Japan, says he hadn¡¯t been actively looking to open a second bar, but once he saw the location he knew he had to go for it.