In a basement in Ginza, Tokyo, there is a bar that displays the height of artistry using the utterly ordinary material of 'ice'. This is Bar Centifolia, run by the world-renowned bartender Hidetoshi Ueno, whom you may have seen at least once in a YouTube or Instagram video.


The Samurai Bartender, Hidetoshi Ueno

Hidetoshi Ueno is a living legend in the cocktail world. His nickname is the 'Samurai Bartender,' a name earned because his precise and disciplined movements, which allow for no margin of error, are reminiscent of a samurai handling a sword.

His signature is undoubtedly the 'ice diamond.' The sight of him carving a large block of ice into a perfectly symmetrical diamond shape with just one ice pick and a knife is like a performance art, going beyond mere cocktail making. This piece of ice transcends its function of simply keeping a drink cold, becoming a glittering jewel within the glass.


The Bar With No Menu

There is no menu at Bar Centifolia.
Instead, Hidetoshi Ueno creates a single cocktail just for you, based on your preferences, your mood, and the freshest seasonal fruit of the day.

"What fruits do you like?", "What flavors do you prefer?"
The moment you answer his questions, you cease to be a mere customer and become a partner in this creative process. This is not about following a set recipe; it is the most personal and luxurious experience, completed through the communion between the bartender and the guest.

 

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