Tír na nÓg: Escape to a Fairytale World in the Heart of Ginza

Tír na nÓg is a medieval fantasy-themed cafe and bar in Tokyo’s Ginza district that had been on my bucket list for ages. So I was stoked to not only be able to finally tick it off my list, but have it be the last themed establishment I visited in 2022. The place completely met my expectations. The world-building was so immersive, it maybe have even blown it out of the water.

Welcome to a paradise that fairies and gods call home

In Irish mythology Tír na nÓg, which means “land of youth,” is one of the names for the Celtic Otherworld. True to its name, this bar emulates a supernatural realm of everlasting health and abundance. And the atmosphere is more than convincing. From the moment you pull open the heavy old-iron door, you are transported from the glitzy streets of Ginza to a warmly-lit enclave adorned with all the trappings of a fantasy world.

Shelves upon shelves of magic potions and fairy dust line the walls amid a sea of vintage keys hanging from the ceiling. In the center of the establishment is a dome of fairies with butterflies dangling above. The vibe is reminiscent of the medieval taverns you would see in Lord of the Rings or Zelda. If people were dressed in such garments, you could easily believe you had momentarily entered a land of fairytales.

While the dim lighting definitely works in favour of creating a mythical world, it does make filming a challenge. So the place is best enjoyed by soaking up the atmosphere with your senses.

There were a lot of Chinese and other foreign customers on the night we went. So I think this place must have been featured on 小红书 or some other social media platform that went viral. The official website is also available in English and Chinese, so it seems the operator is well aware of its international appeal.

Menu & budget

The table charge for Tír na nÓg during bar time (7pm to 4am) is 1,000 yen per person, or 500 yen during cafe time (11am to 7pm). During bar time, alcoholic themed drinks start at 1,400 yen, non-alcoholic at 1,200 yen.

The bar menu offers a range of interestingly named cocktails and mocktails, with the most expensive one, Heaven Lonely Flows, featuring white rum and a plume of fairy floss, priced at 1,700 yen. We ordered a Fairytale Mule, which comprised of vodka and home brewed ginger beer, and a Yuzu Whip mocktail, which contained ginger ale and frothed egg white. Both were delicious.

In addition to the themed drinks, there is also a wide range of standard alcoholic drinks, bottled wine, and bar snacks.

During cafe time, the establishment offers flavoured teas with free refills for 1,000 yen, as well as range of cakes. You can also order from the bar menu during this time, so going before 7pm is definitely more value for money given the table charge is halved. There is free Wi-Fi.

Getting to Tír na nÓg

Tír na nÓg is a 3-minute walk from Higashi-Ginza Station on the Toei Asakusa and Tokyo Metro Hibiya subway lines. Or a 5-minute walk from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya, Marunouchi, Ginza subway lines.

Address: 東京都中央区銀座5-9-5 チアーズ銀座 B1F
B1F Cheers Ginza Bldg, Ginza 5-9-5, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Tír na nÓg is located underground, but the entrance on street level is a heavy, iron door you can’t miss. Be aware that it slams shut extremely loudly too.

The establishment is open as a cafe from 11am to 7pm, and as a bar from 7pm to 4am. While bookings are not essential, it can get rather busy at night. When we went around 8:30pm on a Thursday night during end-of-year holidays, we were told it was full. I left my number with a staff member, who said he would call us when a table was free. We got the call around an hour later, so it wasn’t too bad. But if you are less flexible with time, then I would recommend making a booking on the official website.

If you’re looking for more interesting theme cafes, particularly in Tokyo, check out the full list of my reviews.