Satin Doll

サテンドール

Annex Building 4F, 4-11-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, (03)3401-3080.

〒106-0032 東京都港区六本木6-1-8グリーンビル 5F

Cover charge 2,800 yen to 7,500 yen. Three sets, 19:10, 20:40 and 22:00. Sometimes two sets, 19:30 and 21:30. Sundays and holidays have no music. Most Saturdays are for other non-music events. There are days with no lives, so it’s better to check the live schedule on the website before you go.

https://www.satin-doll.jp/
https://x.com/JazzSatindoll/ https://www.facebook.com/satindoll.roppongi.jazzrestaurant/
https://www.instagram.com/tokyosatindoll/

 Roppongi Station. With your back to Almond at the Roppongi crossing, head across the street towards Aoyama up the large street (not Roppongi Dori with the overpass, but along Gaien Higashi Dori). After three blocks, turn right at the shoe store and the club is about 25 meters down on the left. There’s a small sign into a modern-ish building. Take the elevator up to the 4th floor.

Satin Doll has big, easy chairs and sink-in sofas. Even when the music is really hot, and it usually is, these comfy seats usually cause a few young office workers and the inevitable salaryman to nod off, their red-faced heads bouncing to the beat with closed eyes. Though the crowd tends towards business day jobs, the atmosphere is always comfy and hip, with serious jazz fans there every night. Though during the bubble years, this was one of Tokyo jazz's main spots, the feel of the glory days has not left.

Even though the seats are laid out like a living room, there always seems to be a spot, even when it gets crowded. The sound system is especially well done in this top-floor space. You can see well from any seat in the house, and the abstract art murals, sofas and potted plants give the room a warm, open feeling with great sound. It's great to feel physically comfortable in a club, and somehow it seems to make the music just a little better. Still, calling ahead or getting there for the first set is a good idea.

Satin Doll has good bookings, and clearly lets musicians play their best music their way. Many of the very best players in the city are booked for regular monthly gigs, usually with the best backing members. The food is served in decent-size servings and drinks are reasonably priced, considering what you can get whacked for in Roppongi if you’re not paying attention. The atmosphere always welcomes and the musicians unwind in a way that drives them to play with greater energy than at some of the slightly uptight clubs in town.