The opening of the third venture from the Toko team, now neighbouring the bustling sister restaurant on Crown St, is the highly anticipated for devotees of the Japanese food mecca.

For those fed up with waiting in line next door, Tokonoma shochu bar + lounge, the newest addition to Crown street’s gastro-strip  offers an extensive menu and cocktail list headed by bar manager Paul Birtwistle, featuring shochu-based cocktails (a Japanese drink made from natural materials as sweet potato and buckwheat).

The Matt Darwon designed lounge bar is elegant, but laidback, with the feel of a contemporary New York bar distilled with the natural minimalism of its cuisine’s heritage.

Artist Reni Kung draws the eye to the impressive 11 metre long light made of 500,000 lentils set in resin, which creates a celestial ambiance for diners enjoying the degustation menu from the leather upholstered booths to one side of the room.

Matt Darwon – the architect behind Jimmy Liks and Toko – creates a natural feel with a sweeping wooden wave created by Beclau, which arches its way over the ceiling.

The timber specialists also employed their skilled craftmanship to create the elegant timber tables and slender bar, all of which contribute to the sumputuous setting.

Brown leather seating stretching and curving fluidly at the front and back make the perfect setting for a pre-dinner aperitif or a late night cocktail accompanied by a plate of edamame.

Tokonoma shochu bar + lounge
toko.com.au