As introduced in my column today (and previewed earlier this week here), Wanoba has been one of my favourite discoveries of the past couple of months. This stylish little dining bar in Ebisu (to quote myself) "marries contemporary Japanese design with tasty affordable eats and drinks — all with a welcoming easy-going ambiance."
Here are a few more pics...
When I dropped in right after it first opened, just before Christmas, it was obvious they were still getting up to speed (both food and service). But I was immediately impressed by the craftsmanship that has gone into creating the interior.
The walls painted dramatic black/white/vermillion...
...the counter with its textured surface of lacquered canvas...
...the curiously bulbous, amorphous handmade lampshades...
[they're made of washi, without any of the usual bamboo framework, so each is a different shape — and impossible to photograph with any success.]
...and a gorgeous wall decoration of washi paper burnished the color of terracotta.
Besides the counter and a few tables, there is a cozy private "salon" at the back...
But the best seats, if you're with a small group (up to four), are in the intimate cha-shitsu (tea ceremony-style) loft area tucked under the ceiling and accessed by a steep flight of stairs.
Settle in here with a bottle of wine (10 kinds; four by the glass), some sake (half a dozen) or shochu (eight on the list), and you can chill in style till well past midnight.
