Double Tokyo, Nishi Azabu

In Tokyo, it is believed land can carry the curse or fortune of what has once stood there. If true, this tucked away spot in Nishi Azabu carries the legacy of 20 years of music and party legend, having once been Space Lab Yellow, then rebranded as Eleven, and as of August 2013, born again as Double Tokyo.

Under new management, this sound space hypes itself as an EDM (electronic dance music, a marginally insider term for club music) destination with a healthy mix of international and homegrown DJs. The space reached institution status years ago, and we look forward to seeing how Double measures up.

The venue is chameleon; walking down into the first level lounge area, waved lines of LED lights that can cycle through seven colors change the vibe from a hyper citrus to deep red to suit the music, mood, time, or party. The long bar leads to a generously sized VIP seating area (¥5,000 for men, ¥3,000 for women per two hours, reservations recommended). Aiming to keep this floor more social, the music is happy to stay in the background and will not get in the way of conversation.

Continuing even deeper down into the main floor, the underground vibe accelerates and the dance floor is flanked by the DJ area and a stage for live performances. The positively notorious Alpha Recording speakers hang heavily overhead.

One call-out is the introduction of a happy hour offer. Every Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. entrance is free and drinks are just ¥500. It’s a decent way to spend a Friday evening and clever way to dodge the cover charge if you had your eye on a DJ playing that night. Combine the offer with a VIP table and it can be a great spot to catch up with friends before the night really begins.

It is also worth noting that lockers and cigarette vending machines are available onsite, if needed. Have a look at Double’s calendar on its website for the schedule of upcoming events and promotions.

The Deets

Address: B1/B2, 1-10-11 Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-6434-5544

Open: 7 p.m.-5 a.m. most days; call or check website for full schedule