Craft Beer Market Kichijoji Pennylane

Craft Beer Market's Kichijoji branch sits on the ground floor of a small building on Pennylane, the narrow local street a few minutes north of the station, at 1-11-2 Kichijoji Honcho. Kegs in the window and chalkboard menus make this one of the chain's more welcoming shopfronts, in the busy heart of a neighbourhood loved for its independent shops, music venues and Inokashira Park.

Like the rest of the Craft Beer Market group, the focus is a rotating list of craft beer on draught at simple, set prices. Order a three-beer flight for ¥1,100 to explore the list; glasses are ¥690, plus a ¥300 table charge. The current tap list is posted on the branch page of the Craft Beer Market website.

What sets this branch apart is the food. The shop bills itself as craft beer with gyoza and spice dishes: handmade dumplings and chilli-forward plates are arguably the most beer-friendly food in the CBM network, and some dishes from the group's CBM Tokyo Torch branch also appear on the menu. Spicy food and hoppy pale ales or crisp lagers are a natural pairing.

It's a three-minute walk from North Exit 2 of JR Kichijoji Station. On weekdays it opens for lunch from noon to 2pm and again for dinner from 5pm to 11pm, and at weekends and on public holidays it runs straight through from 11am to 11pm, with last food orders at 10pm and last drinks at 10.30pm. Tables can be reserved online through Tabelog, which is sensible on Friday and Saturday evenings. The chain's Atre Kichijoji branch inside the station mall is a short walk away if this one is full.