No Room For Squares is a fourth-floor jazz bar in Shimokitazawa, named after Hank Mobley’s 1964 Blue Note album. It opened in 2019 and keeps the speakeasy part playful: a concealed entrance, low light, cocktails, and a room built around jazz rather than bar chatter.
Weekdays are for records. The collection runs to roughly 2,000 LPs, with jazz selections carrying the room when there is no live set. Weekends bring players into the bar, so the experience moves closer to a small jazz club than a strict listening cafe.
The cocktail side is personal rather than menu-led. Guests can talk through preferences with the bartender, or keep it simple with beer, whisky, or a non-alcoholic drink. Go early for records and conversation; go later, or on weekends, when you want the room to lean harder into live jazz.