The Buildout Martiny's
Jan 28, 2026
Takuma Watanabe, Japanese-born bartender and owner of Martiny's in NYC, turned Ginza precision into a modern cocktail bar. He talks about his journey from barista to bar owner. He describes crafting a one-by-one, meditative cocktail experience, menu seasonality, design and staffing choices, and opening and expanding multiple venues.
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Buy The Ticket: Move To New York
- Takuma asked Shingo Gokan if he could come to New York and was told simply, “just buy the ticket.”
- He arrived with minimal English and started shifts at Angel's Share while studying the language intensely.
Learning Precision At Angel's Share
- At Angel's Share Takuma learned rigorous Japanese-influenced precision applied at scale.
- He trained across all roles and became a bartender after about ten months in New York.
Filling A Gap With Focused Service
- Takuma felt New York lacked focused one-by-one cocktail bars that emphasize craft and hospitality.
- He designed Martiny's to replicate Ginza-style meditative, detail-driven service in a perfect mid-size space.