February 3rd, 2006 | The lowdown by Peter Sidell

Chilling Reggae Style at Samadhi.

The area around Yokohama station's west exit is pretty in-yer-face. It's swarmingly crowded, lit up with neon in Close Encounters style, and every other step you're treated to the stomping hardcore and cacacaclatter from the pachinko parlours. It can be fun, but it's nice to know there's somewhere close by to take refuge, that somewhere being Samadhi.

In a basement, on a sidestreet, near the bridge by Bic Camera, it's as mellow as the location is berserk. It's fitted out all in wood with lots of ethnic throws and cushions and decorations, and the subdued lighting and downtempo reggae tunes make for a calming atmosphere. You can choose to sit at a big group table in the centre, at your own table around the side, away from everyone else in your own little cubby-hole or, for a bit extra on your table charge, on a little mezzanine overlooking the whole place. For its location, it's pretty reasonably priced - a draught beer is Y550, Budweiser Y650, food mains start at around Y700 - and there's a decent range of drinks. (I like the Pisang, sweet green banana liqueur, an ideal chaser or nightcap.) And the menu has English, which is always a help.

So, if you want somewhere to calm down amid the chaos, to unwind after a session on the beer or the karaoke, then really, you should go to Samadhi. Go down the stairs, forget where you've come from, relax, and enjoy.