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Luxury hotels and fine dining in Tokyo

‘Luxury hotels and fine dining in Tokyo’ is a snapshot of our experience in the exciting capital city of Japan, a destination that conjures up images of bustling streets, towering skyscrapers and modern, urban and futuristic design; add to this the opportunity to dine at world class restaurants and stay at award-winning hotels, then we knew we were in for a treat when we booked our flights to Tokyo. Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills Where better to start than at Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, a stylish and modern design led hotel which offers a ‘luxury boutique’ experience like no other; Andaz is the Hindi word meaning ‘personal style’ and trust us when we say that this hotel oozes personal style everywhere you look. Expect wooden sculptures, bespoke artwork and oversized bonsai trees throughout and an open plan lobby on the 51st floor where check in is a relaxed and informal affair during which you can sit down, enjoy a drink and soak up your surroundings. The spacious rooms and suites are beautifully appointed as you would imagine from this award winning, boutique brand; expect the finest of linens and contemporary furnishings alongside Japanese bathroom amenities that change with the season and a complimentary minibar including snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. For the ultimate in indulgence check in to one of the Andaz Sky Suites for 210 square metres of luxurious city living and stunning views across Tokyo. The Tavern – Grill & Lounge Whilst staying at Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills we dined at The Tavern which presented us with the opportunity to experience a Shojin Ryori meal in a luxury setting; this style of cuisine is the traditional dining style of Buddhist monks in Japan that dates back to the 13th century and is perfectly suitable for vegans or vegetarians. We enjoyed a selection of seasonal ingredients, delicate flavours and even a little bit of an education during our meal and this was all accompanied by nocturnal Tokyo skyline views to die for. Rich umami filled broth, light crispy tempura, sweet sesame paste, salty and sour pickles, tofu like we’ve never had it before, eggplant that was so succulent and delicious that it’s impossible not to love, all combined to leave us thoroughly impressed. For those of you wishing to enjoy a Shojin Ryori meal at The Tavern please allow them at least 2 days notice as it is not on the standard menu; but trust us when we say that the service, the food and the mesmerising views made it a memorable experience that you’re sure to enjoy! ANA InterContinental Tokyo ANA InterContinental Tokyo resides in the heart of the city offering superb transport links via the adjacent Ginza Line Subway Station. With 844 guest rooms and suites to select from there really is something for everyone, business and leisure travellers alike. The staff team manage to deliver a personal and attentive service despite the size, meaning you can be sure to feel at home as soon as you check in to ANA InterContinental Tokyo. Those guests choosing a Club InterContinental room are invited to check in from the 35th floor lounge where they can also enjoy breakfast, afteroon tea and evening cocktails whilst experiencing the peerless views and refined ambiance. Pierre Gagnaire Tokyo Pierre Gagnaire Tokyo presents the chance for a sophisticated foray into the world of French fine dining, as the only Tokyo restaurant of two Michelin starred chef Pierre Gagnaire it truly is a unique opportunity in this city known for its culinary prowess. We made a reservation and proceeded to dine with views of the iconic Tokyo Tower, whilst sipping champagne and enjoyed beautifully presented food, which paired local flavours and ingredients with the techniques and panache of traditional French cuisine. We marvelled at flavour combinations that were thought provoking like porcini mushrooms, spinach and coffee with a dusting of intense dried cep powder to complete the dish. Equally enjoyable and the talk of our table was the braised endive with orange caramel sauce, deep caramel flavours lifted with tart orange juice, layers of truffle and toasted hazelnut flavour delivered a real culinary masterpiece. As you would imagine the service and ambiance were of the highest standard, anything less would not do justice to the creativity and craftsmanship that were at work in the kitchen ensuring that our meal was nothing short of fantastic. The Peninsula Tokyo The Peninsula Tokyo has no shortage of accolades including Best Hotel in Tokyo for the second consecutive year in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and is widely regarded as one of the finest hotels in the world. That legendary and unique Peninsula service is ever present and you can be sure to marvel at the way the opulent marble floors blend harmoniously with the Japanese artwork that adorns the walls; from the moment you enter the extravagant and dazzling lobby you are in for a treat. Make no mistake, if you choose to stay at The Peninsula Tokyo you really are selecting to reside at one the most desirable addresses in town. Hei Fung Terrace Just when you thought it was not possible to elevate the levels of service we had already enjoyed, we arrived at Hei Fung Terrace, the Cantonese restaurant at The Penninsula Tokyo. From the moment we walked through the door until the time came for us to say our goodbyes we felt part of an exclusive and intimate family, the staff were outstanding and guided us through our meal with personalised sophistication. We enjoyed an array of Cantonese creations including a spicy and sizzling Eggplant Hotpot that filled our noses with its delicious aroma, flavour packed and utterly delicious Kung Po Tofu and Maipo Tofu were just some of the dishes that graced our dining table. Also worth a mention were the delectable, mushroom filled steamed dumplings, soft and doughy, slightly chewy, melt in the mouth dumpling skin with rich mushroom flavours inside meant we were in foodie heaven as the flavours and textures and aromas continued to delight. Hei Fung Terrace is perfect for vegan foodies as there was a vegan menu available upon request offering a selection of Sichuan and Cantonese plant based options, a simple yet ultimate delight that is often overlooked, even by the finest of restaurants. Tokyo really is a culinary hotbed with every cuisine and taste catered for by the most talented of chefs using some of the finest ingredients on the planet; combine that with hotels that deliver the best of service whilst offering amenities and rooms that are luxuriously appointed means that Luxury Hotels and Fine Dining in Tokyo is the real deal on every level and we simply can’t wait to return! Paul Eyers is Founder of Vegan Food Quest. Vegan Food Quest have become luxury vegan travel specialists as they continue to find, eat and write about the best vegan food in the world. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Paul Eyers

Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Food Quest who write about luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia with a focus on sustainable travel, eco travel and vegan travel. Currently based in Malaysia, Paul also writes about sporting events and some of the finest golf courses throughout the region.

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16 Comments

  1. At the Andaz does the hotel begin on the 51st Floor? From there do take an elevator to ascend even higher to your room or suite? What number is the top floor?

    I don’t get the “over-sized Bonsai trees”. I though the whole point of Bonsai trees was that they were small?

    I like the focus of the focus on “Andaz” – personal style.

    1. Hello Ed,
      Thank you for you comments.

      Andaz Toranomon Hills occupies the top 6 floors of the buidling with guest rooms and suites on floors 47-50. So in fact, after checking in on floor 51 you take the elevator down to your room…

      Bonsai trees are usually very small you are correct (often just a couple of inches in height) but the ‘over-sized’ bonsai trees in the lounge of the hotel are are striking due to their size as they are nearer 1m in height!

      The focus on personal style is key to the Andaz brand, we loved the way they deliver this at each of their properties that we’ve visited.

      Regards
      Paul

  2. Awesome images of the food!

    These places seem to be taking food to another level.

    We’ve still got a lot to learn about just how good vegan food could be.

    1. Thanks Leo for your comment and your compliments of the food images, we can assure you that the food tasted just as good as it looks in the pictures!

      Very quickly people are realising that they don’t ‘miss out’ by eating vegan food but in fact it is often even better…

  3. I’m a great fan of the InterContinental Club rooms. They really offer superb value. If you are on business or in a rush you can nip into the Club Lounge and grab a quick breakfast. If you’ve got a little more time you can enjoy a more leisurely breakfast in the main restaurant.

    Throughout the day there are hot drinks and coffee available, sometimes there’s a grand afternoon tea on offer too. Then the Happy Hour is an amazing experience. The brochures say canopes but they usually cover starter, main and desert with a cheese board to follow. Usually the canopes are regional specialities with some vegan options too.

    1. I think most of the top hotel chains have now mastered the Club concept. I’ve certainly been impressed with Shangri-La. Again their chefs like to offer some local dishes as well as international mini dishes.

      Some hotels wrap-up business services and laundry into the package as well.

      Nowadays I look at the Club rooms before anything else. They are usually good value.

    2. Thank you Steve and Pete for your input regarding hotel lounges. We would agree that the Club InterContinental lounges are often very good and provide not only a space to relax (other than your room) but the quick breakfast option in the lounge is often far more appealing than the main restaurant.

      We always look to stay in a hotel with a lounge wheverer possible and we are also fans of Club Horizon at Shangri-La. The perfect scenario is when your hotel status includes lounge access!

  4. I wouldn’t expect anything less from these world-class Japanese brands. Everything is fine tuned to perfection up to the plating and presentation. I’ve watched a lot of Iron Chef and even under pressure their food is always well plated. The decor and scale of these hotels though are beyond what I’ve experienced before.

    1. Thanks for your comment Samuel

      Tokyo certainly has its fair share of incredible hotels and restaurants that’s for sure!

      It was our first trip and we are already planning a return…

    2. I can imagine wanting to return right away. I’ve had quite a few instances where as soon I got home I wanted to turn and book a flight back. Some places just give you bad hangovers.

    3. This happens to us all of the time! We have a list of places we just keep returning to whilst at the same time making sure to visit and experience new locations in between the return trips!

  5. I am fascinated to learn more about the Sholin Ryori meal. I had never heard of that before.

    I’m a fairly ungodly sort of chap but I find Buddhism very interesting.

    Maybe one day you could do a follow-up piece on Sholin Ryori food, the customs and where else to sample it?

    1. Thanks Gerald for your comment. We would indeed like to learn more about Shojin Ryori and plan to visit other locations including temples in Kyoto when we are back in Japan as this is meant to one of the best locations…

    2. Thanks Gerald. You can find many more posts about our previous vegan travels here on A Luxury Travel Blog and also on our personal website, Vegan Food Quest!

  6. Planning a trip to Tokyo during the winter has been easy peasy because of your post. Although Andaz Tokyo seems to be the nicest place to stay in, we’ve already booked The Peninsula since this is the more familiar one, at least for us. But I can’t wait to try the Shojin Ryori meal to truly feel the 13th-century vibe, so we’ll pay them a visit and thank you for reminding to give them two days notice.

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