Andaz Tavern

The flagship restaurant of the Andaz Tokyo hotel has everything you’d expect of an international luxury brand. It’s dressed to impress, has tinkling live piano music, aerial views across Tokyo, and an international menu of luxury ingredients with prices to match. Yet it’s far more than just another expense account restaurant. On our two visits – breakfast and dinner – we were impressed by the number of families dining together, and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

The kitchen is also clearly running in top gear. A salad of artichoke hearts was accompanied by creamy burrata and avocado, simply dressed with Austrian pumpkin seed oil; Miyazaki beef carpaccio was smothered in slivers of black truffle. Sea urchin was held in a soup bowl by a dollop of parsnip cream that dissolved into a lobster bisque poured over it. Both fish and meat cookery were impeccable, for example in a perfectly rare beef sirloin that was crusted with pepper and served with a red and golden beetroot. The jury’s still out on the caramelised avocado set in a tumbler of bitter chocolate mousse. But for a special occasion where money’s no object, Andaz might fit the bill.

Located adjacent to the Andaz hotel’s entrance on the 51st floor of Toranomon Hills.