Shinjuku and north
One of the early pioneers in Tokyo French cooking, they predate the wave of cheap bistros; prices start in the Y4,000-Y5,000 range (not including wine).
Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-27-1. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Perfect for a dignified yet unpretentious lunch or dinner date, this tiny dining room serves the best traditional French cuisine in the neighborhood, a bit of Paris's Latin Quarter in Takadanobaba. Service is prompt and cheerful, and there is an affordable prix fixe lunch (Y1200) and dinner (Y2000) with over a dozen appetizers and main courses to choose from. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Takadanobaba 2-9-12. Open noon-1:30, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays, some Tues.
Rich, hearty traditional French cuisine in a crowded bistro-style restaurant near Shinjuku Gyoen.
Shinjuku 1-6-11. Open noon-2, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Health-oriented but not really vegetarian fare (there are lots of fish dishes) in a casual French style.
Shinjuku 3-14-1, Isetan 7F. Open 11am-10pm (LO 9). Closed Wednesdays.
The setting here is bistro-style (closely spaced tables and a counter) and very casual, but the food is a cut above the usual bistro fare, with dishes like beef cheeks and anago eel stewed in red wine; sauteed fish in grapefruit sauce; game-meat pies; and well-prepared steak frites. Three-course prix-fixe dinners are Y3980, or you can order a la carte. Wines are fairly reasonable and not exclusively French.
MOF-award-winning chef Stephane Gaborieau presents a menu of modern French dishes popular at the Michelin-starred Parisian main branch of his restaurant - Basque-style anchovy-stuffed peppers with yogurt-chorizo sorbet; ris de veau with fondant-potato salad, and much more. Six-course dinners are Y11,500, or you can order a la carte.
The first restaurant in Japan from Michelin three-star chef Michel Troisgros. Prix-fixe lunches are Y7,900-10,500; dinners are Y14,700-18,900.
Excellent French regional cooking in the Park Hyatt's "all-day" brasserie.
Nishi-Shinjuku 3-7-1-2, Park Hyatt Tokyo 41F. Open 7am-11pm daily.
Cafe Troisgros, a casual dining spot from Michelin-starred chef Michel Troisgros, turns out speedy, well-prepared lunches that offer good value for money (from Y1500). During off-peak hours (10-11am, 2-6pm), Cafe Troisgros's teatime menu offers the same frothy coffee drinks and sweet treats you might expect at places like Afternoon Tea, but with an upscale, gourmet twist. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Nishi-Shinjuku 1-1-3, Odakyu Dept. Store 8F. Open 10am-8:30pm (LO) daily.
This bistrot branch of the highly regarded L'Artemis restaurant in Jingumae offers a more casual experience and convenient late-night hours. The extensive wine list starts at around Y3000; budget Y4500-7500 for dinner. This bistrot branch of the highly regarded L'Artemis restaurant in Jingumae offers a more casual experience and convenient late-night hours. The kitchen covers the standards very well - excellent grilled lamb and pork confit - but they also turn out dishes we don't often see at the typical bistrot - blood sausage served with chunks of baked apple, avocado-shrimp salad, and an eye-opening red pimento creme brulee.
The extensive wine list starts at around Y3000; budget Y4500-7500 for dinner. Tables are a bit snug, but there's no smoking, except in the tiny garden area out front. The restaurant is very popular with a young local crowd, so advance reservations are recommended. [Show more] [Show less]
Harajuku, Aoyama, Sendagaya
Harajuku --
Kiki. 3797-9282
The concept at this casual bistro is "French tapas," although most dishes here are larger than typical tapas-bar fare. The chef spent ten years working in France and three years as sous chef at Lugdunum Bouchon Lyonnais in Kagurazaka before opening Kiki. The venue itself is quite intimate, with just two tables and five counter seats. Budget around Y5500 at dinnertime for food and drink.
Jingumae 6-9-9, Avenir Omotesando 1F. Open 11:30am-3, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
The first Japanese branch of Marc and Philippe Delacourcelle's popular Parisian wine bistro, Le Pre Verre offers French organic wines and modern, casual French food (the same menu as in Paris). Mix-and-match three-course dinners are Y4500, and in the daytime you can stop by the bar for cheese, charcuterie and wines by the glass.
Jingumae 5-10-1, Gyre 4F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.
A casual cafe where you can drop in anytime for a drink, a sandwich, or a full-course meal. The menu is California-style French, with both European and Asian touches. There's also a well-thought-out selection of wines at good prices.
Jingumae 5-53-67. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO; 7pm Sundays) daily.
Omotesando --
L'As. 3406-0880
Modern French cuisine from Chef Daisuke Kaneko, a veteran of Alain Senderens in Paris and La Becasse in Osaka. The seven-course prix-fixe dinner or weekend lunch, the only menu choice, is just Y5250. Weekend lunch is served noon-1pm (last order).
Minami-Aoyama 5-16-5. Open 5:30-10:30pm (LO). Closed Tues, some Wed.
Good, modern French cuisine and excellent service. Prix-fixes lunches from Y1750, dinners from Y3800, and wines (mostly French) from Y2800 per bottle.
Minami-Aoyama 5-4-30, Casa Serena 1F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Lauburu is dedicated to the art of serious eating - specifically, the serious consumption of pork. Billed as a French/Basque country-style bistro, the food here is prepared simply - no rich, complicated sauces or sculptural statements on the plate, just good honest country cooking. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Minami-Aoyama 6-8-18. Open 6-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
The excellent French kitchen attached to the Blue Note jazz club. Full-course dinners from Y5000 upstairs; tapas and lighter snacks down on the first floor. (If you're going to a show at the club, you can coordinate your dinner here with starting time for the performance.)
Minami-Aoyama 6-3-16. Open 5:30-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Full-course lunches are Y1500-1800. In the evenings you can have anything from a clubhouse sandwich to a full-course meal. Dinner main courses are in the Y2000-2500 range.
Kita-Aoyama 3-5-15. Open 11:30am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays, some Sun.
Sweet and savory Breton-style crepes, with hard cider to wash them down, in a pleasantly decorated open-air cafe.
Jingumae 3-5-4. Open 11:30am-11pm (LO, 10pm Sun) daily.
The doors of this contemporary French restaurant open soundlessly onto a white dining space that gleams with polished surfaces. Music is notably absent, and the staff moves in cat-like silence. All of this is done, presumably, to focus the diner's attention on the food. But even if the walls were fuchsia and music was blaring, Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa's creations would be impossible to ignore. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Minami-Aoyama 2-6-15. Open noon-1:30, 6:30-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays, 3rd Mon.
Luxurious modern French cooking and warm service; the chef here was the former sous chef at the Michelin three-star restaurant Quintessence. Prix-fixe lunches are Y4,200, dinners are Y10,500 (+10% sc). Tables are in great demand, so you might need to book a month or two in advance.
Minami-Aoyama 4-9-9, Aoyama TMI 1F. Open noon-1:30, 6:30-9pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Le Gaulois turns out impressively accomplished French cuisine, but despite the serious kitchen it maintains the warm, down-to-earth feel of a neighborhood restaurant. The food is creative but unpretentious, relying on impeccable ingredients and painstaking attention to detail. The four-course, Y6800 prix-fixe menu represents good value for money, and the wine list is well put together and reasonably priced. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Jingumae 2-3-18. Open noon-2:30, 6-9pm. Closed Mondays.
Shibuya, Hiroo, Roppongi
Good casual French cooking, with dishes like home-made merguez sausages, excellent quiches, chicken confit and lamb stew with cous cous. Budget around Y6000 at dinnertime.
Kamiyamacho 16-3. Open 6-11:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Fancy French food with a skyscraper view; prix-fixe dinners from Y8000, with lots of good wines in the Y10,000-15,000 range. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
The Buri group run a couple of popular standup sake bars (Buchi in Shibuya, Buri in Ebisu), and now they've opened a standup French bistrot, with similarly inexpensive food and 100 different wines. If you get tired of standing there's also a sit-down restaurant in back; snacks up front average around Y700, with main courses in the restaurant averaging Y1500. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Old-school traditional budget French cuisine in a tightly packed, sometimes smoky dining room.
Shibuya 1-12-24, 707 Shibuya Bldg 1F. (walking up the hill toward the post office, turn left at the first corner) Open 11:30am-2, 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.
The decor here captures the feeling of the French countryside, with mirrors everywhere, wood panels, and ducks and a deer head mounted on the walls. The restaurant is connected with Hazel Grouse Manor in eastern Hokkaido, which supplies them with fresh vegetables, seafood and wild game. The decor here captures the feeling of the French countryside, with mirrors everywhere, wood panels, and ducks and a deer head mounted on the walls. The restaurant is connected with Hazel Grouse Manor in eastern Hokkaido, which supplies them with fresh vegetables, seafood and wild game.
You'll find grouse, wild duck and other game from October through January, and Ezo venison year-round. The venison steak with mushrooms and red wine sauce is a standout, and the wild duck was a revelation - pleasantly gamey in flavor and far less fatty than expected. Recommended starters include the four-meat terrine and the foie gras pate with fig.
Wines are from Bordeaux, Burgundy, California and Chile - more than sixty wines in total, at all price ranges. Around Y8,000-10,000 for dinner with drinks. [Show more] [Show less] Dainty, overpriced French food in a pleasantly post-modern setting; not worth a special trip, but nice enough if you're in the neighborhood. Lunch Y1,800, dinner from Y3,800.
Ebisu 3-9-25, La Maison Franco-Japonaise. Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-9:30pm. Closed Sundays.
Sophisticated, modern French cuisine, including a good selection of game dishes, in a pleasant setting. The chef spent seven years working in France, including a stint at Pierre Gagnaire. Prix-fixe dinners are 5,650-9,240 (plus extras for certain dishes); lunches are Y2,300-5,000. The all-French wine list starts at around Y4500 per bottle.
Ebisu 2-6-29. Open 11am-2, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Deluxe-level cooking and service in an elaborate castle-like setting. At dinnertime there's a rather extravagant 18-course tasting menu for Y35,000 per person (plus 12% service charge). The wine list covers some 1200 different varieties.
Located on the first floor of the Robuchon castle in Ebisu, this is a much more casual version of the main dining room upstairs, with inventive modern cuisine and a very reasonable wine list; prix-fixe lunch from Y2950 and dinner from Y7800. Located on the first floor of the Robuchon castle in Ebisu, this is a much more casual version of the main dining room upstairs, with inventive modern cuisine and a reasonable wine list; prix-fixe lunch from Y2950 and dinner from Y7800.
The food is excellent, but the level of service is less impressive, and the dining room can get quite noisy. [Show more] [Show less] Intriguing "French colonial" cuisine, with prix-fixe lunches from Y1050, dinners from Y3990. The long, narrow dining room is pleasantly decorated and very casual.
Ebisu-Minami 1-16-3. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Chef Hiromichi Kodama, formerly of Michelin-starred restaurant Chemins, prepares elegant modern classics - tender beef cheeks in red wine and perfectly cooked slices of foie gras drizzled with a port wine reduction, served with bite-sized morsels of braised pear. Weighty confit of beef heart is brightened by sweet tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and a flurry of shaved Parmesean cheese. Chef Hiromichi Kodama, formerly of Michelin-starred restaurant Chemins, prepares elegant modern classics - tender beef cheeks in red wine and perfectly cooked slices of foie gras drizzled with a port wine reduction, served with bite-sized morsels of braised pear. Weighty confit of beef heart is brightened by sweet tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and a flurry of shaved Parmesean cheese.
In addition to the a la carte menu you can choose prix-fixe lunches (from Y2600 weekdays, Y3900 weekends) and prix-fixe dinners (from Y5600). [Show more] [Show less] Meguro-ku, Mita 1-12-24, MT3 Bldg 1F. Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Daikanyama --
Pachon. 3476-5025
Normandy-based regional cooking from chef Bernard Anquetil (formerly of the popular Brasserie Bernard in Roppongi). Full-course dinners Y6,000 - Y12,000, not including drinks.
Sarugakucho 29-18, Hillside Terrace B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-10pm (LO) daily.
The elegant traditional cuisine and punctilious service in Japanese and French make this charming restaurant popular with the French community. You can enjoy a long, leisurely lunch in the sunny area under the skylight. At lunchtime, the Y4600 Menu Gourmande, with choice of hot and cold appetizers, meat or fish dish, three desserts, and coffee or tea is an excellent value. Dinner from Y8000.
Hachiyamacho 13-13. Open 6-10pm (LO).
This is the Tokyo outpost of the famous restaurant in Alsace, which has been awarded three Michelin stars for forty years in a row. The rather grand building was once home to the Georgian Club restaurant. Managed by the Hiramatsu group. Weekday lunches from Y4200, and prix-fixe dinners from Y10,500.
Nishi-Azabu 1-6-4. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-8:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Yes, this cafe would be worth knowing about for their dessert souffles alone. But they also offer a full menu of remarkably high-quality French cooking, from straightforward starters like scallop salad and foie gras to substantial meat and fish dishes. Plus, some dozen savory souffles. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Nishi-Azabu 3-13-10. Open noon-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
A casual, medium-priced bistro on Nishi-Azabu's "bistro-dori"; the food is excellent.
Nishi-Azabu 4-2-10. Open noon-2, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Ebisu 2-22-10. Open noon-2, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
This cozy bistrot serves hearty French country cuisine - cassoulets, blood sausages - and many reasonly priced wines by the glass or bottle. The late-night hours are convenient, and perhaps the best time to visit; the counter can get a bit cramped and smoky earlier in the evening.
Slightly fancier than average French food, in a tiny house just off TV Asahi-dori. Lunch from Y3000; dinner from Y5500.
Moto-Azabu 3-2-3. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
"New-style French dining" in a very stylish dining room. The food is first-rate and the ambience is casual, with all counter seating. The focus of attention is the open kitchen space on the other side of the counter - a performance space really - where the chefs go about their work. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
This flagship restaurant of the Grand Hyatt bills itself as a French brasserie, with a very spacious setting and a dramatic open kitchen. Their all-day service includes breakfast and a popular brunch on weekends. The Y2200 weekday lunch buffet is also worth checking out. The Grand Hyatt's spacious brasserie restaurant has a dramatic open kitchen and outdoor terrace seating. The popular weekend brunch (Y6300+10%) is served from 11:30am-3pm, and comes with a glass of champagne, a choice of main course and a big buffet with eggs cooked to order, French toast, smoked salmon, Parma ham and numerous salads and desserts. The main course options include substantial fare like Australian beef fillet; roast duck breast with duck confit; roast guineau fowl and sauteed scallops.
If you're an early riser and in the mood for something more breakfasty, lavish Western- and Japanese-style breakfasts are served 7-10:30am for Y3700. [Show more] [Show less] Roppongi 6-10-3, Grand Hyatt 2F. Open 6:30am-10pm (LO) daily.
A veteran of a three-starred Michelin restaurant in France, Chef Habuchi has here opened a more casual spot serving neo-bistro fare, with an emphasis on aged meats, game meats in season and market-fresh vegetables. At dinnertime mains start at Y1200 and feature items like bouillabaisse of the day, home-made andouillette sausages, and aged cuts of pork and beef grilled on the wood-burning hearth. A veteran of a three-starred Michelin restaurant in France, Chef Habuchi has here opened a more casual spot serving neo-bistro fare, with an emphasis on aged meats, game meats in season and market-fresh vegetables. At dinnertime mains start at Y1200 and feature items like bouillabaisse of the day, home-made andouillette sausages, and aged cuts of pork and beef grilled on the wood-burning hearth.
Wines are imported directly from producers, and start at just Y440 per glass (Y300 during happy hour), or you can order from the wine-shop sommelier at retail prices plus Y2000 corkage per bottle. Lunch runs Y1000-1500; budget Y4000-5000 for dinner with drinks. [Show more] [Show less] Roppongi 6-1-12, 21 Roppongi Bldg 2F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10:30pm (LO) daily.
A friendly cafe-brasserie with authentic French atmosphere and good, reasonably priced food. The daily Y1000 lunch is an especially good deal, and is served until 5pm. Evening specialties include north-African dishes like lamb and rabbit couscous and Moroccan tajine. Call ahead to arrange a non-smoking table.
Roppongi 5-17-1, AXIS Bldg 1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.
Excellent French cooking in a pleasant traditional setting (there are just 17 seats, including 5 at the counter). The cheese selection is especially good, as the owner-chef is also a cheese monger. There's a big wine list focusing mostly on Bordeaux and Burgundies, with a median price of around Y8000, plus a good assortment available by the glass. Prix-fixe lunches from Y2940 (Saturdays only), dinner from Y5775.
Azabudai 3-4-14. Open 6-11:30pm (LO; 9:30 Saturdays). Closed Sundays.
Service is friendly, and staff are ready to help you choose from among the twenty wines by the glass, mostly from Roussillon, Langedouc and other southwestern French regions. The bar menu offers wine-compatible nibbles like a tasty rillette sandwich, or you can explore the more serious restaurant menu. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Azabu-Juban 2-14-2. Open 11:30am-3, 6-11pm (LO) daily.
Azabu-Juban --
Milieu. 3568-7850
Good French cooking at budget prices - dinner is just Y2100, and usually includes a choice of one of three starters and mains. The Y1200 lunch includes a pasta or sandwich and a small soup, salad, dessert and drink. The interior is no-frills, but there's a nice outdoor terrace.
Higashi-Azabu 2-23-12. Open 11am-2, 5-9:30pm daily.
This stunning venture from the Hiramatsu group and the famous French chef Paul Bocuse occupies one of the most spectacular public spaces in Tokyo, inside the new national art gallery. Three-course prix-fixe lunch is Y1800; in the evening a la carte mains average around Y2700.
"Tokyo's Funky French Bistro," as they like to call themselves, prepares food using the finest vegetables from Kyoto and other Japanese ingredients. Prix-fixe menus start at around Y3000.
Roppongi 7-4-4, Ryudocho Bldg. 1F. Open noon-2, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Akasaka, Ginza
This tiny restaurant (formerly known as Aronia de Takazawa) has become very popular with the foreign press, with write-ups in the Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, Newsweek and the Times of London. The food is modern French, served kaiseki-style, and the very inventive eleven-course prix-fixe menu is Y24,000. Book several weeks in advance.
Akasaka 3-5-2, Sanyo Akasaka 2F. Open noon-9pm (LO) daily.
The room is an unpretentious little basement with a long counter and six tiny tables, but the food is simply superb - creative, light-hearted French cuisine prepared by a master. The foie gras on daikon appetizer features large slabs of foie gras and lightly stewed daikon, perfectly balanced in flavor. There's also an outstanding foie gras and duck confit main course served in a bed of mashed potatoes and leeks, and rather amazing lamb chops in mustard sauce. Some of the desserts, like the banana flambee, are a major theatrical production. The best deal is Y3500 for a three-course dinner that you'd expect to pay much more for. Wines start at Y2500 and reach very high levels. Lunches start at Y1000. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Akasaka 6-3-16, B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-10pm. Closed Sundays.
If you don't mind spending around Y10,000/person for bistrot-style seating and a fairly limited menu, the food here is pretty good - authentic regional dishes from the southwest of France.
Akasaka 6-4-15. Open 6pm-1am (LO). Closed Sundays.
Modern, very creative French cuisine from one of France's top chefs. Prix-fixe lunches are Y6,000-10,000; dinners 18,000 to 23,000. There's also a Y3800 "express lunch" on weekdays. Jackets are recommended. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Akasaka 1-13-33, ANA Intercontinental Hotel 36F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Sophisticated, modern and creative cuisine from Chef Shimomura, a veteran of several distinguished restaurants in the French provinces. Prix-fixe lunches from Y4200, dinners from Y9450.
Roppongi 3-1-1, T-Cube 1F. Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-9:30pm (LO) daily.
The two tiny dining rooms are rustic and cave-like, the stucco walls decorated with animal pelts and a boar's head. The name means "the hunt", and the specialty is seasonal game (pheasant, boar, deer), much of it bagged by the chef himself. The two tiny dining rooms are rustic and cave-like, the stucco walls decorated with animal pelts and a boar's head. The name means "the hunt", and the specialty is seasonal game (pheasant, boar, deer), much of it bagged by the chef himself.
The assorted game platter is a good introduction to the menu; there's also fabulous foie gras, hearty provincial dishes like cassoulet, and fantastic desserts. The wine list includes reasonably priced (Y6000-9000) wines from southwestern France, along with a strong Bordeaux selection. Around Y15,000-20,000 per person for dinner and drinks. No English. [Show more] [Show less] Roppongi 3-5-7. Open 6-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Reliable, classic French cooking in a bistrot-style setting. Lunch ranges from Y1300 (just a main dish and coffee) to Y5000; dinner is Y5000-Y9000, or a la carte. Entrees include roast lamb (Y3200) and steak tartare with fried potatoes (Y3000); starters also average around Y3000.
Akasaka 1-3-13, Tameike Suzuki Bldg. 1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Very casual bistro-style fare and a good variety of wines from southern France - they import their own wines and many are available by the glass. The chef is Philippe Batton, formerly of Le Petit Bedon in Daikanyama, and the atmosphere is authentically French.
[Go to branch review] Toranomon 2-1-1. Open 11:30am-3, 6-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Well-prepared, traditional French cuisine in a very pleasant setting - an old-style Japanese house located inside Hibiya Park. The small, intimate dining room looks out onto the park. Lunch from Y3,000, dinner from Y7,000.
Hibiya-Koen 1-2. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-8:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
This modern French-Japanese seafood-centered restaurant features a splashy entrance hall (literally - it comes complete with waterfall) and a gorgeous two-story main dining room with views of the Rainbow Bridge. Prix-fixe menus from Y6800, with an optional 4-glass "wine bank" for Y3950.
The Conrad Hotel's all-day dining restaurant is also from Michelin 3-star chef Gordon Ramsay (like his namesake restaurant next door), and the format here is brasserie-style with a big open kitchen. Breakfast is served from 7am; Japanese breakfast is Y3800, and English breakfast, which includes brunch-like choices such as Huevos Rancheros and Eggs Benedict, is Y3680.
Higashi-Shimbashi 1-9-1, Conrad Tokyo Hotel 28F. Open 7am-10:30pm (LO) daily.
British celeb chef Gordon Ramsay's first restaurant in Japan serves the Conrad Tokyo luxury hotel in Shiodome. Prix-fixe menus of Ramsay's impressive modern French cuisine run Y15,500 at dinnertime (or Y21,350 with wines). British celeb chef Gordon Ramsay's first restaurant in Japan serves the Conrad Tokyo luxury hotel in Shiodome. Prix-fixe menus of Ramsay's impressive modern French cuisine run Y15,500 at dinnertime (or Y21,350 with wines).
The a la carte menu features dishes like "oven-roasted pigeon wrapped in prosciutto with foie gras, confit of legs, mushroom ragout, prune puree and almond foam" (Y7800), and "Open ravioli of crab and mango in chilled melon, mint and champagne soup" (Y3400). There are over thirty wines by the glass (from Y1000), with a handful of bottles under Y10,000 and far more in the Y10,000-20,000 range.
The popular Sunday Lunch service features a three-course prix-fixe menu for Y6800, or you can upgrade to Y8800 with four wines or Y9800 with free-flowing Champagne. Five choices each of starter and main include dishes like green-bean soup with tiger prawns; roast duck salad with beetroot and toasted hazelnuts; and a fantastic Middle-Eastern-influenced roast lamb with cous cous and eggplant puree. [Show more] [Show less] Modern French cuisine from chef Tateru Yoshino, formerly of the Michelin-starred Stella Maris in Paris. The menu includes dishes like risotto of watercress with frogs legs; carpaccio of Canadian shrimp with corn ice cream; duck foie gras with crystalized eggplant in cacao sauce; and roast lamb with pumpkin puree. The attached wine bar offers cheaper a la carte options and very late hours for this office neighborhood. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Traditional cuisine from the Imperial's second, more casual French restaurant. Lunch from Y3150, dinner from Y8,400.
Uchisaiwaicho 1-1-1, Imperial Hotel B1F. Open 11am-9:30pm daily.
Lavish contemporary and traditional French fare in a luxurious setting here in the Imperial Hotel's flagship French restaurant. Chef Thierry Voisin, formerly of Michelin two-star Les Crayeres in Rheims, mans the kitchen. Breakfast starts at Y3780, lunch at Y6825, and dinner at Y16,800.
The third Tokyo restaurant from Lyon-based celeb-chef Paul Bocuse offers prix-fixe dinners from Y5500-9500. Wines are Y5000-250,000, with less scarily priced options by the glass or carafe. The impressively large dining room has a curved wall of windows overlooking Ginza to the south.
Ginza --
Beige. 5159-5500
Master chef Alain Ducasse's joint venture with Chanel provides excellent modern French cuisine in a lovely setting. The food isn't quite as spectacular as the prices though - mains average Y8000-9000, with prix-fixe dinner menus from Y17,000. Lunches start at Y6000 (for a three-course vegetarian menu), and there are a few wines under Y10,000. There's also a popular afternoon tea set (Y2600) served from 2:30-4pm.
Lavish, spectacular French cooking since 1974. Dinner menus from Y15,000, lunch from Y5,400.
Ginza 4-5-5. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Gorgeous modern French cuisine (with subtle Japanese influences) from master chef Yoshino. This upscale Ginza location is his third and most deluxe branch in Tokyo. Prix-fixe lunch from Y4800, dinner from Y14,000.
[Go to branch review] Ginza 4-8-10, Pias Ginza 12F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Tsukiji --
Luke. 3248-0211
Perched on the 47th floor above the Saint Luke's hospital complex, Restaurant Luke is as popular for its setting as it is for its cuisine. The gorgeous dining space boasts ten-meter ceilings and an impressive view out over Tokyo Bay. The food is traditional French; budget around Y9000 for dinner or Y2000 at lunchtime. In the summertime they set up a beer garden out on the terrace; beer-terrace prix-fixe menus are Y4500 (not including beer).
Akashicho 8-1, Saint Luke's Garden 47F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed weekends.
Upmarket French wines and excellent country-style French cooking; chef Masashi Hadachi (formerly of Aux Bacchannales in Harajuku) is in charge of the kitchen. The bistrot-style setting is casual, occasionally cramped. Y4500 prix-fixe for three courses in the evening. Their afternoon cafe menu (2-6pm), featuring sandwiches, steak frites and other light fare, is worth knowing about if you're in need of a late lunch in this neighborhood.
Marunouchi 3-3-1, Shin-Tokyo Bldg. 1F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO). Open every day.
Fancy modern French cuisine, with dishes like oyster and fennel soup, foie gras flan, hot organic vegetable salad - plus roast meats like veal, venison, lamb and duck. Main courses average around Y4000; prix-fixe dinners from Y5500; lunch from Y1200.
Marunouchi 2-7-3, Tokyo Bldg Tokia 2F. Open 11am-2, 5:30-11:30pm daily.
Michelin-starred traditional French dining overlooking Tokyo Station. Prix-fixe lunches are Y3,500-6,000, dinners Y7,000-12,000.
Marunouchi --
Igrek. 3211-1909
This Kobe-based restaurant serves modern, creative French cuisine. Lunch menus are Y2,100-7,875, and dinnertime degustation menus are Y7,875-12,600.
Marunouchi 1-5-1, Shin-Marunouchi Bldg 5F. Open 11am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.
Contemporary French cuisine in a tastefully flashy setting. The three-course dinner menu is Y3900, and all wines are priced at Y3900 per bottle.
This cafe venture from the Michelin-starred Aimee Vibert in Nibancho offers above-average bistro fare in a casual setting. The decor is classic French cafe style - tile floors, dark wood and mirrors, a zinc bar and lots of tiny tables and chairs facing the sidewalk. This cafe venture from the Michelin-starred Aimee Vibert in Nibancho offers above-average bistro fare in a casual setting. The decor is classic French cafe style - tile floors, dark wood and mirrors, with a zinc bar and lots of tiny tables and chairs facing the sidewalk.
The lunchtime menu (Y900-1500) features croque-monsieur and croque-madame sandwiches, quiches and salads, and a couple of meat and fish plates of the day. Quiches are also served during teatime (2-5pm) along with desserts and coffee. The dinner menu is all a la carte, and includes a cote de porc roti for two people (Y3800) along with daily meat and fish dishes. [Show more] [Show less] Nihonbashi Muromachi 2-2-1, Coredo Muromachi 1F. Open 10am-10pm daily.
A branch of the popular Au Gout du Jour restaurant in Kojimachi, "au gout du jour" could be their tagline as well, as they pride themselves on their beautiful fresh vegetables and other seasonal ingredients. The smallish dining space (24 seats) is simple but elegant, and service is attentive. Lunches from Y3400; prix-fixe dinners from Y6500; there's also an a la carte menu at night with half and full-size portions. Note that they're among the few serious restaurants in this neighborhood that are open on Sundays.
Nihonbashi 3-8-13. (on the side street one block south of Takashimaya) Open 11am-1:30, 5:30-9pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Central Tokyo
First-rate French cuisine and very reasonably priced wines. The setting is rather minimal - old-fashioned coffee-shop decor in a well-used basement space, with just a counter and a few tables. Budget around Y6000-8000 for food and drinks.
Yotsuya 3-1, Suga Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Excellent traditional French cooking in a comfortable, smoke-free dining space reminiscent of a provincial French inn. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Wakaba 2-7, Video Focus Bldg 1F. Open noon-2, 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
A tiny neighborhood place with well-prepared French food. There are only 4 or 5 tables, split between two levels, so be sure to call ahead.
Yotsuya 2-3-19. Open 11:45am-2, 5:45-9:15pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.
A legendary old-school Tokyo French restaurant that's been here forever. Lunch from Y6,000, dinner from Y14,000.
Wakaba 1-18. Open noon-1:30, 6-9pm. Closed Sundays.
A bright and airy branch of this French-cafe landmark, located directly in front of the New Otani Hotel. There's a take-out bakery at the entrance, a big cafe area, a smaller dining room for proper French meals, and plenty of outdoor seating, heated in winter. Lunches in the dining room start at Y850; full-course dinners from Y3800. The cafe serves light snacks like quiche, omelettes, salade nicoise and steak frites.
Kioicho 4-1, Shin-Kioicho Bldg. 1F. Open 10am-11pm daily.
Excellent-quality modern French cuisine at this elegant bistrot-restaurant. Chef Olivier was a veteran of La Tour d'Argent in Paris and the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Tokyo before opening his namesake restaurant. Prix-fixe dinners are Y5800 and Y8000 (or order a la carte), and the wine list offers some reasonably priced options under Y6000. Budget around Y10,000-12,000 with drinks. Lunches start at Y1575; no lunch on Saturday.
Kudan-Minami 4-1-10. Open 11:30am-2, 6:30-10pm. Closed Sundays.
The food is rather mainstream French Japanese, but the friendly service sets them apart. Prix-fixe dinner menus are Y3500 and Y5000.
Ichigaya Sanaicho 21, Ichigaya Sanaizaka Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm (LO). Closed weekends.
A tiny neighborhood hideaway with well-prepared but very conservative and predictable French food. Dinner is Y3,900 or Y5,900, and the wine list starts at Y5,000, with some half-bottles available. Ask them for directions -- it's rather hard to find the first time.
Nandocho 22. (around the corner from Carmine, just off Chuo-dori) Open noon-1:30, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Ushigome-Kagurazaka --
Bave. 3269-2231
Nandocho 15-9. (around the corner from Carmine, just off Chuo-dori) Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Ushigome-Kagurazaka --
Gus. 3268-7157
Satisfying home-style French cooking at terrific prices. The menu sticks to hearty classics such as buttery pork rillets with corchicons pickles, escargots sizzling in garlic butter and roast lamb in red wine sauce. Satisfying home-style French cooking at terrific prices. The menu sticks to hearty classics such as buttery pork rillets with corchicons pickles, escargots sizzling in garlic butter and roast lamb in red wine sauce.
You can't go wrong with the confit de canard, a perennial favorite in Tokyo bistros. Here, it's expertly prepared, with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. There's also a nice selection of reasonable wines by the bottle. A full-course dinner with drinks will only set you back around Y4500-5000. [Show more] [Show less] Yaraicho 82. Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
The chef here trained in a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the south of France, and prices are very reasonable for the quality level. The dining room is small and intimate (only sixteen seats), and is decorated with the chef's own artwork. The chef here trained in a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the south of France, and prices are very reasonable for the quality level; budget around Y3000 at lunch, Y6500 at dinner. The foie gras creme brulee starter was pure genius.
The dining room is small and intimate (only sixteen seats), and is decorated with the chef's own artwork. Reserve well in advance, especially at lunchtime; cash only. [Show more] [Show less] Haramachi 2-6-7. Open noon-1:30, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Wed, 3rd Tue.
Another neighborhood-oriented, hole-in-the-wall French restaurant with Y2,500 three-course dinners.
Minami-Yamabushi-cho 3-5. (on Okubo-dori) Open 11:30am-2, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Delicious Breton-style crepes, both sweet and savory, along with hard cider make this a welcome addition to Tokyo's culinary landscape.
Kagurazaka 4-2. Open 11:30am-10:30pm. Closed Mondays.
A nice bistro-style French place with a pleasant atmosphere.
Kagurazaka 3-1. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Iidabashi --
Grain. 5275-9494
(Formerly Vent d'Afric) The young owner/chef here has created an original menu that includes such variations on old standards as a chicken-wing-and-escargot coq au vin and an excellent Calvados-flavored creme brulee. The results are consistently impressive. Dinners are Y2500 and Y4000, or you can have three appetizers plus dessert for Y1500.
Fujimi 2-6-9, Yuzankaku Bldg. 1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-10pm. Closed weekends.
The owner's mission is life is to bring affordable French country-style cooking to the Tokyo public, and the quality-to-price ratio here is fairly high, if you don't mind sitting at tiny coffeeshop tables.
Fujimi 2-3-1. Open 11:30-2, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Bistro-style food from Petit Bedon chef Philippe Batton (including perfect duck confit and world-class roast potatoes), plus an eye-opening selection of wines from southern France, with many choices available by the glass. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Kudan-Kita 1-10-2. Open 11:30am-3, 6-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Other areas
Simple, budget French fare and an inexpensive French wine list. Especially good at lunchtime.
Shimo-Meguro 1-3-4. Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
This small chain of French brasserie-cafes is popular for their authentic food and atmosphere. The cafe serves simple dishes like omelettes and salads all day long, while the brasserie has more substantial fare, with lunch an especially good value. Quiches and pastries are ready to take home from the bakery section.
Takanawa 4-10-8, Takanawa Keikyu Bldg #7. Open 9am-11pm daily.
Modern French cooking and an impressive wine cellar (not just French). Three-course dinners from Y3,900; wine by the glass Y600-1,200, bottles from Y5,000.
Takanawa 2-5-6. Open 6-11:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays, some Sun.
Totally unpretentious dining - it feels like you're eating in the top restaurant in some small provincial town. The focus is on the excellent Provencal-style seafood, including two different varieties of bouillabaisse. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Shibaura 2-10-5. Open 11:30am-3, 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.
Spectacular traditional French cooking, rich sauces, with nothing light or nouveau about it. Prepare for a serious meal.
Shirogane 3-2-7. Open noon-midnight daily.
Gorgeous modern French cuisine (with subtle Japanese influences) from master chef Yoshino. Prix-fixe lunch from Y3675, dinner from Y6825.
[Go to branch review] Shiba-Koen 1-5-10, Shiba Park Hotel Annex 1F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm. Closed Sunday nights.
A tourist-friendly outlet of the popular upscale French wine-bar chain. Prix-fixe lunches are priced Y2,800-Y9,800, dinners Y6,500-Y11,000.
Lunch Y1,500-5,000. Dinner Y3,500-Y8,000. "Pub time" starts at 9pm, with a limited a la carte food menu.
Kita-Otsuka 2-3-12. (north exit and turn left -- it's along the tracks) Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
A small, budget French restaurant for the neighborhood; lunch is Y1500.
Asagaya-Kita 4-6-29. Open 5:30-9pm (LO). Closed Thursdays.
Traditional French cuisine at friendly prices, although they have some upmarket wines if you're in the mood to splurge.
Ogikubo 5-14-4. (down near the end of the Suzuran-dori shopping street) Open 11:30am-2 (LO), 6-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Lunch Y1,800-6,000, dinner Y3,000-15,000.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-13-7, Grandale Bldg 4F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9pm daily.
A convenient place to eat before or after an afternoon in Yoyogi Park, this casual neighborhood brasserie offers outdoor seating and allows dogs. The Y1200 lunchtime deli platter is a good deal - it includes soup, salad, quiche, terrines and several other items along with coffee, espresso or tea. Budget around Y4000 at dinnertime.
Yoyogi 5-63-10. Open 11:30am-3, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Tue, 1st + 3rd Wed.
Sangenjaya --
Trois. 3419-0330
Trois offers a good selection of reasonably priced wines from around the world, including many organic and biodynamic varieties. The food menu offers country-style French dishes like lamb chops and pork spareribs served cassoulet-style, and a very meaty Venison Parmentier stewed in red-wine sauce and served with mashed potatoes. Trois offers a good selection of reasonably priced wines from around the world, including many organic and biodynamic varieties.
The food menu offers country-style French dishes like lamb chops and pork spareribs served cassoulet-style, and a very meaty Venison Parmentier stewed in red-wine sauce and served with mashed potatoes. The interior is chic in a minimalist way, with big windows providing a good view of the comings and goings in Sangenjaya's nighttime drinking zone. [Show more] [Show less] Sangenjaya 2-15-14, ABC Bldg 110. Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Sundays.
Located a bit off the beaten track, this intimate 28-seat restaurant is a serious gourmet destination, serving high-level cuisine at down-to-earth prices. Owner-chef George Sumura is a veteran of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and a two-star restaurant in Brussels, and his menu is especially strong in game dishes. Some recent examples include Boudin Noir sausages made from wild boar; a terrine of rabbit and foie gras; and venison consomme with foie gras and truffles. Located a bit off the beaten track, this intimate 28-seat restaurant is a serious gourmet destination, serving high-level cuisine at down-to-earth prices. Owner-chef George Sumura is a veteran of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and a two-star restaurant in Brussels, and his menu is especially strong in game dishes. Some recent examples include Boudin Noir sausages made from wild boar; a terrine of rabbit and foie gras; and venison consomme with foie gras and truffles.
Other popular choices include Flanders-style white asparagus and dandelions; roast Iberico pork shoulder; and a game dish of the day. Chef Somura also used to be a chef on the Orient Express, and the lounge area of the restaurant occupies a real train carriage. Prix-fixe lunches start at Y1700, dinners from Y5500, or you can order a la carte. The French wine lists starts at around Y3600/bottle. [Show more] [Show less]
Belgian
It's yet another Belgian beer specialty bar in Nishi-Shinjuku, this one with plenty of space (90 seats) and Maredsous and De Koninck beers on tap. There are inexpensive (from Y300), somewhat hit-or-miss Spanish tapas to nibble with your beer, along with tasty Belgian-style mussels steamed in either beer or white wine.
Nishi-Shinjuku 1-26-2, Shinjuku Nomura Bldg. B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 2-10pm (LO) daily.
This mini-branch of one of our favorite Belgian beer bars sits at the Yoyogi end of Southern Terrace; convenient to Shinjuku station but sufficiently removed from the bustling crowds. Despite the small size they boast an excellent beer list, with a rotating selection of ten on tap, plus a respectable food menu featuring roast Iberico pork, grilled horsemeat and of course mussels and frites. There's some outdoor seating.
Yoyogi 2-2-1, Shinjuku Southern Terrace. Open 11am-11pm daily.
Nishi-Shinjuku --
Frigo. 5371-0666
Over 100 different beers by the bottle, mostly Belgian but with a strong German section as well. The food menu is limited, but includes mussels prepared in several different ways.
Yoyogi 2-11-20, B1F. Open 5:30pm-2am (Sundays 3-11pm). Closed 2nd Sunday.
This spacious, two-story bar from the Brussels chain serves very good Belgian food along with a wide assortment of beers.
Yoyogi 2-20-2. Open 5:30pm-2am (Sat. to 11pm). Closed Sundays.
Original pita sandwiches and an impressive assortment of Belgian beers. The big tables can accommodate larger groups than average (5-8 people), but you may have to share a table when they're crowded. There are also a few seats at the bar.
Jingumae 1-10-23. Open 5:30pm-2am (Sat-11pm). Closed Sundays.
Shibuya --
Hemel. 5918-6939
"Hemel Belgian Beer and Food" lives up to their name - this comfortable wood-paneled bar offers an attractive selection of Belgian and European food to go with their extensive list of over 100 beers.
Shibuya --
Belgo. 3409-4442
A comfortably cozy little hideaway bar with multi-level seating nooks. Pick your own bottle from the big selection of Belgian and German brews in the refrigerator case. The food menu is limited to light snacks.
Shibuya 3-18-7, Shibuya Ichigokan Bldg. B1F. Open 5:30pm-2am. Closed some Sundays.
Hamamatsucho --
Agoo. 3432-1535
The vibe at this small neighborhood bar is friendly and laid back - comfortable enough to stop in for a drink by yourself or for a quiet conversation with friends. There's a decent selection of Belgians at average-for-Tokyo prices, plus a small snack menu.
Shiba Daimon 2-4-5. Open 5pm-1am (2am Fri/Sat). Closed Sundays.
French-Belgian cuisine and a good selection of Belgian beers; three-course prix-fixe dinners are Y2800.
Roppongi 7-9-2. Open 6pm-2:30am (LO); 6pm-4:30am weekends. Closed Sundays.
The Kamiyacho branch seems to be one of the liveliest of this chain of Belgian beer bars, attracting an international crowd in this office-building neighborhood. Belgian-style snacks and full meals to accompany your beer.
Toranomon 5-1-5, Toranomon MT Bldg. 1F. Open 11am-5pm, 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
An excellent selection of Belgian beers and good Belgian cuisine. The dining space is large and has a European-style feel to it. Budget around Y4000 at dinnertime; there's a Y500 cover charge.
[Go to branch review] Ten Belgian beers are served on draft here, with 100 more by the bottle. The simple menu includes pastas, Flemish-style beef stew, and of course mussels. The big, shiny semi-circular bar is the focus of attention here, but there's also a cozy table section off to the side.
Akasaka 5-3-1, Akasaka Biz Tower 1F. Open 11am-midnight daily.
A quiet Japanese bar serving an incredible selection of Belgian beers for serious beer connoisseurs, including many brands you won't find elsewhere in Japan. Prices average around Y1,200 a bottle. There's also a restaurant area serving Belgian food. Bar area open to midnight. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Akasaka 2-13-21. Open 6-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
This specialty bar imports beers directly from Belgium, and serves an impressive selection of ten different varieties on draft, including varieties we haven't seen elsewhere around town. Open to 1:30am Wed, Thu, Fri nights.
Kasumigaseki 3-2-6, Tokyo Club Bldg, Kasumi Dining 1F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Capturing two popular Tokyo bar trends at once, Beer Garage offers a wide range of tapas and Belgian beers. Beers on draft include Maredsous, De Koninck, Vedett and Poperings Hommel. Tapas items are priced at Y300, Y500 and Y650, and there are a handful of Belgian dishes as well.
Higashi-Shimbashi 1-8-2, Caretta Shiodome Canyon Terrace 1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 2:30-10pm (LO) daily.
The 100-odd different beers in their serve-yourself refrigerator include several previously hard-to-find varieties. Mussels and other Belgian treats are on the food menu, and they're even open on Sundays.
Ginza 2-10-5. Open 5:30pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
The multi-level complex comprises a Belgian restaurant on the top floor, a shot bar in the basement, and a Belgian beer specialist on the ground floor. They stock more than 300 beers by the bottle, plus five taps devoted to a rotating selection of guest beers.
A late-night hideaway bar in Ginza, with just twenty seats and a selection of around 25 Belgian beers. There's also a small snack menu. (They close at midnight on Saturdays.)
Ginza 5-6-14, Ginza Bldg 3F. Open 5pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
You'll find good Belgian food (including mussels and great frites), a nice selection of beers, and convenient late-night hours from this branch of the Belgian Beer Cafe chain (they also run Antwerp Central in Marunouchi).
[Go to branch review] AC's atmosphere and decor are very European in feel, and the large food menu includes surprisingly authentic Belgian specialties like "stoemp" - a hearty platter of mashed potatoes and root vegetables. The bar serves more than 30 Belgian beers, including Leffe Blond and three others on tap. Ample terrace seating is available. Bar open until 4am weeknights, midnight weekends. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
An outlet of a popular chain of European-style cafe-bars specializing in Belgian beers, Liege serves four beers on draft and several dozen more by the bottle. In addition to the usual mussels and frites, the menu offers grilled meats and a few game dishes. The bar is open until 3am Friday and Saturday nights.
Yaesu 1-4-16, Yaechika Dining B1F. Open 11am-3, 5-10pm. Closed Sundays.
A tiny, charming Belgian beer bar with a small selection of brews, including the city of Antwerp's own De Koninck on tap. There's not really a food menu, but you can order pizza (from Pizza LA) or Chinese food (from a shop downstairs) to be delivered to your table.
Nihonbashi 3-7-7, 5F. (on the side street one block south of Takashimaya) Open 5-11pm. Closed weekends.
A relaxed after-work place serving lots of Belgian beers and good light food, including tasty pita sandwiches.
Yaraicho 75. Open 5:30-2am, Sat. 5:30-11pm. Closed Sundays.
Kagurazaka --
Bitter. 5261-3087
Often hidden backstreet bars like this - quiet, sophisticated, with tasteful but understated decor - specialize in expensive Scotch whisky or cocktails, so it's nice to find a place like this with a serious Belgian beer menu. Food includes freshly shaved Parmesan, pork rillettes and shepherd's pie, and prices are a bit higher than average (around Y1200-1500 for a typical bottle of Belgian). Located upstairs in a residential-looking building, the bar can be very hard to find, but that's part of its charm.
Tsukudocho 1-14, Sun Heights Sakatabashi 203. (walk up Kagurazaka-dori and turn right at Gojuban Chinese steamed bun shop, it's on the right side after about 4 min.) Open 5pm-2am. Closed weekends.
A comfortable and spacious Belgian specialty bar with nearly 100 beers by the bottle that you can select and serve yourself from the big glass refrigerators. They also have unusual beers on draft (Witkap Pater) and a modest food menu.
This original branch of the pioneering Belgian beer bar chain is spread out over three very narrow floors, with cozy seating niches. There's a small food menu and a very good selection of beers.
Kanda Ogawamachi 3-16-1. Open 5:30pm-2am (5:30-11pm Sat.). Closed Sundays and holidays.
French/Belgian bistro fare, with mussels and other seafood as well as frites. Ten Belgian beers averaging Y900-1,000.
Uchi-Kanda 1-10-6. Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
This Asahi Beer-run restaurant features several Asahi-imported Belgian beers (Hoegaarden, Leffe, Stella Artois) plus a few microbrews from the on-premises Sumidagawa Brewery. Food includes various sausages and pates, mussels, frites, and other typical Belgian bar fare. Budget around Y3000 for food and a few drinks.
Azumabashi 1-23-36, Annex Bldg 3F. Open 11:30am-2, 4-10:30pm daily.
An indoor/outdoor cafe with a nice choice of Belgian beers and enticing food like Iberico ham, duck confit, and of course mussels. In the afternoons they serve chocolate fondue and waffles.
Toyosu 2-4-9, LaLaport Toyosu 1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.
This oddly named "European Beer Terrace" is open only between April and October, and offers pleasant outdoor seating facing the canal at the edge of Tennozu Isle. Most of the beers are Belgian, plus a few German and English selections, with nine or so on tap and another fifty by the bottle. Meat and deli items and simple Belgian dishes like mussels accompany the beer.
Higashi-Shinagawa 2-2-4, Tennoz First Tower 1F. Open 5-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Nakano --
Zinc. 5343-2164
(Pronounced "Zanc") A friendly neighborhood bar with a good assortment of Belgian beers, an electronic dartboard, and simple Japanese/Korean snacks.
A charming, cozy (ten-seat) bar serving some twenty Belgian beers by the bottle plus Hoegaarden on tap, along with a limited food menu.
Sangenjaya 2-46-1, Daiya Heights Sangenjaya 1F. Open 2pm-midnight. Closed Mondays, 3rd Sunday.
A Belgian brasserie serving a good assortment of Belgian beers and food. Dinner averages around Y3000; a five-course "beer hall" dinner with all you can drink is Y5500.
Horikawacho 72-1, Lazona Kawasaki Plaza 4F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Yokohama Sta. --
Cheers. 045-311-7804
A quiet, out-of-the-way little bar with a good selection of Belgian and other beers. Draft beers include Baird (an excellent Japanese microbrew), Edelpils and Pedigree; there are also 30 beers by the bottle, mostly Belgian. Food is a mix of Belgian and British: mussels, frites, fish and chips, shepherd's pie. The basement space is pleasantly decorated, with several nooks and crannies at different levels.
Tsuruyacho 3-32-14, Shinko Bldg B1F. (from the underground Diamond mall, take exit 12 south, cross under the highway overpass, turn left at Jonathan's; it's on the right after 1/2 block) Open 4pm-midnight. Closed Sundays.
