THE BEST OF JAPAN / MAKE YOUR TRIP AN UNFORGETTABLE ONE

AOYAMA SQURE
  1. VOL. 22 | SUMMER 2024
  2. HOTEL SPECIAL

HOTEL SPECIAL

FRESH DINING OPTIONS EMERGE FOR SUMMER

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Barbecuing, terrace dining and icy desserts are summer staples and fine dining is in season year round. But this summer, hotels in Tokyo and Yokohama — through their restaurants, cafes and special events — aren’t offering mere meals and menu twists, but complete experiences fit for the season. With French, American and Japanese cuisines on offer in surroundings as stylish as they are comfortable, these hotels are inviting guests to embrace all that summer has to offer from around the world.

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From the Roppongi and Daiba districts in Tokyo to the historical port capital of neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture, guests can throw on their summer best and feast on fare that ranges from hearty cuts of meat to delicate desserts. They can do this swaying to live music playing above the hum of the metropolis, while enjoying a pleasant sea breeze, or while glancing at serene waters, defining landmarks or a remarkable skyline.

The summer will be hot, but these hotels are extending invitations to cool down that include free-flowing drinks, fruity desserts and meals with a dazzling array of colors showcasing fresh, local ingredients. Whether you’re a visitor or a resident in search of unforgettable culinary delights, here are some options for looking beyond the heat and experiencing summer as a season for making magical memories.


Grand Hyatt Tokyo

Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s 10 restaurants and bars are offering a vibrant selection of menus to celebrate summer. Guests can experience barbecue items from around the world while relaxing on the hotel’s luxurious outdoor terraces.

The Oak Door is offering an authentic Tex-Mex menu featuring a barbecue platter filled with carefully selected meats, from spiced beef and pork to chicken, accompanied by a variety of mouthwatering sides, including cheese quesadillas and chili con carne nachos. This shared menu also includes free-flowing drinks, with the option to add a giant Monster Mojito for a dramatic touch.

The French Kitchen is serving a barbecue plan that draws on the nostalgic flavors of the French countryside. Diners will take a gourmet journey across the breadth of French cuisine that features pissaladiere (flatbreads), a meat platter and a barbecue brochette with a selection of succulent meats, served with Champagne or sparkling wine to complete a truly memorable afternoon.

On select weekends, Grand Hyatt Tokyo will be hosting its Soiree Blanche events, a highly anticipated gala inspired by the parties of the French Riviera. Guests are invited to visit in all-white clothing for a slice of Mediterranean summer, including live music and free-flowing drinks on a chic outdoor terrace.

URL: http://tokyo.grand.hyatt.com/
Address: 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-4333-1234


Hilton Tokyo Odaiba

At barbecue restaurant Ablaze, guests can dig into high-quality beef and fresh fish prepared by our head chef while overlooking the Rainbow Bridge. The cool sea breeze and Tokyo’s dazzling “magic hour” offer a pleasant dining experience, day or night.

Of the four available options, the Meat Lover Plan offers all-you-can-eat Japanese round steak, Australian sirloin and jumbo sausages. It also comes with a green salad, a seafood platter, enchiladas and grilled vegetables. Waffles with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce wrap up this course. There is also a 1-kilogram Tomahawk Steak Plate that comes with a jumbo sausage alongside grilled vegetables and four sauces.

The Lunch Set offers marinated cajun chicken thighs, a seafood platter, jumbo sausage, sauces and grilled vegetables, as well as waffles and ice cream for dessert. Rounding out the options is the Standard Set, which is similar to the Meat Lover Plan but without the all-you-can eat options.

Through July and from September to October, lunch and dinner are served on weekends and public holidays. For August, only dinner will be served, with the restaurant open for the Bon holidays. Free-flowing soft drinks are available with all plans except lunch. Reservations recommended.

URL: https://www.hiltonodaiba.jp/plans/restaurants/6880
Address: 1-9-1 Daiba, Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel: 03-5500-5580


InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8

Serving seasonal vegetables from the fertile soil of the Miura Peninsula and fresh seafood from nearby waters, Restaurant and Bar Larboard welcomes guests with its French-style dishes that draw on influences from around the world.

Located on the second floor of this nautical ship-shaped hotel and surrounded by the sea on three sides, Larboard’s standout dishes include their bagna cauda — 12 varieties of vegetables served with a warm anchovy and garlic dipping sauce. Among other items are steamed mussels in white wine and a Japanese beef burger.

For drinks, the Original Pier 8 Craft Beer, a cross between a traditional pilsner and a slightly bitter black beer, as well as cocktails and mocktails using the freshest seasonal fruit are always available to quench your thirst.

Guests can savor lunch on the terrace with a cooling sea breeze or relax for afternoon tea with views of Yokohama’s giant Ferris wheel and cruise ships docking at the Osanbashi Pier.

Later on, Larboard also offers seasonally fresh menus for dinner with a view of Yokohama Port at dusk, in addition to a bar where libations can be enjoyed while ships whistle in the background.

URL: https://www.icyokohama-pier8.com/en/restaurant/larboard/
Address: 2-14-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama
Tel: 045-307-2228


The Kahala Hotel and Resort Yokohama

Surrounded by a pond garden and with an interior decor that blends traditional aesthetic sensibilities with a sharp modernity, Japanese Restaurant Hanagoyomi on the third floor is fine dining that is traditional, yet innovative. The restaurant uses exceptional ingredients that require minimal interference and highlights their qualities by serving them without distraction.

Its lunchtime Hanachazen is a brilliantly colorful spread of 20 dishes that pays homage to Yokohama’s spirit and multiculturalism. Wagyu pot pie heads dishes representing western culture, shark fin steamed egg custard for China Town, and three kinds of sushi to represent Japanese culture.

In the evening, dinner guests have a choice of eight multicourse meals from the modest Meigetsu (¥13,282) to the luxurious Wagyu Sukiyaki (¥44,275) and Itadaki (¥63,250) options. There’s also a children’s dinner course (¥6,325). All rooms are private and capable of seating from two to 10 guests each.

The 16-seat Teppanyaki Hanagoyomi restaurant serves fresh seafood and aged meats paired with a careful selection of wines and sake.

URL: https://thekahala.jp/en/yokohama/dining/?jrhama
Address: 1-1-3, Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
Tel: 045-522-0077