The Where To > Tokyo Guide
WHERE TO DRINK >Stay up-to-date
DRINK > Mikkella Bar, Shibuya
Sharing the same space as the About Life Cafe (read our review here) in the evening they pull down some venetian blinds that cover the coffee shop and pull up the venetian blinds that open the bar. The rest of the space is the same…
It is tucked…
The Tokyo Guide >
Tokyo is a city of culture, history, hyper modern. Of remarkable architecture, incredible kitsch and stunning temples.
A place where each of its larger precincts could merit a travel guide we try to capture the best and the places we believe where an ALMANAK reader will want to EAT > DRINK > SHOP > STAY > PLAY > SEE & DO.
But if we miss your favourite or you make an incredible discovery please let us know because we want to keep all of you better informed.
WHERE TO HAVE COFFEEIts more than just a caffinated beverage you know
CAFE > Parklet Bakery, Tokyo
In the residential streets of Nihonbashi you will find one of Tokyo's nicest cafe's, a great stop for breakfast or lunch. Next to a small park (Horidome) and children's playground this cafe features stunning range of bread and pastries. Run by two Californian's Kate & Jerry Jaksich, (Kate previously managed…
CAFE > Bread, Espresso &, Shibuya
If you arrive in Tokyo early in the morning and go looking for coffee you are going to be a little surprised. This is a city where retail opens at 11am and many of the food and drink venues similarly don’t open. Sure you can find a…
CAFE > Sedai Coffee & Roasters, Shibuya
Sedai Coffee & Roasters is another place that might be a blessing when searching for an early coffee. Open from 9am to 7.30pm each day the simple store on Cat Street offers a range of fresh brews. This is a coffee store first and foremost it is not…
CAFE > About Life Coffee Brewers, Shibuya
About Life is a funky coffee shop close to Shibuya station, probably the best coffee in that area. A simple menu the shop sells espresso, brews (hot and cold) and cold drip coffee. They have a small food menu and the space is ‘funky’ in that classic…
WHERE TO EAT >
Osaka is well known for its street food, with 222 listings in the Michelin Guide (3 for 3 star, 9 for 2 star and 80 for 1 star) you know that they are serious about food. But what about wine, well that is a little harder to find,…
Udon, the under rated noodle. Its chewy and tasty, fresh and filling and at Menchirashi it is made into an enormous range of wonderful dishes, from traditional Udon (noodle) soup dishes to a Japanese twist on Carbonara.
You do need to line up and yes it will probably take about…
Did someone say Soba? Ryan is not quite your standard Tokyo noodle stop. It is a stylish room with tables as well as bar seating, seating is comfortable and you can easily settle in for something of a session here. And let us be clear this…
It was back in January 2023 and we were returning from Japan and we bumped into the incredibly talented Nicky Reimer chef of Bellota Restaurant on our flight home, sharing stories of food and travel, I asked her what was the best food experience you had in Japan she did…
I love wandering the fashionable streets of Omotesando in Shibuya, there are brilliant fashion stores, smart designer furniture and iconic one of a kind homewares. Some streets seem to have nothing but hair dressers and others feature brilliant coffee shops.
But venture just a little further into the more residential…
Tokyo is has the most Michelin starred restaurants in the world, it is no wonder that in this incredible city fine food is expressed in so many ways and so there are so many choices. The Michelin guide lists 461 fine dining restaurants in Tokyo of those listed 199…
Tokyo Restaurants >
With incredible fine dining options with cuisine from all over the world.
For a long time Melbourne was the city with the second largest greek population in the world, which has led to numerous Greek Restaurants on Lonsdale Street.
Lygon Street in Carlton on the city Fringe is home to numerous Italian restaurants. Victoria Street in Richmond (again on the city Fringe) is the home to the cities Vietnamese restaurants.
Melbournes Chinatown runs down Little Bourke Street and explodes out on side streets. There is also a Korean food district.
When it comes to fine dining there are restaurants with amazing views like Atria and Vue de Monde which both sit at the top of towers with spectacular views over the city.
But check our reviews for the latest in delicious.
WHERE TO STAY >
STAY > Hoshinoya Tokyo
The Hoshinoya Hotel is in the heart of Tokyo's economic centre Maranouchi. A short walk from the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station it sits amongst the office towers, from the outside you can see the metal skin screening the facade (a design akin to interlinked lotus flowers).
The hotel was designed by architect Rie Azuma who has designed the first four of the Hoshinoya Hotels for the Hoshino Hotel Group (there are now eight Hoshinoya Ryokan Hotels, six in Japan with one in Taiwan and another in Bali).
The intention from the outset was to create a traditional Japanese Ryokan…
STAY > Hotel TRUNK, Tokyo
Finding a hotel that fits you like a glove is a rare thing, it is likely that somethings about the place you will love but others let you down a little. We have stayed at TRUNK which is towards the bottom of Cat Street in Shibuya three times now and there are some reasons why this has become our go to hotel for Tokyo. Its the style, the location, the rooms, the robes, the drip coffee in the rooms, the bar and the staff.
The building itself sits as a green oasis of plants and just…
STAY > All Day Place, Tokyo
Located just off Meji Dori Avenue in Shibuya, the All Day Place Hotel is hidden away above a cafe / craft beer bar in a tower building. A simple place with rooms that are functional with smart design at a reasonable price.
SLEEP >
Rooms come with the usual Pyjamas, reusable Slippers (no thanks), quality ammenities (Shampoo, Conditioner, Hand & Body wash), Organic bamboo toothbrush, and Toothpaste paper (interesting). There is also a large safety box (not a safe), hair dryer, humidifier, and a large TV with screen mirroring.
It Tokyo so you know the…
STAY > Andaz Hotel, Tokyo
Andaz is a luxury hotel part of the Hyatt brand and the Andaz Toranomon Hills (Tokyo) has recently been voted as one of the best hotels in Asia. So a great time to revisit what makes this such a great hotel.
With 164 rooms in the tower and check in on the 51st floor you know that part of staying at the Andaz is all about the views which are amazing you sit looking out across Tokyo and at night the view of Tokyo Tower is stunning. On a clear day you can even see Mt Fuji.
Rooms…