Talking about traditional beef noodle soup with a Taiwanese assistant manager at the bar, chatting about a former Macau career with a Filipino waitress, missing Hong Kong drinking culture with the Hong Kong lounge receptionist, nattering on about Atlantic upbringings with the Canadian restaurant manager, and dolling on about intricate cocktails with the Japanese bartender – you might assume we have landed on an international cruise ship heading to the Bahamas.
But no, we are at the Fairmont Tokyo, the newly inaugurated resort in the Japanese capital putting on an opulent show for fans of the global resort chain and those seeking a swanky stay for a trip to Tokyo. It is a worldly affair.
Only open since the beginning of July, all rooms at Fairmont Tokyo, 217 to be exact, ranging from simple double-bed rooms to 3,000 square feet apartment-like suites, overlook the grand expanse of the mega city.
The hotel is well positioned for day and nighttime views with all rooms and restaurants and bars located on the 35th to 43rd floors of the BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA South Tower. On a clear day, the views reach the tip of Mount Fuji.
Located in Shibauru, there is little to do in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, but you’d be forgiven with adventure to be had only a few train stops away from Tokyo Station, Akihabara, and Ueno on the eastern-ish side of the city. Or, you can forget your plans and hole yourself up in the hotel all-day.
For a two-night stay, we found ourselves inside their signature Tokyo Tower view corner room, featuring views of both the north and east of the city. The room itself enjoys touches of Japanese hardwood, brown hued paneling, a clean yet sophisticated living room, shower, jacuzzi-sized bathtub, bidet, and a king-sized bed ready to make anyone melt in its comforting presence.
The bed experience is made even more magical when you dunk your head into their soft feather pillows and watch the glistening Tokyo Tower disappear before your eyes as the room’s blinds shutter down.
But, for height averse travellers like myself, I recommend a picking of the rooms amply-stocked mini fridge in the kitchen for a pick of your Japanese shochu, whiskey, or wine to calm your nerves before you settle in for the night!
The food and drinks offerings at Fairmont Tokyo is an aspect of the hotel that has evidently been thought through precisely. Menus are crafted elegantly and drinks served with that classic Japanese service – polished and pinpoint.
Daily breakfast on the 35th floor at Kiln & Tonic and the 42nd floor inside the Fairmont Gold Lounge is simply decadent. On my first morning, I enjoyed their French toast, both delicate with the maple syrup flavours and plump texture. My friend ordered the traditional Japanese breakfast with fish tasting like it was captured just out of the Tokyo Bay earlier that day. The second morning I ate the equally-enjoyable Turkish eggs with pastrami beef. It was a salty flavour bomb required to start the day.
Onto the bar selection and Fairmont Tokyo boasts of three: Driftwood Bar (attached to the restaurant), Yoi to Yoi, and the semi-secret Off Record.
I was a fan of the Driftwood Bar. Its glitzy chandelier hanging above the long bar sets the mood of utter grandeur. Their signature cocktails are complemented by a view of the entirety of Tokyo at night, a spectacle that only access to Fairmont Tokyo can buy.
The restaurant serves premium Yoshoku cuisine, a fusion of Japanese and Western food that won in my books. We enjoyed the Eda Wagyu tartare, Yamanashi free range chicken nanban, and char-grilled Kagoshima Megumi black pork, each carrying robust meaty flavours without overwhelming the palate.
Around the corner, the standing bar Yoi to Yoi comes to play. There was something missing about this bar. The bar is simply just a long table located in the middle of a hallway between the Driftwood restaurant lobby and the other bars. The highballs served are markedly more premium in taste than your average Tokyo izakaya, but I was wishing for more spectacle for this bar.
Finally, the Off Record secret bar located at the edge of the three-part-restaurant-bar-space on the 43rd floor is where you need to visit. With its funky 1980s and 90s beats blasting from the live record DJ and a comical bartender slinging cocktails, the bar is something out of a music scene.
In terms of relaxation, once you have finished a meal or woken up at the hotel, a visit to Fairmont Tokyo’s indoor-outdoor pool is required. Swimming in front of the Tokyo Tower is an experience rare for many.
The traditional onsen inside the spa and the Technogym also allows for kicking back or tensing muscles if time permits.
Fairmont Tokyo is designed for Japan visits made for enjoying the most premium of meals and drinks. The breakfast is colourful, bars varied with choice, Yoshoku cuisine at Driftwood inventive, views enviable, and the rooms comforting. This ought to be on your itinerary the next time you visit Tokyo.
Fairmont Toyko, BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA TOWER S, 1 Chome-1-1 Shibaura, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0023, Japan, +81 3-4321-1111, book here, rooms start at HKD5,773/JPY110,500
This review is intended to offer an individual perspective on the hotel experience and should not be considered as a definitive judgement of the hotel’s overall quality or reputation. The views expressed in this review are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of Foodie.
