Christmas In The City: 10 Of Tokyo’s Best Restaurants For Holiday Dining

Where to celebrate Christmas in Tokyo if you're not flying back home — or celebrating indoors — this season.

The holiday season is in full swing and can be felt all across Tokyo. Every inch of the city is decorated with illuminations and Christmas trees, transforming Tokyo into a beautiful winter festival just in time for the holidays.

This year, if you’re spending Christmas in the city and away from home, here are our top 10 recommendations for a special Christmas dining experience with family, friends, and your significant others, as offered by some of Tokyo’s best hotels and restaurants.

1. Crista

This stylish American restaurant offers a special full dinner Christmas course, which includes five carefully selected dishes, from appetizers to dessert. The course begins with a fennel mousse and sea urchin parfait with dashi jelly, chives, and brioche croutons as the starter, a shrimp tartar with carrot purée, crispy tapioca puffs, garden sorrel, and yuzu oil appetizers, leading to pan-seared halibut filet and grilled Australian long-grain beef filet with foie gras, garlic mashed potatoes, beet purée, Brussels sprouts, and Port wine sauce. End your special meal with a banana split chocolate mousse cake with peanut caramel, vanilla gelato and chocolate cream served with an assortment of tea or coffee. Stick a fork in us, we’re done!

Where: 1-2-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 24-25, 2019
Cost: ¥12,000 (+¥4,500 with wine pairing)
Reservations: Call 03-6418-0077 or book online here.

2. BLT Steak

This popular steakhouse in Tokyo is preparing a variety of special Christmas courses for the holiday season. Choose from their popular BLT menu, a tasty lobster grill course or this year’s special, a prime dry-aged T-bone steak. If you want to have a romantic Christmas lunch or dinner, the restaurant also provides private rooms during the season for a little extra privacy (and cash)! 

Where: (Ginza Store) 8F Royal Crystal Ginza 5-4-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, (Roppongi Store) 5F Izumi Garden, 1-6-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 21-25, 2019
Cost: Lunch course (¥6,500), Dinner course (¥12,000-¥15,000, ¥40,000 for a private room)
Reservations: Roppongi: book online here, Ginza: book online here.

3. Tooth Tooth Tokyo

Enjoy the chef’s specialty course dishes that are carefully selected from appetizers to desserts at Tooth Tooth Tokyo in Ebisu. Seven gorgeous dishes will be served with the main dish being a duck breast roti Poirot with cassis sauce. This main dish can also be swapped over to a beef or foie gras dish if you’re feeling even more extravagant. Apparently, the berry millefeuille with pistachio ice cream was inspired by a Christmas tree—cute!

Where: 3-17-12 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 24-25, 2019
Cost: ¥6,500
Reservations: Call 03-6419-2040 or book online here.

4. Two Rooms Grill & Bar

This stylish grill and bar situated near Omotesando station is once again offering their signature Christmas brunch and special dinner. The lunch course includes a delicious selection of pasta, chicken, desserts, and drinks. The dinner menu includes oysters, champagne, potato croquette, wagyu steak, and many others, perfect for the season festive dishes. Enjoy the superb Christmas food while drinking in the stunning views of the city. 

Where: 3-11-7 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 23-25, 2019
Cost: ¥6,100 (Brunch), ¥15,000 (Dinner) (+¥5,000 with wine pairing)
Reservations: Book online here.

5. The Peninsula Tokyo

The Peninsula Tokyo is offering several festive plans including a too-cute-to-eat festive Afternoon Tea and holiday lunches and dinner at The Lobby; festive lunch, brunch, and dinner (pictured) at Peter (with a stunning view of Tokyo), and lunch and dinner at their exclusive Chinese diner, the Hei Fung Terrace. The hotel is a great place to go during the glittery season and to enjoy timeless experiences with your loved ones. For a bag of goodies to take back home, stop by at The Peninsula Boutique & Café on the basement floor.

Where: 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 20-25, 2019
Cost: ¥8,900 (Lunch)(+¥600 with wine pairing), ¥20,600 (Dinner)(+¥3,000 with wine pairing)
Reservations: Book online here.

6. Conrad Tokyo

If you wish to celebrate the Christmas season in style, the Conrad Tokyo is famous for its gourmet extravaganza. Every year, the hotel’s talented chefs make use of the concept of each restaurant at Conrad, using luxurious seasonal ingredients. The Conrad is located at Tokyo Shiodome building and delights customers with a stunning view of the city.

Where: 1-9-1 Higashishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 21-25, 2019
Cost: ¥11,000-¥28,000 
Reservations: Modern French Collage: book online here, China Blue: book online here, Kazahana: book online here, Twenty Eight: book online here, Cerise: book online here.

7. Park Hyatt Tokyo

This year, each of the hotel’s restaurants will serve a special Christmas dinner accompanied by the stunning night view of glistening Tokyo lights. If you’re in doubt about where to go, we recommend New York Grill, located on the hotel’s 52nd floor—it’s got the view, it’s got the vibe, and it’s got the taste you need to make you merry (five-dish special festive course to be exact)! 

Where: 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 20-25, 2019
Cost: ¥25,000 (5-item course at New York Grill), other restaurants’ menus start at ¥9,500.
Reservations: New York Grill: Call 03-5323-3458 or book online here, Girandole: Call 03-5323-3459 or book online here, Kozue: Call 03-5323-3460 or book online here, The Peak Lounge: Call 03-5323-3461 or book online here.

8. Smoke House

If you’re looking for something light and casual — and less pricey — Smoke House in Harajuku is the perfect place to go. This year, on your festive table you will find simple, home-made style Christmas dishes such as smoked roast beef ribeye with smoked mashed potatoes and green beans, plus a few special seasonal additions, too. Cheers!

Where: 5-17-13 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec. 24-25, 2019
Cost: ¥5,200
Reservation: Call 03-6450-5855.

9. Soulfood House

If you’re missing home this Christmas day, invite yourself to Soulfood House in Azabu-Juban where you’ll find not only some of the most finger-licking-good American food in all of Tokyo but also so much love and warmth— something we all need, especially over the holidays. This year, the lovely family running the place is staying true to their Southern roots by offering us a truly unique home-made Cajun Christmas Dinner. Hurry up as this place is very popular and fills up quickly.

Where: Patio 6F, 2-8-10 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec 24-25, 2019
Cost: ¥6,500
Reservations: Call 03-5765-2148 or book online here.

10. The Tavern – Grill & Lounge

Re-launched in April 2018, The Tavern – Grill & Lounge welcomes guests to their second Christmas Dinner as a modern grill restaurant. The chef and his team have created a delectable menu showcasing seasonal ingredients with an entrée Wagyu Tenderloin. The Christmas sugar plum dessert “gift” wraps up the elegant dinner adding a festive touch to the evening.

Where: Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills 1F,1-23-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
When: Dec 20-25, 2019
Cost: ¥20,000-¥22,000
Reservations: Book online here.

Happy holidays!