Set to the backdrop of Tokyo, the subliminal Lost in Translation deserves its place among my all-time favorite movies. A tale of kindred spirits, united in seeking a purpose to life through much soul-searching, Tokyo is the unlikely playground for the film’s two main protagonists. From neon karaoke nights in Roppongi, to the crazy video game arcades in Akihabara, to indulging in Japanese delicacies in one of the city’s numerous izakayas, iconic moments from the film have lent themselves as inspiration when I’ve sought after things to do during my travels. And it doesn’t get more iconic than a visit to the New York Bar & Grill at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.
Located in Shinjuku, the New York Bar & Grill occupies the 52nd floor of the hotel, enabling sweeping vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. The labyrinthine setup requires you to take two different sets of elevators, which offers a nice opportunity to see different parts of the hotel’s public areas. Very muted and understated in a way only the Japanese can master. We were lucky to be given a table directly by the panoramic windows, and as we were being seated, the live jazz quartet were in full swing under the gaze of the appreciative audience. Every table around us was occupied, with a real mixture of locals and international visitors. The wait staff were the epitome of efficiency, moving between tables and the open plan kitchen with an almost orchestrated precision.
In fairness, as far as New York-style grills go, the meal was just average. Make no mistake, the appeal here lies in the atmosphere more than the quality of the meal, despite the healthy price tag. I think we enjoyed sipping our Director’s Cut Zinfandel from Francis Ford Coppola’s estate, watching the sparkling views of Tokyo beneath us more so than the food itself. One other annoyance was the fact that we needed to pay an additional cover charge (after dropping a substantial amount of money on dinner and wine) to continue our evening drinking in the adjacent bar. Unnecessary to say the least.
The Verdict
Dining at the New York Bar & Grill isn’t just about the food. Next time, I’ll probably opt to stay at the Park Hyatt so irrespective of whether I dine here again, I’ll still have the opportunity to recreate my Lost in Translation moment, enjoying a drink at the bar in the company of some live jazz. Go and enjoy the experience… life is too short.
I definitely need a visit – Tokyo just keeps calling my name!
I know that feeling… its pencilled in for summer 2017, so fingers crossed!
I really have to say that I wasn’t impressed by the bar, when I visited two years ago. Like you said, the food wasn’t that special, but the problem was the service. It wasn’t bad service by any standard, but there just wasn’t anything good to say about it either. In a place like that with such a price tag, in my opinion the service should be something to remember – especially in Japan. But the views are spectacular, no arguing there :).
That’s a real shame, as my experience was a little different service-wise. I agree with you however that when you’re paying so much for an experience – especially in Japan where there’s such a well developed sense of service culture, you want to get your money’s worth. Maybe give it another shot the next time you’re visiting? Admittedly I’m a fan, and would probably stay at the Park Hyatt on a future visit (not that that would make a difference!).
The thing is that I actually went there to “check it out” before deciding if I would want to stay there in the future. I didn’t stay there during my future visits (yet), but I think I will give it another go later on (maybe even as a hotel guest). Everyone is always saying how great the Park Hyatt is, so I’m thinking that it was just bad luck and nothing else.
Yep, I would think so. Will look out for your review when you eventually do try it out. Happy travels