Tokyo Bvlgari Italian Jazz Lounge

I’ve now returned home to Tokyo, Japan and to fête the occasion I was indulged with a wonderfully luxurious evening spent at Bvlgari Ginza Tower. The evening included exceptional live Italian jazz music by Francesco Lomagistro & Berardi Jazz Connection Quintet enjoyed in great company and with flowing Dom Pérignon vintage champagne alongside a selection of small bite creations by Michelin starred executive chef Luca Fantin.

Francesco Lomagistro & Berardi Jazz Connection Quintet was full of energy and put on a terrific performance.

Le Jardin de Tweed Chanel

Chanel’s Le Jardin de Tweed (The Garden of Tweed), housed on the rooftop terrace of the Chanel Ginza building lets diners take in the spectacular views of Tokyo’s premier luxury shopping district while sipping on Perrier-Jouët champagne and munching on everything from delicious cheese platters to a light meal with dessert. Well worth a visit if you’re ever in town!

If you really want to maximize your multitasking skills you can forgo the lovely shade provided by the parasols and work on your tan while both dining and socializing.

A succulent cheese selection from France that makes my mouth water just at the memory…

Ginza Sakura Box including a prosciutto salad, freshly baked focaccia, roasted pork with mustard, potato puree, marinated salmon and vegetables, beet-flavored ricotta cream, and for dessert a mango and vanilla matelasse and sakura macaron.

Beige Alain Ducasse at Chanel Tokyo

Feasting on Michelin starred cuisine on the skyline of Ginza- one of the world’s most luxurious shopping districts, is the best pick-me-up after an intensive shopping spree. Alain Ducasse’s restaurant Beige, in collaboration with fashion brand Chanel boasts two Michelin stars and offers a sumptuous setting with excellent service and delicious food that indulges both sight and taste senses.

Beige tweed upholstery in line with classic Chanel suits is used on the dining chairs and the large glass windows feature a square quilting diamond pattern similar to that of the Chanel 2.55 handbag.

I chose a delicate green lentil soup followed by roast chicken from Bresse as appetizer.

This was then followed by a main course of seared Kinmedai, two ways fennel, lemon jus.

Small sweets included summery lemon and sakura (cherry blossom) macaroons with chocolate Chanel buttons.

As for dessert, I simply had to try the lavish and indulgent chocolate-praline Chanel square sprinkled with gold leaf and served with hazelnut gelato. Délicieux!

The restaurant also offers a fabulous view of the luxury lined streets of Ginza with the Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co. and Cartier buildings in the near distance.

古橋まどか展 at Shiseido Gallery

With Shiseido Gallery’s latest exhibition showing Madoka Furuhashi’s work, I had a definite flashback moment to the days I used to spend in Beijing’s 798 art district and the type of artwork that was often featured in their vast gallery spaces.

The exhibition featured a number of photographs and installations and this one above, reminded me of Chinese artist Wang Jianwei’s furniture installations which I had the pleasure of seeing up close and personal when I last visited his studio.

Mariage Frères Luxury Tea Shopping in Ginza

Although it’s no secret that I enjoy frequenting the luxury lined streets of Tokyo’s Ginza district, the best part has to be when I stumble upon something new and slightly out of the ordinary that isn’t part of the big brand names that fill the advert sections of magazines. So, tucked away on Suzuran-Dori, one of the quieter streets of Ginza I found the charming French luxury tea emporium Mariage Frères.

The boutique’s walls are lined with a vast selection of exotic loose-leaf teas and everything else that you could possibly need to enjoy a good cuppa tea. I picked up a box of thé blanc au parfum de fleurs de cerisier (white tea with cherry blossom flavor) that smells like candy. Other amusing flavors that I’ll have to try at some point includes ‘sexy tea’ a ‘floral black tea, with seductive notes of red berries’ and ‘black opera’ a ‘velvety black tea with rich notes of fruit and vanilla’.

グッチ・カフェ (Gucci Café)

For those of you that don’t already know, I absolutely adore all of the wonderful naughty things that people try to stay away from during their diets and that is pâtisserie. In all honest to god truth, could you say that your life isn’t that much better when biting into a  really tasty tarte aux framboises, tart aux fraises, or gelato? I decided to treat myself with just this at Gucci Café in Ginza, Tokyo. On the dessert menu was black currant gelato with an orange tart. Total bliss!

Let me be your reminder to indulge once in a while, there really isn’t a better feeling!

Ladurée Lunching

Indulging in a Club Champs-Elysées sandwich with dried tomato, aubergine, black olive, courgette, riquette salad, mozzarella, parmesan cheese with pine nut, rosemary and basil dressing. So delicious!

Then for dessert a summery Ispahan with rose petal cream, fresh raspberries and lychees in a smooth rose flavored macaroon biscuit. Could life get any better?

Bottega Veneta in 銀座 (Ginza)

The objects of my desire…

Bvlgari: Italian Magnificence

Grab your sunglasses and prepare to be blown away by the blinding sparkles of some of the world’s finest precious gems, stones and diamonds, all in the form of beautifully, well-crafted Italian luxury jewelry from none other than Bvlgari in their exhibition Italian Magnificence. Even their sleek 銀座 (Ginza) tower has been installed with a fierce snake that lights up at night.

Needless to say, the exhibition was absolutely breath-taking! Enjoy the photographs and try not to drool too much!

“Snake” belt in gold with polychrome enamel and sapphires, 2010. From the Bulgari Heritage Collection.

“Mount Fuji” brooch in gold and platinum with mother-of-pearl, polychrome enamel and diamonds. From the Bulgari Heritage Collection.

Chanel’s Le Jardin de Tweed

Welcome to a little bit of paradise, Chanel’s Le jardin de tweed (the garden of tweed) is conveniently located at the rooftop of their Ginza store. So, if you’ve had a tiresome day shopping at Tokyo’s most luxurious streets, this is the terrace to visit and replenish your energies.

The terrace design is sleek and stylish, offering either the option of basking in the sun and working on your jet setter St. Tropez tan or sitting under the safe guard of a parasol.

The stylish terrace offers café-style food with aperitifs and other deliciously elegant snacks. It is catered by Beige’s chef Alain Ducasse which is conveniently located a level down in the Chanel building.

The Champagne Perrier Jouët themed bar serves a range of summery cocktails including champagne of course, but also tea, coffee, and lemonade.

The fabulous view that features Tokyo’s very own version of the Parisian Eiffel tower in the distance, namely Tokyo Tower.

The food arrived in this fabulously simple basket and was presented in a very tasteful manner. I couldn’t wait to dig in and see what a Chanel menu tastes like. I nibbled on a small salad, some poisson (fish) bruschetta and cup of legumes (vegetables). For dessert some pound cake, rose and mint flavored marshmallows, a fabulous macaroon with possibly what tasted like hazelnut filling and some fruit. Such a scrumptious menu!

Ginza street view.

I couldn’t get enough of the dessert menu so I ordered an ice latte to enjoy with some Chanel chocolates.

Très chic!

If you find yourself in need of a trip to the ladies or mens room, you may find yourself searching for quite a while as the outside looks more like a stylish walk in closet than a restroom. A collection of Chanel perfumes is on proud display as is a classic Chanel handbag and some men’s  ties.

The ladies room sign was by far the most stylish one I’ve seen to date.

The men’s room sign proved equally stylish with three Chanel ties in the colors of le tricolore (France’s flag).

All in all, this was the perfect day and such a fabulous experience! A must do if you find yourself in Tokyo.

Details from the Ginza Chanel boutique windows.