We’ve always found that there’s something strangely fascinating about experiencing a place for the first time that you’ve only seen in a movie. Taking a stroll along the Canal Saint Martin in Paris’ 10th arrondissement where ‘Amelie from Montmartre’ hangs out or gasping from Vertigo at the sight of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur that Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery climbs in ‘Entrapment’, or simply enjoying the kitchy lobby of The Mirage Casino being robbed in ‘Ocean’s 11’.
It’s the same welcome feeling of déjà vu we sense when arriving at Park Hyatt in Tokyo. The Kenzo Tange designed towers in which some of the most memorable scenes and superbly understated dialogues take place between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson in Sofia Coppola’s breakthrough film ‘Lost in Translation’. Not least in the restaurant cum bar The New York Grill on the uppermost 52nd floor of the modern skyscraper complex minutes from Shinjuku Station, the busiest rail and subway hub in Tokyo.
Photo: Jeroen020
After a small labyrinth trip through the hotel, changing elevators a couple of times, we’re greeted at the elevator door and shown to a table in the restaurant. And wow, the view is so breathtaking that we hardly notice the stylish décor, the cool open kitchen or the other guests for some time. When we finally return to our senses and manage to pull our eyes from the magnificent panorama over the evening skyline we realize that we’re sitting smack in the middle of a luxury enclave of steel, glass and wood, crowned by the huge windows that make out the outer walls top to ceiling.
Photo: Loremipsum
Around us a there is a pleasant mixture of trendy Japanese and shopping weary foreigners, sipping wine and cocktails in the black and chrome interior.
Rumour has it that the hotel is a favourite haunt for local movie stars and CEO’s, so we scout around – but can’t see any. Could be that they’ve settled for room service this Sunday evening. A small army of waiters exit the kitchen in a constant flow, carrying lavish portions of duck, fresh seafood and of course the world famous Japanese beef.
Photo: Shyuhan
Our waiter brings us a couple of Asahi beers, and we sit and sip and enjoy the ambient mood which is surprisingly laid-back for a luxury hangout of this category.
The price tag is – obviously – a tad elevated, and after 20.00 – when the live band starts playing – the management slaps a ridiculous 5,000 yen (around 40 euro) cover charge in your face – even if you’re an in-house guest coming to have dinner.
Might be worth it if you’re just visiting, but instead we decide to save the money and splurge on a room to get the full experience. Not a bad decision as the view from our room over the brightly lit Tokyo skyline is just as good as from the New York Grill.
"For relaxing times – make it Suntory time" Photo: Paulamarttila
Instead of running up a huge bar tab above we make good use of the mini bar, filled to the brim with Suntory Whisky. Because apparently, Park Hyatt has decided to live by the slogan that Bill Murray tirelessly repeats in the film: "For relaxing times – make it Suntory time". Most certainly so.
NEW YORK GRILL, top floor of Shinjuku Park Tower, 3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku; Tokyo.