Looking to stay on the cutting edge of food, drink and shopping trends in Tokyo? Sure, keeping track of all the new restaurants, bars, shops and stands opening across the city every month can feel exhausting and almost hopeless – but that's where we come in. Sparing you the trouble of wading through long lists of shiny promotional pics and hollow praise, we've again compiled a handy list of the top five spots to start business this month. Check out our editorial team's picks below, and make sure to leave a comment if you think we missed something.
1) Benjamin Steak House
Opened in Midtown New York in 2006 by A Benjamin Prelvukaj and chef Arturo McLeod, both of whom earned their stripes at legendary Big Apple steakhouse Peter Luger, Benjamin has never been the most innovative restaurant out there. On the other hand, it's a very solid destination for quality-conscious carnivores, who can look forward to dry-aged USDA Prime beef in all the usual cuts. This first branch restaurant is set to start business in steakhouse central, aka Roppongi, later this month. Read more
2) Kung Fu Kitchen
You'll be spoilt for choice in the ramen department at this Chinese-style noodle shop: they have a whopping 26 different varieties to pick from. Satisfy a shrimp craving with their shrimp wonton noodles, go all pork-happy with the umami-rich pork rib ('paakoo') noodles or choose shio soup with a peppery kick by having their aoto negi (blue pepper and leek) ramen. You'll also get to select the thickness of your noodles – three types are available, from old-school thin to imperially thick ones – and if you feel the need to add a little extra volume to your meal, there's gyoza and dim sum on offer too. Read more
3) Craft Liquor Stand
A bar that only serves domestically made alcohol priced at little more than the cost of production – in Ginza? Sign us up. Craft Liquor Stand's ordering system is rather simple: pay ¥1,000 at the counter for access to any type of booze you'd like within that price bracket, no time limit enforced. Options range from domestic wine, artisanal nihonshu and craft beer to Japanese spirits, whisky and other harder tipples. Read more
4) Le Pain Quotidien Tokyo Midtown
Everyone's favourite Belgian bakery-restaurant indulgence, Le Pain Quotidien, now has a flagship store inside equally swanky Tokyo Midtown. They offer their usual opulent breakfast, brunch and lunch fare – eggs benedict, smoked salmon omelettes and their range of tartines (open sandwiches) included – while they've also added a proper dinner menu; think beef rib steaks and grilled gambas. Settle back, have a cuppa or a glass of wine and indulge in a little European food luxury. Read more
5) Perrotin Tokyo
Emmanuel Perrotin's gallery empire stretches across seven spaces in Paris, Seoul, New York and Hong Kong – or eight if you count this first Japan outpost, recently opened on the ground floor of Roppongi's Piramide Building. Perrotin are known for participating in major art fairs from Art Basel and Frieze to Art Stage Jakarta and represent an impressive list of contemporary stars, including Kaws, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Maurizio Cattelan, Bharti Kher and JR. Perrotin himself also goes by 'the man who brought Takashi Murakami to the world,' having backed the otaku ambassador since 1993.