Best restaurants and bars with fireplaces in Tokyo

Mercer is one of the top terrace restaurants in Roppongi but it need not be reserved for summer only. When night falls, the flames in the central fireplace lend a touch of romance to the setting on cold days. Meanwhile, the kitchen switches from all-day brunch options (salmon tartare, grilled sausages etc) to a hearty, Italian-inspired menu, including pizza, pasta and grilled premium cuts of pork and beef. But if you’re there during the day, the daily brunch sets offer luxe options (sirloin steak) as well as casual staples. Parents with small kids will appreciate the smaller, calmer second room.

Hiding out in the residential streets of upscale Azabu-Juban, Kunsei Apartment is a spacious, chic spot made for grown-up relaxation, complete with a fireplace. The restaurant menu is primarily devoted to exquisite coldsmoked cuisine, such as the Dutch oven-cooked kuroge wagyu rump steak, a lean cut of meat picked to bring out the ideal smoky accent. The smoke-grilled cheese is a good option too, with its smoky fragrance and crispy exterior, while everything here goes nicely with a bottle off the tightly curated wine list. Be sure to book your table in advance.

Sometimes you need to treat yourself to a moment of luxury at a fivestar hotel lounge, and if said lounge happens to have a proper fireplace, all the better. A short walk from Tokyo Station, Palace Hotel Tokyo’s ground-floor lobby lounge boasts a high ceiling and huge windows overlooking the greenery of the Imperial Palace Gardens. It is a popular afternoon tea spot, but we prefer it on a winter’s evening when the flames dancing in the hearth provide a warm backdrop to the live piano music and quality cocktails.

Having held on to its Michelin star for nine years now, Pachon is one of the most consistently fantastic French restaurants in the city. Its red carpets and antique fireplace, said to have been built for a monastery in 17th-century France, help conjure up a special atmosphere for veteran chef André Pachon to work his magic in.

The decorated Languedoc native’s signature dish is the cassoulet, a meaty stew made here with duck and white kidney beans, which has kept the regulars coming back for over 20 years. You’ll also want to look into the selection of grilled and roasted meats such as veal, lamb and duck, prepared over the aforementioned fireplace. An evening at Pachon is best reserved for special occasions, although the lunch sets are often very good value.

The kind of bar you’d like to keep a secret, the classy but comfortable Yoshino is perfect for after-dinner drinks in good company. Low lighting, inviting sofas and a crackling fireplace in the middle set the scene for well-mannered conversation over cocktails made with seasonal fruit and vegetables. You can ask the bartender to conjure up a concoction just for you – just let them know which flavours you prefer. And the food menu is just as comforting, with cheese fondue, pizzas and meaty stews.

Walk down the Tama River from Futako-Tamagawa Station for about ten minutes and you’ll come across this hidden gem of a restaurant, housed in a renovated four-storey apartment building. Take a seat under the little chandeliers and you’ll feel a world away from the monstrous shopping complexes and residential tower blocks nearby.

The French-influenced offerings include filet mignon with foie gras, and asari clams in wine sauce, all available at low prices. That’s because service is kept to a minimum: buy food tickets at the ground-floor kitchen, find your seat and you’ll be informed when your order is ready for pick-up. There’s a fireplace in the back room lounge on the ground floor, while the third floor has terrace seating with views of the river. 

A modern open hearth takes pride of place in the centre of Mercer Cafe Danro, and this pretty much sums up what you can expect from the restaurant. It's all about comfort here: the cosy space features regular seating as well as sofas where you can cuddle up by the flames. The menu offers a selection of hearty New York Italian-style dishes including stews and grilled meat. And for dessert, the chiffon cake, which uses rice instead of the usual wheat flour, makes for a light yet satisfying ending to your meal.