Fish Bank wastes no time in taking your breath away. The restaurant’s dedicated lift in the Shiodome City Center building rises to the 41st floor so quickly you fear emerging with the bends, and the interior continues on a mission to make you hyperventilate. The floor to ceiling windows present all of Tokyo to you in miniature while the high ceilings, elaborate crystal chandeliers and a glass-fronted wine room housing over 1,000 bottles are almost as impressive. If your dining partner isn’t visibly impressed, you should check them for a pulse.
You aren’t the only one to make that lift journey – the flapping fresh contents of the impressive seafood platter are ferried up daily from Tsukiji Market below. FBT’s speciality is the sea urchin chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard), a silky, rich delicacy served in a spiky urchin shell. There are plenty of fresh oysters to further get you in the mood – consider pairing these unevenly sized beauties with a glass of crisp champagne.
The menu accommodates both à la carte and three prix fixe options – five, six or seven courses – which take the pressure off choosing, allowing you to sit back, enjoy the sequence of dishes and take in the spectacular vistas. A little tip when booking is to ask for one of the windowside tables with the best views of Tokyo Tower, although this iconic feature of the capital’s skyline is at least partially visible from all vantage points inside the main dining room.