Le Pristine Restaurant Tokyo

Le Pristine’s Tokyo outpost sits on street level within the Hotel Toranomon Hills and marks Dutch chef Sergio Herman’s exciting debut in Asia. It’s become a hotspot for the city gastronomes for a reason: Herman started his career in the family-owned restaurant Oud Sluis in the Netherlands and was quickly known for his European-inflicted concepts. His approach are often cosmopolitan and multi-sensorial, guided by his love of design, art and music. Le Pristine Tokyo is billed as the brand’s immersive, casual fine dining sister that ventures into classic European charts with a Japanese twist. Neo-Italian influences shine through, supported by the skillful use of both Japanese and Zeeland ingredients, the latter hailing from Herman’s native region. Take the crudo, for example, which uses day-fresh catches of scallops or hamachi yellowtail. The signature handmade orecchiette, tossed with langoustine, clams, squid and fennel flower, makes a much-anticipated return to the menu. The course also features items like Japanese Brown beef, Sanriku mussels and vinaigrette infused with shiso habanero. For the open-concept dining space, Herman enlisted the design firm Space Copenhagen to work their magic. The result is a sultry, clean-lined venue with designer touches (Como SC53 portable table lamps and Fredericia Furniture chairs, for example) and taupe-colored accents. These elements contrast accent pieces like Kelly Wearstler's melted disco balls fixed to the wall columns. Michelin Guide accolades for Le Pristine Tokyo: 2024 - Michelin Selected