Vesta

No amount of superlatives could describe the taste of a perfectly cooked wagyu beef steak — the kind offered at Vesta in Tokyo. This European-style steakhouse deals only in luxury, with the finest beef on the menu, and original works by the painter Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita adorning the walls. If it weren’t already clear from the decor and ambiance, the beluga whale caviar on the menu (sold at around 10,000 yen per spoonful) announces loud and clear that this is a high-end establishment of the highest caliber. Beef connoisseurs who can afford the experience should prepare for an experience to remember. The set course features fresh seafood appetizers and a series of Seto wagyu beef dishes prepared in a charcoal-fired oven. Before the main steak, the beef is brought out to the restaurant floor, and diners can select their preferred cut of meat. To tackle their exquisitely charcoal-grilled meat, they are then equipped with steak knives crafted by an artisan company with a 700-year history, which originally smithed swords for the samurai warriors of the Muromachi period. The luxury experience is completed by access to one of the finest wine cellars in Tokyo, stocked with some top European vintages which can’t be found elsewhere in town. If prime wagyu is on your dining checklist for Japan (and if your budget permits), treat yourself to the very best at Vesta.