FSR

📍 TOKYO

🍽️ RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS & BAKERIES

🍜 Ramen / Udon / Noodles

• Afuri Ramen (Harajuku / Ebisu / Yurakucho) – Famous for its light and citrusy Yuzu Shio ramen. Multiple locations including a sleek elevated Ginza outpost. A modern Tokyo favorite.
• Jikasei Mensho (Harajuku / Ebisu / Shibuya) – Artisanal ramen from one of Tokyo's most creative ramen chefs. Known for rich, complex broths and seasonal limited editions. Constantly evolving menu.
• Kakekomi Gyoza (Shinjuku) – A beloved Shinjuku institution dedicated entirely to gyoza. Crispy, juicy, and served in generous portions. Standing-bar style, fast and fun.
• Tsuta Ramen (Sugamo) – The world's first Michelin-starred ramen shop, serving a delicate Shoyu ramen with truffle oil.
• Udon Maruka (Kanda) – A top spot for Sanuki-style udon, offering bouncy noodles and flavorful dashi in a minimalist setting.

🥐 Bakeries, Sweets & Cafés

• 365 Days (Yoyogi) – Small, refined bakery using high-quality ingredients to produce breads and sweets loved by locals.
• A Happy Pancake (Omotesando) – Home of the famous fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes. Ideal for a sweet afternoon break.
• AE Zero-Waste Café & Bar (Shibuya) – A thoughtfully designed café and bar committed to zero-waste principles. Seasonal menus, natural wines, and a strong ethical ethos. One of Tokyo's most forward-thinking spaces.
• Benitsuru Pancake (Asakusa) – Delicate, beautifully presented soufflé pancakes in the heart of Asakusa. A charming neighbourhood gem worth the detour.
• Flippers Pancake (Shibuya / multiple locations) – Tokyo's most popular soufflé pancake chain. Light, jiggly, and deeply satisfying. Queue-worthy.
• Koffee Mameya Kakeru (Omotesando) – The bakery and pairing concept from Tokyo's iconic specialty coffee house. Exceptional pastries matched with world-class coffee.

• Viron (Shibuya) – French-style boulangerie known for its baguettes and butter-rich pastries. A slice of Paris in Tokyo.

🍕 Pizza

• Pizza Bar on 38th (Four Seasons Tokyo, Otemachi) – An intimate 7-seat omakase-style pizza counter with elevated Neapolitan pies.
• PST Roppongi (Roppongi) – Hidden gem for handcrafted wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Popular with Tokyo's foodies.

🍣 Sushi

• Udatsu Sushi (Azabu-Juban) – Elegant, intimate sushi counter experience. Michelin-level, reservations recommended.

🍝 Italian

• Ess (Minami-Aoyama) – Sophisticated Italian restaurant with a strong focus on seasonal Japanese ingredients interpreted through an Italian lens. Beautiful, minimal space.
• Strada (Roppongi) – Beloved neighbourhood Italian trattoria with a warm atmosphere, handmade pasta, and a loyal local following. Unpretentious and consistently excellent.

🍛 Indian

• Biriyani Osawa – Cozy Indian restaurant in Kanda known for its fragrant, spice-forward biryanis and comforting curries. Casual atmosphere with authentic flavors and generous portions.

🍗 Japanese Grill & Izakaya

• Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu (Nishi-Azabu) – The legendary multi-level izakaya that inspired the Kill Bill battle scene. Yakitori, soba, and sake in a dramatic warehouse-style space. A bucket-list Tokyo experience.

🎡 Entertainment Complex

• Kabukicho Tower (Shinjuku) – Tokyo's boldest new entertainment skyscraper in the heart of Kabukicho. Hotels, nightclubs, theatres, restaurants, and a rooftop bar all under one roof. The epicentre of Tokyo nightlife.

🍸 Bars & Speakeasies

• A10 Tokyo (Ebisu) – An intimate, music-focused cocktail bar inspired by vinyl listening lounges. Expect expertly crafted cocktails, a warm atmosphere, and an excellent soundtrack—ideal for those who appreciate great drinks and even better music.
• Bar Ben Fiddich (Nishi-Shinjuku) – Renowned apothecary-style bar crafting cocktails from herbs, roots, and spices. Alchemical and imaginative.
• Bar Centifolia (Nakameguro) – Elegant, floral-themed bar focusing on fresh ingredients and aesthetic cocktails.
• Bar Martha (Ebisu) – A quiet, elegant counter bar in Ginza serving beautifully crafted Japanese whisky highballs and stirred cocktails. Old-school Tokyo sophistication.
• Bar Trench (Ebisu) – Absinthe-forward, European-style speakeasy with a serious cocktail program.
• Bar Triad (Ebisu) – A stylish yet approachable cocktail bar from the team behind Bar Trench, featuring an extensive menu of classic and herb-forward craft cocktails.
• Bar Virtu (Four Seasons Otemachi) – Rooftop luxury bar with skyline views, Parisian flair, and refined drink offerings.
• Gen Yamamoto (Azabu-Juban) – Cocktail tasting bar where each drink is seasonal, delicate, and served like an omakase experience.
• Gold Bar (The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon) – Intimate, velvet-draped cocktail bar inside Ian Schrager's iconic Edition hotel. Moody, luxurious, and effortlessly cool.
• Golden Gai (Shinjuku) – A maze of 200+ tiny themed bars. Wild, weird, and unforgettable.
• Spotted Stone (Akasaka | 1 Hotel Tokyo) – A stylish gin-focused cocktail bar on the 38th floor of 1 Hotel Tokyo, featuring one of the city's best selections of Japanese craft gin, panoramic skyline views, and refined cocktails in a beautifully designed space. Perfect for sunset drinks or a sophisticated nightcap.
• Tableaux Tokyo (Ebisu) – A sophisticated all-day restaurant and bar with elegant interiors, live jazz on select evenings, and a refined cocktail program. Perfect for a stylish dinner or late-night drinks in a relaxed, upscale setting.
• Omoide Yokocho (Shinjuku) – Nostalgic alleyway of yakitori joints and sake bars. Gritty and full of local color.

📍 KYOTO

🍽️ RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS & BAKERIES

🍜 Ramen / Soba / Noodles / Italian

• Honke Owariya (Downtown Kyoto) – A historic 550-year-old soba restaurant. Royal-approved and deeply traditional.
• Menbaka Fire Ramen (near Nijo Castle) – A theatrical experience with flaming green onion ramen. Fun and flavorful.
• Stars & Cacio – A cozy Italian restaurant serving authentic handmade pasta and classic Italian favourites. Ideal for a relaxed lunch or dinner with a warm, intimate atmosphere.

🍡 Sweets & Bakeries

• Kagizen Yoshifusa (Gion) – Kyoto’s top wagashi shop, known for its serene setting and exquisite handmade sweets like kuzukiri.

🍸 Bars & Speakeasies

• Bar Trench – One of Kyoto's hottest new cocktail bars, housed in a beautifully restored 120-year-old machiya. Expect expertly crafted classic and signature cocktails, an intimate speakeasy-style atmosphere, and exceptional hospitality. Perfect for a sophisticated night out.

• Before9 (Sanjo area) – Kyoto’s laid-back answer to a craft beer bar. Serves local brews in a relaxed, café-style atmosphere.

• Bees Knees – Craft cocktails with personality — Ginza’s hidden hive of creativity.
• Ginza Music Bar – Where vinyl beats meet refined cocktails — a timeless Ginza groove.
• Ishimaru Shohten – A cozy Japanese super casual bar serving tradition, warmth, and great pours.
• K36 Rooftop Bar (Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu) – Rooftop bar with panoramic city views. Elegant, upscale, and ideal at sunset.
• L’Escamoteur Bar (Gion) – Quirky magician-themed cocktail bar offering theatrical drinks and vintage charm.

• Music Bar POP Kyoto - Where every night has a rhythm of its own.

📍 OSAKA

🍽️ RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS & BAKERIES

🍱 Local Eats

• Ajinoya (Namba) – Local-favorite okonomiyaki spot serving hearty, flavorful dishes in a cozy setting.

• Mizuno (Dotonbori) – One of Osaka’s most famous okonomiyaki restaurants. Expect a wait and a sizzling show.

• Sanpei Udon (Shinsaibashi) – Simple and satisfying udon shop with a long-standing reputation among locals.

🥐 Bakeries

• Bakery Café Blue Jean (near Osaka Station) – Cute, family-friendly café inside Hotel New Hankyu with fun-shaped bread and sweets.
• Le Sucré-Coeur (Kitahama) – A cult-favorite bakery known for flaky croissants and artisan bread. Arguably Japan’s best.

🍸 Bars & Speakeasies

• Bar Nayuta (Shinsaibashi) – Avant-garde speakeasy with futuristic interiors and experimental cocktails. Hard to find, harder to forget.

• Stand Akatsuki (Ura-Namba) – Stylish, intimate whisky bar known for hard-to-find Japanese labels and hushed atmosphere.

• Ura-Namba – Osaka’s gritty-chic nightlife zone. Think izakaya-style eateries, hidden cocktail dens, and post-midnight snacks.