Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2011

Commanding spectacular views of Tokyo through dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, LucianoShow has a way of making visitors feel like they’re on top of the world, let alone the city. The mixed-use venue encompasses a bar, grill, full-service restaurant and performance space, with décor that’s a mixture of ambassador’s parlor, Buenos Aires tango palace and Tokyo luxury chic. Every aspect of LucianoShow has been developed to reflect the taste of owner Kengo Yokoyama, whose emphasis on exacting details is the guiding force behind a new brand of nocturnal experience.

Up in the tenth-floor restaurant, chef Ryohei Mizuno has developed a completely organic menu with the highest standards of freshness. All vegetables and herbs come straight from his own fields outside Tokyo, while fresh seafood is sourced from Odawara fish market every morning.

Besides the freshness and quality of its ingredients, the cuisine is highlighted by stunning presentation. To fit LucianoShow’s multisensory experience, all dishes are created to please the eye as well as the palate. The kaleidoscope of colors and delicate textures would be too beautiful to eat—if they weren’t so delicious. Dishes even include edible flowers, picked by Mizuno from his garden.

The chef has honed his craft over 20 years, and he’s found the perfect outlet for his passion at the three-month-old location. Each day’s menu is created according to Mizuno’s inspiration and the availability of fresh ingredients. We were fortunate to try his homemade tortellini with ikasumi, whose message of spring was evoked by a floral arrangement and subtle spicing.

LucianoShow’s ninth-floor grill features a selection of top-quality ingredients that are prepared in enchanting, offbeat ways—think lobster filled with mango guacamole, and premium Yamagata beef strips. The offerings vary daily, but everything is suffused with a satisfyingly smoky flavor.

The desserts, too, are sumptuous, with themes that match LucianoShow’s entertainment and décor. One dish was inspired by tango—a passionate “masculine” and “feminine” interplay of pink pepper ice cream and ginger tart. Seasonal desserts include a selection of spring sorbets featuring matcha and cherry blossom, capped off with a candy butterfly and edible roses.

These aesthetic creations combine wonderfully with LucianoShow’s luxurious and decadent surroundings. “Bar-restaurants in Tokyo are bland and family-oriented,” owner Yokoyama explains. “They are the equivalent of switching the TV onto NHK: the safe option.”

LucianoShow is perfect for modern people living in a fast-paced society who are looking for a nightlife venue that matches their worldly experience. The ninth-floor grill and cigar bar offers Cuban cigars and is open till midnight. Perfect for pre-prandial drinks or after-dinner exuberance.

LucianoShow’s selection of hand-selected cigars is emblematic of the venue’s philosophy. “Cigars used to take two and half hours to smoke,” Yokoyama says. “Nowadays, people prefer short, thick cigars to go along with their fast-paced lives. LucianoShow offers a wide variety of premium cigars for all kinds of people to experience. Your valuable time should be enjoyed to the fullest.”

The nightly dance shows feature a variety of styles ranging from tango to jazz; each dancer is encouraged to expand upon his or her own instincts and background. The action kicks off just after 7pm at both the tenth-floor restaurant and the ninth-floor grill and cigar bar.

Yokoyama is passionate about providing a “dinner fit for the royal family. What you eat defines your health and lifestyle. That’s why we serve organic, chemical-free food—which you can eat 365 days a year.” And Yokoyama does just that. “Most CEOs and staff don’t use their own products. However, I believe in our creations. I am living proof that spending every night here is good for body and soul.”

And how about a message for prospective guests? “If you find something lacking even in this big city—and you’re not sure what—then try us out. We might surprise you.”

The Hexagon, 5-4-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Akasaka, exit 4. 9F (grill and cigar bar) open 5pm-midnight (LO 11:30pm). Tel: 03-3568-4818. 10F (restaurant) open 3-11:30pm (LO 10pm). Tel: 03-3568-4820. Dance performances on both floors nightly from 7pm. http://lucianoshow.biz/