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Tokia Marunouchi

The Tokyo Building, which opened on November 11, brings another influx of new restaurants to the once-barren Marunouchi area. Located across the street from Tokyo International Forum and just a few minutes south of JR Tokyo station, the Tou-Biru's "Tokia" complex offers a choice of more than twenty places to eat, plus a brand-new jazz club (called The Cotton Club).

Several of these restaurants are located at street level - a refreshing sight in this office-dominated neighborhood. Even more surprising are the late-night options - three restaurants are open until 3am Thursday/Friday nights, and a Belgian beer bar is scheduled to stay open till 4am every weeknight (although currently they close at midnight). Here are a few of Tokia's more interesting choices.

Muy (Spanish)
Muy's huge, dramatically lit bar is very impressive, stretching half a city block along the front of the Tokyo Building. The menu includes a big selection of tapas (with numerous Spanish hams), grilled meats and fish, lots of rice dishes, and fideua - Catalan paella made with pasta instead of rice. Budget around Y4-5000 for food at dinnertime. Prix-fixe lunches from Y1400 (Y2500 weekends); wines from Y3700. (Weekend lunch to 3:30pm, Thu/Fri nights to 2:30am) 03-5224-6161
Resonance (French)
Fancy modern French cuisine, with dishes like oyster and fennel soup, foie gras flan, hot organic vegetable salad - plus roast meats like veal, venison, lamb and duck. Main courses average around Y4000; prix-fixe dinners from Y5500; lunch from Y1200. 03-3215-7707
No no Budo (Japanese)
This cafeteria-style "natural foods buffet" is a real bargain at Y2400 per person, which includes organic fruit juices and fresh-brewed espresso as well as a big selection of Japanese home-style dishes. 03-3215-7320
Luxor (Italian)
A branch of the very luxurious Luxor in Shirogane (from veteran Tokyo restauranteur Mario Fritolli), with a nice view of the plaza across from Tokyo International Forum. Budget around Y7000-10,000 for dinner; lunch from Y1300. 03-6212-6900
Il Ghiottone (Italian)
This first Tokyo branch of one of Kyoto's best Italian restaurants occupies a small, minimal but elegant dining room facing the street. Dinner is either Y7500 or Y10,000 - chef's omakase menu only - with reasonably priced bottles and half-bottles of Italian wines. Lunch from Y2000. 03-5220-2006
Doichan (izakaya)
An "izakaya + cafeteria" with a very welcoming atmosphere for an office-building basement - blue-and-white tile walls, an open kitchen with hams hanging over the counter, chalkboards announcing daily specials, bistro-style seating. The "Kobe home-style" menu includes items like teppan-grilled scallops with Genovese sauce, Kobe-beef tendon stew, salmon with Parmesan cheese - most in the Y500-800 range. 03-5223-8266
Kanoya Kiyoshi (Kyushu)
A very casual counter-bar serving food from Kagoshima and further south - satsuma-age (fish cakes), tonkotsu (pork stew), goya kimchee, and of course plenty of shochu. 03-5219-6616
Kuruma (yakitori)
Charcoal-grilled free-range chicken is the main focus of Kuruma's menu, supplemented by interesting side dishes like avocado and potato tempura and home-made tofu. 03-3216-0022
Antwerp Central (Belgian beers)
AC's atmosphere and decor are very European in feel, and the large food menu includes surprisingly authentic Belgian specialties like "stoemp" - a hearty platter of mashed potatoes and root vegetables. The bar serves more than 30 Belgian beers, including Leffe Blond and three others on tap. They're open weeknights till 4am, although the kitchen closes well before the bar. [NOTE: currently they're open till midnight only.] Ample terrace seating is available. 03-5288-7370
Planet 3rd (cafe)
A hip little cafe known for their inexpensive, eclectic menu - sandwiches, rice bowls, unusual pizzas, and mains like roast pork with wasabi sauce. Desserts include French toast. Open all day. 03-5223-8261
Viron (cafe/bakery)
A combination bakery and brasserie; Viron also features a small standup bar serving ten wines by the glass - a good place to meet up before dining nearby. 03-5220-7289
by Robb Satterwhite
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