Skip to navigation Skip to main content

Wining & Dining

Latest Articles

Gold Bar Opens At Edition Tokyo Cocktails in Kamiyacho

Launching today, Tokyo's latest suave and sophisticated cocktail bar is born. Gold Bar in Tokyo Edition located in Toranomon (really Kamiyacho) is on the ground floor next to the entrance, and is presented as 'An urban hideaway where guests can savor luxurious and exceptional moments'.

The decor is certainly reminiscent of the roaring 20s and is quite lavish; gold leaf and plush armchairs within a tastefully lit room, blending the contemporary style of the hotel, the Gold Bar will definitely be a hit with the local business crowd as well as pre-dinner cocktails for Tokyo Ex-pats.

Castiglion del Bosco golf and wine estate

The Club at Castiglion del Bosco is Italy’s only private, members-only golf club and features a world-class 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf.

When designing the course, Weiskopf added a short 19th ‘Brunello Hole’ to settle matches and where a hole-in-one wins a magnum of Brunello. It is also the setting for many fun member competitions and challenges.

Castiglion del Bosco is a historic 800-year-old estate in the UNESCO protected Val d’Orcia that spreads across 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) and comprises organic-certified vineyards, a state-of-the-art Winery and a luxury Rosewood hotel, centered on a medieval castle ruin and exquisitely restored hilltop village.
Tokyo American Club Nihonbashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower

Tokyo American Club Nihonbashi: A new home for the city's international elite The beloved expat institution has just opened some swanky new digs

Based on the award-winning Tokyo American Club’s concept of a first-in-class private club in the American tradition, Tokyo American Club Nihonbashi combines dining, drinking and fitness venues for members to unwind, entertain and exercise as part of an international community.

With a design by acclaimed architect Daishi Yoshimoto and bespoke furnishings throughout, including a curated collection of artwork, the club’s interior provides unparalleled luxury for all members. Its location in the heart of the business-focused Nihonbashi district - within walking distance of Tokyo station - also positions the club as a prime destination for those in search of a refined retreat before or after work.

About Tokyo American Club Nihonbashi

Tokyo American Club...

The Cool California Coast

When golfers think of the California Coast, they think of Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, The Olympic Club, and the most recent PGA Championship course, Harding Park among others. These are some of the best golf courses in the USA and all have one thing in common: the California coastal climate.

When winemakers and wine lovers think about California Pinot Noir, they think Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara. These coastal wine regions are some of the best for growing and producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir due to the proximity to the coast.

Image by: Hari Nandakumar

Big Easy On The Course And In The Winery

I am very excited about AIR Golf allowing me the opportunity to write about 2 of my favorite things: Golf and Wine. Golf and Wine complement each other in so many ways and in this quarterly column we will be exploring the intersection as well as how each can be enjoyed on their own.

Several South African PGA golf professionals have had great success on the course as well as catching the wine bug and starting their own wine brands in their native land. With some of the most picturesque vineyards in the world, almost perfect Mediterranean climate and a diverse food and wine scene, there is no wonder why these South African’s got involved in wine.

David Frost (29 professional victories) and his family have been in the wine business for over 60 years. David has been in and...

Maduro Lounge Premium booze and all that Jazz at Tokyo Grand Hyatt.

It had been a fair few years since I had visited Maduro- the Tokyo Grand Hyatt’s plush Jazz bar located in Roppongi Hills. The entrance is a little hidden, its large wooden doors tucked away in between floors of the plush five-star property.

It’s a Thursday and the bar has just opened its doors, no band yet and it’s relaxingly quiet. Besides me, 3 suits are finishing off the day's business over a drink and two couples are having an aperitif before dinner.

The interior is exactly what you would expect for a luxury jazz joint. Tastefully backlit, comfortable chairs and round candlelit tables are around a typical jazz band stage. To the right is the bar, boasting a hefty selection of rare whiskeys-more on that later. I settle into a back table and peruse the menu.

...

The Tavern - Grill & Lounge Brilliant creative food in a casual upscale atmosphere

An area that has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last few years is Toranomon 1-chome. This classic Tokyo business town has evolved into a modern, youthful promenade, thriving around Kanata Street. Towering over the district is yet another remarkable Mori Building Co. creation, Toranomon Hills. On the top 6 floors, nestled over a plethora of blue chip companies and the JOC, is the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills hotel, which is the focus of our attention. In particular the newly conceptualized The Tavern - Grill & Lounge, which under the creative brilliance of Executive Chef, Shaun Keenan, and his dedicated team, has come into its own.

Il Figo Ingordo Cosy Italian, in the Roppongi neighborhood

On a brisk January evening, I made my way through Roppongi’s lesser traveled streets to find what can only be described as a cozy neighborhood eatery not out of place on the streets of Milan or Rome. This encounter was not by chance though, on a recommendation from a seasoned Italian expat friend, who said with a wink “Carne Fantastico” I decided to come and see for myself.

Il Figo Ingordo has been in Roppongi for 10 years now and has a sister location in Daikanyama, the restaurants' owner studied in Italy before returning to Japan and building his team of chefs all of whom share his passion for Italy and their take on the Italian classics which keep you coming back for more...

GinzaSix The newest in Tokyo luxury

Just this past April, a new department store opened in Tokyo after much anticipation. GINZA SIX is located in Ginza’s sixth district and, unlike other shopping centers, is built with international clientele in mind. Ginza, one of the most luxurious shopping districts in Tokyo and the world, attracts visitors from all over with everything from the latest tech to exclusive runway pieces. Now, GINZA SIX promises to further delight and better assist discerning visitors.

Photo: By GinzaSix

Hot Jazz in Tokyo-- The City’s 5 Best Music Makes Magical Memories

New Orleans, Harlem… Tokyo? While Japan and jazz may not immediately go together in your mind, on any given night in Tokyo, there are hundreds of clubs playing vinyl jazz classics and dozens with live jazz band performances. Now ubiquitous to Tokyo nightlife, jazz was introduced at the beginning the 20th century by American soldiers via the Philippines. It’s been popularized in novels by Haruki Murakami, who ran a popular jazz bar in the 1970s. Although Murakami’s bar is long gone, while you are here on your golf holiday, you can check out these five spots to experience real Tokyo jazz nightlife!

5 Things to Know About Sake As a Souvenir The wine of Japan

You would be hard pressed to find a souvenir as perfect as sake to commemorate your time in Japan. Nihonshu, or the wine of Japan, is steeped in history, having been brewed here for over 2,000 years. For a simple beverage made up of only 4 ingredients- rice, water, yeast, and koji- sake comes in a startling array of flavors, representative of different regions and seasonal events. If you’ve decided to pick up some sake as a keepsake of your travels, here are 5 things you need to know.

Neon and Bottles cc from flickr by Jimmy https://flic.kr/p/7U57KK
La Cucina

Delicious food with breathtaking views Modern Chic Meets Italian Traditional in the Heart of Tokyo

Cristiano Pozzi, native of Cuomo in northern Italy and Head Chef of La Cucina, is rapidly building a reputation in Italian food circles as a chef with a delicate sense of balance, mixing the authentic with the experimental. Formerly a chef at Officina di Enrico in Omotesando and Giorgio Armani in Ginza, Pozzi has decidedly come into his own as he studiously oversees a talented young team in the creation of full bodied pastas, pizzas, risottos and La Cucina’s signature carne main dishes.

More on Air

Top 10 Golf Shops in Tokyo

In Tokyo, as in the rest of Japan, golf is an immensely popular sport, enjoyed by the Japanese on meticulously kept golf courses and driving ranges. Not surprisingly golf shops in Japan are also high spec, and it is not hard to find stylish apparel and high-quality equipment from both international and domestic brands in Tokyo. Here Is our list of the top 10 golf shops in Tokyo.

EUROZ GOLF Roppongi (Miura Custom Fitting) In the vibrant Roppongi district, EUROZ GOLF is a boutique golf shop renowned for its curated selection of premium Japanese golf brands. Specializing in custom fittings for esteemed brands like Miura, Roddio, and Itobori, the store offers golfers an opportunity to experience the craftsmanship and precision of Japan's top-tier golf equipment....

What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

What happens if I ground my club in a bunker? The new rules of golf explained

In 2020, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) made several changes to the rules of golf.

One major change was to the "drop procedure" when a ball is lost or out of bounds. Players are now allowed to drop the ball from shoulder height, rather than knee height, making the process more consistent and less prone to mistakes. Another change was to the rule regarding penalty strokes. Players will no longer be penalized for accidentally moving a ball on the green, such as when marking or lifting it.

Additionally, players are now allowed to repair almost any damage to the course, such as spike marks on the green. The changes also include simplifying the rules for bunkers, allowing players to touch or move loose impediments...