BEIGE Alain Ducasse, Tokyo

The restaurant I was most looking forward to on my Tokyo trip was BEIGE Alain Ducasse, located inside the Chanel building in Ginza. A friend's birthday fell during the trip, and after some deliberation, I chose this place somewhere I had been curious about for years as the setting for the occasion.

I made a reservation a month in advance, but received word shortly before our visit that a private event had taken over the space that day. Lunch service was unavailable and only the afternoon tea set remained as an option. It was a disappointing adjustment. That said, given that the price difference between the two menus is not significant, I would strongly recommend the lunch course to anyone planning a visit.

The Chanel atmosphere begins in the elevator. We ordered the afternoon tea set with champagne and two savoury courses included.

Every element of the menu felt considered, but the standout was the camellia-shaped chocolat, made in the image of Chanel's signature flower. Watching it prepared tableside added to the experience, and the chocolate itself struck exactly the right balance, neither too sweet nor too dark.

After the meal, we made our way down through the store. Browsing and shopping felt like a natural extension of the afternoon.