Review: Hyatt Regency Tokyo

Hyatt Regency Tokyo makes a glamorous first impression. Three enormous Swarovski chandeliers, laden with approximately 115,000 crystals, serve as the showstopping centerpiece in the magnificent eight-story lobby atrium. The dramatic display continues on the scenic elevator ascent to my room on the 21st floor, as views of the city and Shinjuku Chuo Park across the street slip away into miniature.

When Hyatt Regency Tokyo opened in 1980, it was the first Hyatt hotel in Japan. This summer, the grand dame just completed its most comprehensive renovation to date, adding stylish modern touches to more than 700 rooms and transforming both the lobby and its adjoining all-day restaurant, now reopened as Crossroads Kitchen.

Restaurants and Regency Club Lounge

At Nineteen Eighty Lounge & Bar, new velvet and leather furniture pairs with a railway-inspired clock above the impressive back bar, nodding to nearby Shinjuku train station. Seasonal afternoon tea is served daily in partnership with Pierre Herme, while cocktails and desserts (don’t miss the matcha ice cream parfait) make the space a great social hub to meet friends before or after dinner.

For Japanese whisky lovers, Bar Eau de Vie one floor up offers a more intimate and private experience, with more than two dozen selections of Japanese whiskies available by the glass.

The expansive ninth floor Regency Club Lounge far exceeds what I've experienced in the United States and is worth the upgrade. With plenty of private areas, bountiful breakfast spreads with made-to-order omelets prepared from free-range Shizuoka eggs from Asagiri Hozan Farm and evening hors d'oeuvres make it stand out. The housemade matcha shortbread cookies at afternoon tea were so good that I tucked a few extras into a coffee cup to take back to my room.

Crossroads Kitchen offers a similar breakfast spread to the club lounge but with even more options. For dinner, the newly refreshed restaurant replaces the former buffet format with an all-you-can-eat tapas-style concept that feels like a food festival as guests walk around ordering small plates made fresh to order from various chef stations.

Try dan dan mian noodles, steamed soup dumplings from the hotel's Chinese restaurant Jade Garden and beef Wellington stuffed with foie gras and roasted Aomori duck with honey glaze. I was partial to the kombu-cured sea bream carpaccio and tiramisu made with Hokkaido mascarpone cheese. This dining style is a new concept for the Hyatt Regency brand and feels decidedly more fun and upscale than the traditional buffet.

Renovated Guestrooms and Joule Spa

I stayed in one of 17 Park View King Corner Studios overlooking Shinjuku Chuo Park. The room featured spacious window seating and a comfortable flow between the bedroom and bathroom, which has black marble countertops, white speckled quartz walls and a deep soaking tub with sweeping skyline views. Ombre wallpaper behind the headboard, dyed in shades of blue, gray and aqua using local techniques, draws inspiration from the Kanda River.

Rare for a Hyatt Regency, there is a spa on the 27th floor. Joule Spa is a tenant for the hotel, offering massages and facials using Biologique Recherche or Japanese skincare brand Chi to Se True, which incorporates local ingredients such as fermented rice bran in their products. My therapist was warm and welcoming, communicating via Google Translate.

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Guests will recognize Hyatt Regency brand standards such as Pharmacopia bath amenities, but also delight in unique local touches like cotton yukata pajama robes. Despite the hotel’s many meeting spaces, mostly on the basement and fifth floors, the leisure experience remains undisturbed. The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle bus service to Shinjuku Station, which makes the location especially convenient as a home base for exploring Tokyo and taking day trips.