In this guide
L’Effervescence (Tokyo)
L’Effervescence is devoted to harmonious flavors created from the freshest produce, playfully presented and rooted in philosophical thought. The experience extends beyond the plate as well, with exceptional service that elevates the meal. In 2018, L’Effervescence won the inaugural Sustainable Restaurant Award, underscoring the chef’s unparalleled commitment to freshness, nature, the environment, and natural resources.
L’Effervescence has held two Michelin stars since 2015 and was awarded three stars in 2020, also receiving a Green Star in recognition of its dedicated efforts and practices toward environmental sustainability. It has likewise been ranked in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
When the chef at Noma (one of the world’s 50 best restaurants) and his team opened a restaurant in Japan for a limited time only, the person who led the search for ingredients in Japan and introduced them to the restaurant was none other than L’Effervescence’s executive chef, Shinobu Namae.
L’Effervescence believes that good food should be fascinating, and aims to be a place where guests can encounter unknown sensations. The restaurant has 40 seats in a sophisticated Japanese ambiance, as well as private rooms in the basement. Downstairs, a large open kitchen with a wood-fired oven allows you to watch the chefs at work and step into the world of L’Effervescence.
Restaurant Information
- Style: Modern French Style
- Chain: Relais & Chateaux (Member since 2020)
- Address: 2-26-4 Nishiazabu 106-0031, Minato-ku, Japan
- Telephone: 03-5766-9500
Opening Hours
- Lunch: 11:30–15:30 (13:00 last order)
- Dinner: 17:30–23:30 (20:00 last order)
- (Tuesday to Saturday)
Ease of Access
- 12-minute walk from Omotesando Station on the Subway Ginza Line.
Social Media
- Website: https://www.leffervescence.jp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leffervescence.tokyo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leffervescence/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/leffervescence_
Seating Costs
- Chef’s Tasting course – JPY 30,800 (tax included) per guest
About the Chef
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1973, L’Effervescence’s chef-owner, Namae Shinobu, has led the restaurant since its opening—but he did not enter the culinary world right away.
While at Keio University, Shinobu dreamed of becoming a journalist and played in a rock band. During this period, however, he first encountered the culinary world while working part-time at a restaurant. He was further inspired by a recipe book by Michel Bras, which set him on the path of French cuisine.
He later honed his skills in the kitchens of Michel Bras’ restaurants in Toya, Hokkaido, and Laguiole in the south of France, and also worked as a sous-chef at The Fat Duck in England.
In 2010, he opened L’Effervescence to express how he incorporates inspiration from the natural world into his dishes, earning his first MICHELIN star in 2012, followed by a second star in 2015.
