Hearth Ikebukuro at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

All-day bistro on the second floor of Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ikebukuro East, famed for buckwheat galettes and smoked beef.

HEARTH SMOKED GRILL & GALETTE, known as Hearth Ikebukuro, is an all-day dining bistro on the second floor of the Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ikebukuro East (DEL style Ikebukuro East Exit), about 250 metres from the station. The kitchen leans on carefully selected ingredients, with a focus on galettes made from 100 percent Hokkaido buckwheat flour and a signature instant-smoke grilled Japanese beef, alongside A5-rank kuroge wagyu bistecca. The day flows from a hotel-guest morning to weekday and weekend lunch, an afternoon cafe with fluffy pancakes served until 16:00 last order, and dinner service from 17:30 on weekdays and 17:00 at weekends, with craft beer and a sommelier-selected wine list to lift the food; the relaxed, quality-casual room suits everything from a quick lunch to a lingering dinner. Reservations are recommended, the restaurant does not accept single diners or strollers inside, and seat requests cannot be guaranteed. A fine fit for couples, hotel guests and small groups after an easy-going but carefully cooked meal, Hearth pairs bistro classics with a calm, comfortable setting right by Ikebukuro station. It is a dependable, grown-up choice for galettes, smoke and a good glass of wine.