Sofia Coppola’s movie Lost in translation (2003), starring Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, made the New York Bar in Park Hyatt, Shinjuku, Tokyo very famous. I visited the bar for the first time in 2008 and was absolutely taken by the scenes, it’s art deco inspired decoration and the fantastic jazz (every night after 8 p.m.)

The first time I visited the bar – which is located on the 52nd floor of the building – all the tables were booked and I “had” to stay in the bar, feeling a bit like Charlotte, but without my Bob Harris, as there were no single men around…

Last year I returned with my husband and we were lucky enough to have a table just by the window, next to the fantastic jazz band. This must have been one of our most romantic moments ever.

Even if the bar is very famous because of the movie, it is not too crowded in the evenings. One reason for this is that the bar charges an extra fee after 8 p.m for the live music and maybe also the fact that the bar menu is fairly expensive. We have not yet tried out the New York Grill restaurant next to the bar, but maybe next time…