When the St. Regis Osaka was still on the drawing board, the idea of including a fine dining Italian restaurant as the main restaurant venue was very clear. Although Italian cuisine is a firm favourite in Japan, it is seldom served at such a high level, so the hotel went all out on creating an experience worth coming back for. La Veduta is the result and definitely worth a look.

By Thomas Jones

The concept behind La Veduta is simple: experience; experience of fine food, beautiful decor and outstanding views. The name means The View in Italian, for a start and, while the vista of the Osaka skyline is a big drawcard from its twelfth floor location, the name also gives a subtle nod to the open kitchen, where Chef Toshifumi Nakahigashi works his magic under the spotlight of his adoring crowd.

Designed by Morita Yasumichi from the design firm Glamorous the restaurant is modern Italy layered with classic design and a touch of the modern thrown in. It resembles a Tuscan country villa, with high ceilings and massive doors to match, hardwood floors, large and dominant chandeliers, and walls adorned with backlit Florentine crests taken from an original Medici family letter. The décor of rich chocolate and beige furnishings is kept fresh against artworks from contemporary Japanese artists Daisuke Nakayama and Joe Satake. The result? Very sleek.Very sexy. Very Italian.

Light plays a major part in the experience with natural sunlight streaming in by day; at night, the glow of the surrounding city combines with the moody dimness of the interior lighting to great a sultry and deeply romantic setting. The huge chandeliers that hang from the ceilings are the creation of Paris-based artist Mozart Guerra and contain a literal twist on classical design with Swarovski crystal and 20km of rope wrapped around each one covering every every surface. The trophy heads of wild bear, boar and sheep, using the same Guerra rope design, hang on the walls, reflecting the raw, country ruggedness that is ever-present in the menu.

La Veduta’s elegant private dining room.

“The trophy heads of wild bear, boar and sheep reflect the raw, country ruggedness that is ever-present in the menu.”

Appearances aside it is the kitchen that makes or breaks an eatery and Chef Nakahigashi has cooking in his blood. His father owns one of Kyoto’s finest restaurants, two Michelin stars no less, so he knows how high to set his standards. At the age of 18 he made his way to Italy and started learning all there was to know about the country’s wide and varied cuisines, finally working under a canopy of Michelin stars himself in Italy and France before coming back to Japan to stake his claim. He has both a deep knowledge of the Italian and the Japanese and at La Veduta he employs his skills to create art at the highest level using vegetables, meat and fish of an astonishing quality. Only the best pasta from Gragnano, white truffles from Alba, saffron from San Gimignano and olive oil from Lake Garda, Cinta sense ham, 24-month seasoned Parmesan, aged balsamic vinegar, and more besides, make it into his larder. Imagine a Kobe beef tailgate with fresh rucola from Kyoto’s farmers topped with Parmesan cheese slices and balsamic vinegar. Or a young lamb from Hokkaido served juicy and crispy with egg and pecorino cheese sauce, or a lobster in dolce-forte sauce. You get the idea.

And if you haven’t been transported to the golden fields and rolling hills of Tuscany by La Veduta’s charm by now, for an added taste of authenticity, who better than a former restaurateur and son of Rome to help you find your way. Italian native, Antonio Mariani is the man at the front of house and with his deep knowledge of all things food, wine and Italia, right down to the accent, he is dedicated to ensuring each guest’s experience surpasses expectations.

Since opening in October 2010 it has become quite the destination restaurant in Osaka with amateur gourmands making the trek from all over the region to dine. Add to that the dedication of the hard-core foodies who have made the two-hour bullet train ride west from Tokyo for the evening, and what more proof do you need? There is simply no excuse not to make the trip and esperienza la dolce vita for yourself.

La Veduta
St Regis Hotel Osaka
Japan
Tel +81 6258 3333
www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis

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