Founded in 1903 (Meiji 36)
Western-style restaurant that has grown with Hibiya Park
This Western-style restaurant stands on the west side of the large fountain in the center of Hibiya Park, Japan’s first Western-style park. It opened in the same year as the park and has grown together with it. In a surprisingly green setting for the heart of the city, you can fully enjoy the hospitality and “modern Western cuisine” preserved for over 120 years.
When it first opened, it was loved as a relaxing place for many literary figures such as Natsume Soseki and Takamura Kotaro, and even hosted meetings of the Meiji-era literary group “Pan-no-Kai.”
In 1973 (Showa 48), they began the “10 Yen Curry Charity,” offering their famous beef curry for as low as 10 yen to the first 1,500 guests and donating the collected funds to various organizations. Started as a celebration of the restaurant’s reopening after being destroyed by arson, this charity has been held every year on September 25.
On the first-floor Grill & Garden Terrace, terrace seats surrounded by greenery are especially popular. At lunchtime, you can enjoy classic Western dishes like curry, hashed beef rice, and omelet rice. At tea time, homemade cakes and sweets are available, and at dinner, you can enjoy all-you-can-drink plans and course meals.
On the third floor is Bois de Boulogne, where you can enjoy authentic French cuisine. A wide selection of wines and other beverages is available, making it a popular spot for spending a relaxed, special time.
History
In 1903 (Meiji 36), it opened together with Hibiya Park, Japan’s first Western-style park. Its three-story building with a mansard roof—popular at the time—quickly became a sensation, and having curry and coffee at Matsumotoro was said to be a huge trend among fashionable young people. Although it was completely destroyed by arson in 1971, it reopened two years later and continues to be loved together with Hibiya Park.
This Notable Item
Modern-Style Beef Curry
1,250 yen
A signature dish of Matsumotoro. It faithfully recreates the traditional recipe, offering a deep and rich flavor despite its simple ingredients.
Selectable Big Plate
2,100 yen
For the omelet rice, you can choose one of three sauces, and for the Western-style side dish, you can select one from hamburg steak with demi-glace sauce, creamy croquette, or fried shrimp with tartar sauce. It is a hearty and satisfying plate.
Beef Stew
3,000 yen
A dish made by slowly simmering domestic beef rib meat in a demi-glace sauce whose flavor has been carefully preserved through continuous replenishing.
Spot Overview
| Address: | 1-2 Hibiya Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 03-3503-1452 (restaurant main number) |
| Business hours: | [Western Cuisine Grill & Garden Terrace] 11:00–21:00 (L.O. 20:00) [French Cuisine Bois de Boulogne] 11:00–22:00 (L.O. 20:00) |
| Closed: | Year-end and New Year holidays |
| Payment methods: | Cash and credit cards (JCB, UC, Diners Club, VISA, etc.) |
| External Link: | Official website |
