Holiday Dining Options in Kobe 2021

Nov 02, 2021

Holiday Dining Options in Kobe 2021

Looking to gather together family, friends or work colleagues for a slap-up Christmas feast? There are a few restaurants and eateries in Kobe that pull out all the stops with seasonal menus to whet the appetite. For the second year in a row, COVID-19 has meant that a few places are either temporarily closed or running reduced services. However, the following venues are planning to stay opening and are offering up these tempting menus.

Kitano Club

This elegant French restaurant has long been a favorite of Kobe’s expat population, more so since it became famed for its three-course special Christmas menu a few years back. This year, you can choose from two plans: an evening dinner menu with options including seafood blancmange with caviar, flan de fois gras and roasted live lobster; and a lunch menu offering up Spanish mackerel, Crab Royal and black beef fillet. You can also hire out space for private parties and dining.

Where: 1-5-7 Kitano-Cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0002
When: December 19-25, 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (dinner); 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (lunch)
Price: 19,800 yen per person (dinner); 12,800 yen per person (lunch)
Website: https://www.kitanoclub.co.jp/restaurant/christmas
Tel: 078-222-5123

ANA Crowne Plaza

This hotel complex, a stone’s throw from Shin-Kobe station, runs a festive season throughout December and into the start of January. Shoppers can choose from an Italian Christmas dinner course at Level 36 (Dec. 22-26 only), a festive Teppanyaki at Kitano, a seasonal buffet at The Terrace, a Christmas pair dinner with live piano accompaniment at The Bar (Dec. 22-26 only), a New Year’s Chinese meal at Suzhou (Jan. 1-3 only) plus festive desserts and sweets options. There will be a range of holiday events running across this period too.

Where: 1-Chome, Kitano-Cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0002
When: December 1 – January 6, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (closed Sundays)
Price: Varies
Website: https://www.anacrowneplaza-kobe.jp/en/christmas/
Tel: 078-291-1121

Sannomiya Tokyu REI Hotel

For three nights this Christmas, this central Kobe hotel will run a special seasonal menu titled “Coloring the Holy Night”. The meal starts with a glass of Joseph Perrier champagne followed by a three-course meal. Delicacies include golden sea bream quiche, spiny lobster gratin, smoked beef fillet in red wine sauce and a fromage blanc parfait dessert.

Where: 6-Chome-1-5 Kumoidori, Chuo Ward, Kobe 651-0096
When: December 23-25, 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (dinner)
Price: 7,500 yen per person (cheaper option of 5,500 yen also available)
Website: https://www.tokyuhotels.co.jp/kobesannomiya-r/restaurant/plan/81154/index.html
Tel: 078-291-0109

The Garden Place Soshuen

The Garden Place Soshuen is a European-style restaurant close to the Rokko mountains. It’s serving a “classic’ Christmas menu this year catering for bookings of up to 10 people. You can choose from a selection of four amuse bouche or appetizers, including carpaccio and arancini, followed by a main of either Kobe beef or fish, and a tiramisu dessert.

Where: 4-7-28 Sumiyoshi Yamate, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 658-0063
When: December 22-26
Price: 3 price options (15,000 yen, 18,000 yen and 20,000 yen)
Website: https://soshuen.jp/restaurant/dinner
Tel: 078-851-3182

KFC

KFC is now well established as a fast food chain with numerous outlets across Japan, including a few in Kobe. For the past couple of years it has run a Christmas menu campaign throughout the seasonal period with festive snack boxes and discounts on many regular meals. A great place to take the kids for a festive treat.

Where: Various Kobe locations
When: Throughout December
Price: Meals from 1,100 yen to 5,900 yen
Website: https://www.kfc.co.jp/lp/xmas2021/

Ocean Place

Located on the waterfront in Meriken Park, this Italian restaurant offers great views and a romantic setting. Its Christmas menu runs for three days during both lunchtime and evenings. The evening menu serves up the likes of wild boar pasta, beef fillet and lobster. Lunch diners can treat themselves to scallops followed by beef stewed in red wine.

Where: 2-2 Hatobacho, Chuo-ku, Kobe
When: December 24-26, 11:30 a.m. (lunch); 5:30 p.m. (dinner)
Price: 12,500 yen per person (dinner); 6,000 yen per person (lunch)
Website: https://www.oceanplace-kobe.com/topics/detail.php?id=27
Tel: 078-334-6850

Kobe Club

The Kobe Club is a private non-profit members club serving the city’s expat community since the late 19th century. Tucked away in the Futatabi hills in the downtown area, the club runs various events and activities including a now well-established Christmas dinner for members in its glorious dining room. The meal served up is a traditional affair of turkey with all the trimmings followed by a rich Christmas pudding.

Price: Around 20,000 yen
Website: https:/https://kobeclub.org/
Tel: 078-291-8054

Other options

If you don’t fancy venturing out but still want to enjoy a Christmas feast in the comfort of your own home then you can source all the ingredients and supplies you need for a traditional Christmas dinner from The Meat Guy.

 

Image by 663highland (663highland) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons