Towers Bar "Bello Visto" is an afternoon tea spot inside the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel that I hadn't checked off my list yet.
Spotting a flash sale on OZmall, I immediately snagged a reservation. In the request box, I left a little note saying, "I would love a window seat if possible." The reply I got back from the hotel was: "We will have a lovely table ready for you with a beautiful view of the Shinjuku skyline."
It was incredibly polite, yet possessed a charmingly casual and witty tone—a truly classy touch. I was already buzzing with excitement before I even stepped foot inside!
Since my visit perfectly coincided with the turn of the month, the menu had just switched over to a Halloween theme. My companions for this outing, the MELLOW DEAR US plushies, were also properly dressed up in their Halloween best as we set off for this chic, sky-high bar for adults!
By the way, this post will mainly be a chronological report from the moment I arrived to when I packed up. If you’re thinking, "I just want to quickly read about the hotel facilities and recommendations from a nui-dori perspective!", feel free to use the table of contents to skip straight to [Bello Visto: Top Recommendations] at the end of the article!
The Sophisticated Calm Unique to a Bar
I've actually frequented the restaurants inside the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel quite a bit, including szechwan restaurant chen, Zabo, and Sakuragaoka (where I've also done a nui-dori shoot before).
It's a bit of a walk from Shibuya Station, but the route itself is really enjoyable, as you get to pass through the newly redeveloped shopping complexes while slowly leaving the hustle and bustle behind. The tranquil atmosphere—a serene vibe unique to Japanese luxury hotels that feels distinctly different from foreign-affiliated ones—is something I highly recommend to anyone who isn't a fan of Shibuya's typical chaotic crowds.
My destination: the 40th floor of the hotel.
Since the venue operates primarily as a bar, the staff member who greeted me was a true gentleman, sharply dressed with his hair styled to absolute perfection.
"I am so sorry, but I will be taking pictures with plushies today..." I offered a silent apology in my heart as I stepped foot inside.
Stunning Views and Exceptional Privacy
I was guided to a window seat. As you’d expect from the 40th floor, the windows were massive, offering a breathtaking view that made it feel like I could gaze out over the entire Tokyo skyline.
Since the seating time is a generous 2.5 hours, if you time your reservation right, you can enjoy the romantic transition from bright daylight to a beautiful twilight—a major perk of this venue. Interestingly, the seating area is tiered, getting progressively higher as you move away from the windows. Because of this brilliant layout, you can fully enjoy the scenery even if you aren't seated right by the glass.
But the absolute best part from an otaku perspective was that the tables are separated by pillars.
This blocks the line of sight from other guests, giving the space a remarkably private feel. It slightly (but definitely) eased my totally-too-late-to-worry-about fear of "ruining the sophisticated adult atmosphere with my plushie photoshoot."
A Chic "Edo Komon" Wooden Box and Abundant Savories
The afternoon tea finally began. Bello Visto uses a staggered serving style where the savories arrive first, followed by the sweets later.
Honestly, from a nui-dori perspective, I was a bit worried: "Will the color balance be okay with just savories? I kind of want the sweets in the shot too..." But that concern was blown away in an instant.
First to arrive were the savories, crafted by Bello Visto’s chefs. In a beautifully chic presentation, they were served in a wooden box featuring a traditional Edo Komon pattern.
Alongside the wooden box was a three-tier stand loaded with scones, sandwiches, and tartines, plus a seasonal welcome drink. The sheer volume was so impressive I actually thought, "Wait, is the afternoon tea already complete with just this?"
Savories made up about 80% of this spread, but the dishes were so vibrantly colored—with the welcome drink providing a gorgeous pop of contrast—that it was incredibly photogenic. You can take the absolute cutest photos with just this "first half" of the set.
The taste and satisfaction level make it highly recommended even for those who find "too many sweets" a bit heavy. (Note: If you don't finish this course, you physically won't have enough table space for the sweets to be placed down. So once you snap your photos, don't hesitate to dig right in!)
Jewel-like Sweets and a "Miraculous Plushie Space"
After thoroughly enjoying the savories, it was time for the highly anticipated second half. The French silver tea stand was adorned with delicate, beautiful sweets (petit fours) that looked just like jewels—my heart skipped a beat just looking at them.
What's more, it came with a theatrical presentation: dry ice smoke billowing out from the center! (Having your camera ready to take a video is an absolute must.)
It’s a beautifully arranged stand where you can clearly see every single sweet, much like the afternoon tea at The Peninsula Tokyo. But for some reason, on top of the box serving as the base of the stand, there was a perfectly sized empty space... exactly big enough for one plushie.
Thinking to myself, "Is this a sign telling me to put my plushie here...?" (Spoiler: It absolutely was not), I timidly placed my plushie in the spot, and... it was a perfect fit.
Combined with the Halloween jack-o'-lantern decorations, it was an absolute explosion of cuteness, looking just like a miniature garden or a diorama. I bet it would look incredibly adorable if you brought along Sylvanian Families or other small figures to place there, too!
Bello Visto's Exquisite Cocktails! (But Watch Your Timing)
While I was frantically snapping solo and group shots, completely absorbed in the cuteness, the staff came over to offer the Special Drink. During the afternoon tea, each person can choose one of two special beverages (limited to one glass per person).
The choices were "Royal Milk Tea" and the hotel's original coffee mocktail, "Latte Gradiente." My companion and I ordered one of each, and another pair of incredibly stylish drinks made their grand entrance at our table.
They were absolutely delicious... but I do have one word of caution. The coffee mocktail, in particular, is quite sweet! Rather than ordering it toward the end when you only have sweets left, I highly recommend ordering it during the early to middle stages, while you still have the salty savories on your plate.
**Thanks to the generous 2.5-hour time limit, I was able to fully enjoy both my meal and my photoshoot without feeling rushed at all, all while gazing out at the beautiful evening sky.
The view, the taste, the service, and the sheer ease of plushie photography. Everything was so spectacular that it honestly left me thinking, "I am absolutely coming back when the season changes." It was truly a perfect experience.
Cerulean Tower Tokyu "Bello Visto": Top Recommendations
Finally, for my fellow otaku and afternoon tea lovers planning a visit, here is a roundup of my real "recommendations and points of caution"!
- Exceptional privacy (and immersion) thanks to the pillar partitions. Because the layout features pillars separating the tables, you can snap away at your photos without worrying about other people staring, even in this sophisticated, adult bar setting.
- A "savory-heavy" balance that satisfies even non-sweet tooths. The volume of the first half alone (the Edo Komon wooden box and the savory stand) feels like a complete meal. It makes it incredibly easy to invite friends who prefer salty foods over sweets!
- Video mode is mandatory for the dry ice presentation! When the sweets make their entrance, they are engulfed in billowing dry ice smoke. Make sure you have your camera on video mode and ready to go before they arrive.
- Order your Special Drink during the "first half." The Royal Milk Tea or Latte Gradiente (limited to one per person) are on the sweeter side. The secret to enjoying them perfectly is to order them while you are still eating the savories, rather than waiting for the sweets course.
- A relaxing 2.5-hour seating. Since this is longer than the standard 2-hour limit, you have plenty of time to meticulously set up your photos and enjoy the beautiful transition into the evening sky, all while still having ample time to actually eat your meal.
With a welcome drink, a special drink, a generous 2.5 hours of free-flow beverages, and a thoroughly satisfying spread of savories and sweets... it's an exceptional experience. I highly recommend it not just for fantastic photoshoots, but for anyone looking to spend a truly luxurious tea time.
Please do yourself a favor and pay a visit to the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel Bello Visto!