Conrad Tokyo

"How did it strike you on arrival?When it opened in 2005 in the Shiodome area, Conrad Tokyo neatly fit in among the pantheon of international luxury brands. Almost two decades later, it remains as eye-catching as ever. Smack in the middle of the ground-floor, a glossy red sculpture marks the moodily lit entrance, and hasn’t lost its dramatic effect. Up on the 28th-floor, a tall lobby soars with bold, black lines which are warmed with light boxes dangling from the ceiling. They say it's a business hotel, but it's dressed to impress. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The King Room Bay View hides nothing: Windows do, in fact, frame Tokyo Bay. But even better, the panoramic view also includes the lush Hamariku Gardens which flourish at the foot of the hotel. Modern furnishings borrow local motifs, whether they're the bedside lamps that vibe with Japanese lanterns or the Sumi-e cherry blossoms painted above the bed and woven across the floor’s lightly patterned carpet. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Glass walls separate the bathroom and the bedroom but are easily sealed off with wooden blinds. Stark, black surfaces are brightened with white tiled walls and fixtures, the most brilliant of which is an oversized circular mirror that’s outlined in a thick embedded light. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi? Not free. Room service: Worth it?Yes, there's room service, but knock-knock—hello!—a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants are just an elevator ride away. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.A long, dramatic swimming pool is worth a dip (especially in the earlier hours when light floods through the overhead glass ceiling). What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?If there are any faults found, the hotel staff, spa staff, and heck, even the restaurant staff, tend to bend over backward just to make it right. Bottom line: worth it, and why?Yes. However: Priced several hundred dollars below the other major international luxury brands, the Conrad’s only downfall is its secluded location across a band of highways from the more popular Ginza area. You might end up spending a bit more in cab fare than anticipated." - Keith Flanagan