Bare Necessities
Before we get to the part of the fancy restaurants, Saori, our property manager has put up a list of things you might want to order so you have it in the fridge ready for when you arrive. Get the list here.
Saori’s email is Saori@win-dol.com
Niseko attracts more visitors each year, but there are still limited seats in the best restaurants, especially during the busy holiday season, with some fully booked months in advance. Instead of going out, enjoy fine dining in the comfort of your home with Niseko Gourmet. Their skilled chefs will prepare personalized meals just for you. Relax and simply move from the couch to the table when your meal is ready.
Private Celebrity Chef at Mespi Lodge
Chef Tanaka is fun to have in the house where he teaches, entertains and we learned a cooking trick or two.It is difficult to book restaurants in Niseko for a big group. Mespi Lodge is ideal for private dining. I brought my older parents and it was more comfortable for them to be entertained at home by the chef and to eat well instead of walking in the snow. We had the degustation menu and he prepared a kids menu too. He fed them and at 7 pm, they retired to play and the adults had a memorable evening. He would simply not tell us which 5 salts were combined in his “special salt’. Mention Mespi Lodge, the other name of Cove Niseko and chef will remember Chef Tanaka San is something of a legend. A celebrity chef, he is a former instructor at the famous Tsuji Culinary Institute and a well-known TV personality.Email and reserve here
Private dining of Beef and Seafood
This Private chef offers course meals (omakase) using the highest grade A5 Wagyu beef sourced from various parts of Japan and seafood such as sea urchin and crab caught in Hokkaido.
Details here
Also Saori is able to come up with ideas.
This is one she offered.Email Saori at Saori@win-dol.com
Restaurants Nearby
Pizza Del Sole
Right next door to Cove Niseko is Pizza del Sole Before we bought Mespi Lodge, we had Austrian, Hong Kong and English friends who told us about how good it is. It is a Neapolitan style pizza which is popular in Niseko.They are not open every day. It is not a big restaurant,like most Japanese restaurants, but you have the priviledge of pre -ordering and taking away just next door to your home! When the flickering lights are on in their front yard, means they are open. Go in and make a reservation ahead of time.
Milkys Cafe Bar
You can see the cafe from the kitchen of Mespi Lodge. We enjoyed the coffee, croissant and sandwiches. From 4 pm.it transforms into an Apres-ski cafe & bar. Enjoy the warmth of a fire-pit against a picturesque snow-covered mountain backdrop, complemented by tasty drinks and great music to wrap-up your day. For updates go on their IG
RaKuichi Soba
One of the Japan’s Best Soba Houses
There's another excellent restaurant near Cove Niseko. Be sure to book in advance! Tatsuru Rai runs a 12-seat soba house with his wife Midori. He prepares the buckwheat from scratch for every order. The family always greets customers in traditional kimono and yukata as they enter the warm, inviting space. You need to book at least one month ahead. I know people who return niseko season after season without being able to get a seat. Anthony Bourdin ate there once and made it even more famous.
Karabina is our favourite , again walking distance from Cove Niseko. Located at the top of a wooden staircase, it is full of fun vibes. It shares a car park with Rakuichi. It offers a casual and comforting menu featuring items like karaage (fried chicken), hearty stews, grilled seasonal fish, and baked local potatoes with butter and shiokara (fermented squid), as well as black sesame ice cream. If I Am not wrong . Karabina is owned by Rakuichi’s Son.
Because of its intimate size (seating about 35 people), reservations at Karabina are highly recommended.
LuckyFingers
Just across Mespi Lodge
You will see this across Cove Niseko. Yuuki Sasaki, a talented chef from Tokyo’s hidden Italian gem, “Vini di Arai” and his team will welcome you this winter. With a hint of Italian essence, Luckyfingers will be serving you joy of dining.Luckyfingers is a relaxed and comfortable mountainside restaurant & bar whose mission is to serve great Japanese Izakaya.
Kobito
10 minutes by car and they also offer a Van pick up if you do not want to drive. https://kobito-izakaya.com/en/
Okonomiyaki Ju
10 minute drive away. Making pancakes on a big hot plate.Read more here
A 20 MINUTE DRIVE AWAY IN HIRAFU
The Essential Food Trucks
HIRAFU INTERSECTION FOOD TRUCK HUB
Hirafu’s main food truck area is located on the main street next to the Hirafu intersection bus stop and hosts upwards of 15 food trucks. Our picks for the go-to eateries are here
