L'Essor
French in Aoyama-Icchome & Gaien-Mae, Tokyo, 5 min walk from Gaiemmae Station
Our analysis
- #3of 9 French restaurants in Aoyama-Icchome & Gaien-Mae
- ¥11,000least expensive dinner course; median ¥18,000
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥20,000–29,999Closed WednesdaysBook online: TableCheck
All 34 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 27
Inside 6
Entrance 1
In our ranking, L'Essor is 3rd of the 9 French restaurants in Aoyama-Icchome & Gaien-Mae. Its least expensive dinner course is ¥11,000 (on Tabelog), 39% below the ¥18,000 median of the 21 French restaurants in Tokyo ranked nearest to it; at lunch, ¥6,600 (on Tabelog) is 25% below the ¥8,800 median of 21. From abroad it can be booked online in English on TableCheck; 185 of the 393 French restaurants in Tokyo can be. Good for a seat at the counter (2 of its 40 seats), a private room (for 4 or 8), a less expensive lunch (from ¥6,600, 40% below its least expensive dinner course), and a late dinner (open until 23:00). Course prices that sources agree on: ¥11,000 on both Tabelog and its website; ¥11,000 on Tabelog and ¥12,100 on Ikyu, with tax and service.
How it compares
French restaurants in Aoyama-Icchome & Gaien-Mae with a dinner budget close to its own, nearest to it in our ranking.
| Restaurant | Rank in Tokyo | Dinner from | Lunch from | Booking | Awards | Walk | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prevenance | #60 | ¥12,100 | budget ¥10,000–14,999 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | Bronze 2020 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 4 min, Gaiemmae | Mon, Tue |
| L'Eau | #76 | ¥19,800 | ¥9,350 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | Bronze 2021 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 3 min, Gaiemmae | Mon, Tue |
| L'Essor | — | ¥11,000 | ¥6,600 | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 5 min, Gaiemmae | Wed |
| l'intemporel | — | ¥11,000 | ¥9,900 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | — | 5 min, Gaiemmae | Mon |
| Terres de Truffes, Tokyo | — | ¥15,000 | ¥6,050 | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 2 min, Gaiemmae | — |
| Restaurant TANI | — | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | ¥6,160 | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 5 min, Gaiemmae | Sun |
For international visitors
Some support for visitors
Either takes bookings online in English or has a menu or staff in English, not both.
| Menu | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Private rooms, Sommelier, Wheelchair accessible |
How to book L'Essor
- Book online in English on TableCheck, the booking service the restaurant uses.
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 050-5593-6799 (+81-50-5593-6799 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
- Anniversaries and birthdays: the restaurant prepares a celebration if you ask when you book (a dessert plate with your message, a cake or a surprise). More in Tokyo.
Courses and prices
As the restaurant lists them on Tabelog. Prices are per person.
Lunch Menu Chef <Casual Chef Course>
Lunch
- Seasonal ingredients
¥6,600
per person, tax incl., ≈$40
Cheapest
Lunch Menu Gourmand <Foodie Course>
Lunch · 2 hr at the table
- Seasonal ingredients
- Champagne
- Salmon roe
- Wagyu
- Foie gras
- Truffle
¥11,000
per person, tax incl., +10% service charge, ≈$70
¥4,400 more than the one above
Menu Degustation〈Enjoy the Dinner Course at Lunch
2 hr at the table
- Seasonal ingredients
- Wagyu
- Foie gras
- Truffle
¥11,000
per person, tax incl., +10% service charge, ≈$70
Dinner Menu Degustation <Colorful Recommended Course>
Dinner · 6 dishes
¥11,000
per person, tax incl., ≈$70
L'ESSOR 2026 Noel Lunch Course
Lunch · 7 dishes
¥11,000
per person, tax incl., ≈$70
Menu Plaisir <Special Course Available Only During Lunch Time>
Lunch · 6 dishes · 2 hr at the table
- Seasonal ingredients
- Wagyu
- Foie gras
- Truffle
¥13,200
per person, tax incl., +10% service charge, ≈$90
¥2,200 more than the one above
Lunch Anniversary 〈Includes Toasting Champagne and Message Plate
Lunch · 7 dishes · 2 hr at the table
- Champagne
- Seasonal ingredients
- Salmon roe
- Wagyu
- Foie gras
- Truffle
¥16,500
per person, tax incl., +10% service charge, ≈$110
¥3,300 more than the one above
Dinner Anniversary with Message Plate
Dinner · 7 dishes
¥16,500
per person, tax incl., ≈$110
L'ESSOR 2026 Noel Dinner Course
Dinner · 10 dishes
¥20,000
per person, tax incl., ≈$130
¥3,500 more than the one above
L'ESSOR 2026 NOEL Dinner Course, Limited to December 24th and 25th, Starts at 8 PM
Dinner · 10 dishes
¥20,000
per person, tax incl., ≈$130
L'ESSOR 2026 NOEL Dinner Course Limited to December 24th and 25th Part 1
Dinner · 10 dishes
¥20,000
per person, tax incl., ≈$130
Dinner Menu L'essor <Special Course of a Lifetime>
Dinner
- Seasonal ingredients
¥27,500
per person, tax incl., ≈$180
¥7,500 more than the one above
The food
Photos the restaurant posted on Tabelog.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥10,000–14,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥30,000–39,999 at dinner, ¥10,000–14,999 at lunch |
| Service charge | Service charge 10% |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | 11:30–15:30, 18:00–23:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:30–15:30, 18:00–23:00 |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 11:30–15:30, 18:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 11:30–15:30, 18:00–23:00 |
| Saturday | 11:30–15:30, 18:00–23:00 |
| Sunday | 11:30–15:30, 18:00–23:00 |
| Public holidays | Open |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 40, including 2 at the counter |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | Yes, for 4 or 8 people |
| Private hire | Possible |
| Largest group | 40 people |
| Smoking | Non smoking |
| Children | Children are welcome |
| Dress code | Please refrain from wearing T-shirts, shorts, or sandals. |
| Setting | Hideout, Stylish space, Relaxing space, Counter seating, Wheelchair accessible |
| Drinks | Wine, Particular about wine |
| Services | Parties over 2.5 hours, Celebrations and surprises (Birthday plate), Sommelier available |
| Opened | June 2024 |
Getting there
5 min walk (370 m) from Gaiemmae Station, Exit 1b.
Also near: Omotesandō (Exit A4): 8 min · Aoyama-itchōme (Exit 5): 13 min
- Leave Gaiemmae Station by Exit 1b and walk south-west for 180 m.
- Bear left at Citron and walk 30 m.
- Turn left at Citron and walk 110 m.
- Bear right and walk 20 m.
L'Essor is on your right.
On your right
Look for
リビエラ南青山
Written this way on the building
Floor
1F
Street level
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
東京都港区南青山3-3-3 リビエラ南青山 1F
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 3-3-3 Minamiaoyama Minato, Tokyo 107-0062 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | 3 minutes walk from Gaienmae Station on the Ginza Line. |
Questions visitors ask
How much does L'Essor cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥20,000–29,999 per person and lunch at ¥10,000–14,999. Drinks and a service charge (Service charge 10%) may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
When is L'Essor closed?
It is closed on Wednesdays.
Can I bring children to L'Essor?
Children are welcome.
What is the nearest station to L'Essor?
Gaiemmae Station, about 5 minutes on foot (370 m). Omotesandō Station is about 8 minutes away.
Does L'Essor have a dress code?
Please refrain from wearing T-shirts, shorts, or sandals.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, and the restaurant's website; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.