Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
MAZ
3,060Pearl PointsTokyo's toughest Peru booking. Book early.
About MAZ
MAZ holds two Michelin stars and ranks 43rd on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants — the strongest credential stack of any Peruvian-concept restaurant in Tokyo. At JPY 40,000–60,000 per head for a 20-seat altitude-mapped tasting menu, it is expensive and near-impossible to book, but there is no direct competitor in the city for this format. Book well in advance or not at all.
Pearl Verdict
MAZ is one of the hardest reservations to secure in Tokyo and, at JPY 40,000–50,000 per head before the 10% service charge, one of the most expensive. It is worth the effort and the spend, but only if you are specifically after Peruvian-Japanese cuisine executed at a two-Michelin-star level. If your priority is Japanese technique on home soil, RyuGin or Harutaka will serve you better. But for a 20-seat tasting experience that does not exist anywhere else in Tokyo, MAZ earns its price.
About MAZ
MAZ opened on 1 July 2022 at Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho in Chiyoda, and it arrived with significant credentials: it is the first overseas outpost of Central, which held the number one position on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list. The kitchen is led by chef Santiago Fernández under the creative direction of Virgilio Martinez and Max Natmessnig. Since opening, the restaurant has accumulated two Michelin stars (2024 and 2025), a Tabelog Bronze Award in both 2025 and 2026 with a score of 4.06, inclusion in Tatler Asia's Leading Restaurants Asia-Pacific 2025, a ranking of 43rd on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, and 88 points on La Liste 2026. That is a credential stack few Tokyo restaurants have assembled in under three years.
The concept is not fusion in the conventional sense. MAZ maps Peru's ecosystems by altitude, tracing a path from the Pacific coast through the Andes to the Amazon basin. Each dish references its producing region and elevation. This is a deliberate, research-driven structure: the same framework that made Central in Lima a reference point for ingredient-led tasting menus globally. In Tokyo, that framework meets Japanese sourcing precision and a dining culture that is already highly attuned to provenance and seasonal specificity. The result is a tasting menu format that carries genuine intellectual weight, not just visual spectacle.
For special occasions, MAZ offers a clear argument. The 20-seat dining room means the experience is never crowded or impersonal. The non-smoking policy, credit card acceptance across all major cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners), and on-site parking at Tokyo Garden Terrace make the logistics manageable for a celebratory dinner. There are no private rooms, so if total privacy is your requirement, this is not the right venue. For a high-stakes date, a client dinner, or a significant birthday, the combination of setting, credential, and format is hard to match in Tokyo's innovative category.
On the question of whether MAZ travels well as a takeout or delivery experience: it does not, and that is not a criticism. A tasting menu built around altitude-mapped Peruvian ecosystems, plated at a two-Michelin-star standard in a 20-seat room, is inseparable from its context. The experience is the sequencing, the service, and the physical setting. There is no off-premise version of MAZ, nor should there be. If you are looking for Tokyo innovative cuisine that translates to delivery, the category exists, but MAZ is not where to look. Book a table or do not engage with it at all.
The practical reality of getting in is the main obstacle. MAZ is reservation-only, and given its award profile and limited seat count, availability is tight well in advance. Tuesday is the one dark day each week. Dinner runs from 17:00 to 23:00 Monday, Wednesday through Sunday. Lunch service is not offered. Reviews on Tabelog suggest actual spend lands in the JPY 50,000–59,999 range when drinks and service are included, so budget accordingly. For comparable innovative tasting experiences in Tokyo at a similar price tier, Kabi, AO, and Chiune are worth knowing, though none carry the same international award density.
Tokyo's innovative category has expanded considerably since 2022, with venues like Hasegawa Minoru and l' Equator adding depth to the field. MAZ sits at the leading of that group by almost every measurable criterion. The Opinionated About Dining ranking of 27th in Japan for 2025, up from 175th in 2024, signals that critical consensus has moved firmly in its favour as the kitchen has settled into its format. That trajectory matters: this is not a venue coasting on its opening momentum.
If you are planning a Japan trip and weighing Tokyo against other cities, the innovative fine dining category is well covered elsewhere too. HAJIME in Osaka and Gion Sasaki in Kyoto offer strong regional alternatives, while akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa round out a serious itinerary. For broader Tokyo planning, see our full Tokyo restaurants guide, our full Tokyo hotels guide, our full Tokyo bars guide, our full Tokyo wineries guide, and our full Tokyo experiences guide. If the Peruvian-Japanese innovative format appeals and you are also visiting Seoul, alla prima and Soigné are the closest regional comparators worth considering.
Practical Details
Reservations: Reservation-only, no walk-ins. Book as far ahead as possible — 4 to 6 weeks minimum is a reasonable working assumption given the award profile and 20-seat capacity. Dinner only: Mon, Wed–Sun 17:00–23:00. Closed Tuesday. No lunch service. Budget: Listed at JPY 40,000–49,999; reviewer-reported spend lands at JPY 50,000–59,999 per head inclusive of drinks. Add 10% service charge. Payment: Credit cards accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners); electronic money and QR code payments not accepted. Dress: Not formally stated; at this price tier and with this award profile, smart to semi-formal attire is appropriate. Seats: 20 total. No private rooms, no private hire. Smoking: Non-smoking throughout. Parking: Available at Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho (max rate JPY 2,420/day; basic rate JPY 330/30 min). Access: 1-minute walk from Akasaka Mitsuke Station Exit D (Tokyo Metro); directly connected to Nagatacho Station Exit 9a.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at MAZ?
Dinner is your only option. MAZ operates exclusively for dinner service (17:00–23:00), Tuesday closed. There is no lunch sitting, so there is no trade-off to make — book an evening and plan for a late finish.
How far ahead should I book MAZ?
Allow 4 to 6 weeks minimum, and more if your dates are fixed. MAZ holds just 20 seats, is reservation-only, and carries Michelin 2-star status plus a Tabelog score of 4.06 — that combination means availability disappears fast. Book via maztokyo.jp and be flexible on weeknight versus weekend.
What should I order at MAZ?
MAZ runs a set tasting menu only — there is no à la carte. The format follows the biodiversity of Peru, with each course tied to a producing region and its altitude, tracing a path from coast to Andes to Amazon. You commit to the full menu when you book.
Is MAZ worth the price?
At JPY 40,000–50,000 per head (average spend closer to JPY 50,000–59,999 based on reviews) plus a 10% service charge, MAZ is a considered spend. The case for yes: Michelin 2 stars, #43 in Asia's 50 Best, and a cuisine format — Peruvian biodiversity tasting menus — that does not exist anywhere else in Tokyo. The case for no: if you want precision Japanese technique, RyuGin or Harutaka deliver that at a similar price point with more established Tokyo track records.
What are alternatives to MAZ in Tokyo?
For Michelin-calibre tasting menus at a similar price, RyuGin offers modern Japanese kaiseki with a longer Tokyo pedigree. L'Effervescence is the closer alternative if you want a chef-driven creative menu with strong produce sourcing. Harutaka suits omakase purists at a lower price. If budget is a factor, Crony operates at a lower price tier with a more casual format.
What should I wear to MAZ?
No dress code is documented in the venue data. At JPY 40,000–50,000 per head in a 20-seat Michelin 2-star room inside Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, smart attire is the sensible default — overly casual clothing would feel out of place with the setting and price point.
Is MAZ good for a special occasion?
Yes, with one practical caveat: MAZ has no private rooms and seats only 20 people in a single shared space. For an intimate dinner for two or a small group, the format works well. Large parties looking for a private setting should look elsewhere — private use is listed as unavailable.
Location
Japan, 〒102-0094 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kioicho, 1-3 東京ガーデンテラス 3F
Tokyo, Japan
Compare MAZ
Also Consider
- Harutaka — Sushi, ¥¥¥¥
- L'Effervescence — French, ¥¥¥¥
- RyuGin — Kaiseki, Japanese, ¥¥¥¥
- HOMMAGE — Innovtive French, French, ¥¥¥¥
- Crony — Innovative, French, ¥¥¥¥
Against Tokyo's other ¥¥¥¥ tasting menu venues, MAZ occupies a specific position: it is the only place in the city running a serious Peruvian-framework menu with a two-Michelin-star rating. That specificity is its main advantage and also its main limitation. If you are committed to the format, there is no substitute. If you are choosing between MAZ and a broader fine dining shortlist, the decision comes down to what kind of cuisine you want to spend JPY 50,000+ on.
RyuGin is the comparison that comes up most often at this price tier. It runs a kaiseki format with deep Japanese technique and strong seasonal discipline. For diners who want to eat something specifically Japanese in Tokyo at this level, RyuGin is the more obvious choice. Harutaka is the better call if sushi is your format rather than a multi-course tasting menu. L'Effervescence sits in the French-leaning innovative space and is worth considering for diners who want European technique applied to Japanese ingredients — a different axis from MAZ's Peru-Japan structure.
HOMMAGE and Crony both operate in the innovative French category at ¥¥¥¥ and are generally somewhat more accessible on booking. If you are flexible on format and primarily want a high-quality tasting menu experience without the near-impossible reservation difficulty, either is a practical alternative. MAZ, by contrast, requires planning: its award trajectory (OAD #27 in Japan for 2025, up from #175 in 2024) has made it a destination booking rather than a spontaneous one. If you can plan ahead, the credential difference between MAZ and its peer group at this price tier is meaningful.
Hours
- Monday
- 5–11 pm
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 5–11 pm
- Thursday
- 5–11 pm
- Friday
- 5–11 pm
- Saturday
- 5–11 pm
- Sunday
- 5–11 pm
Recognized By
Explore Tokyo
Save or rate MAZ on Pearl
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.