Head-to-Head · Tokyo

Den vs Florilege

Den for a warm, playful two-star night; Florilege for plant-forward French at half the spend. Book whichever fits the evening.

Den

Tokyo · Japanese Creative · Two Michelin stars · Food 9.4 / Room 9.3 / Value 8.5

Den full review →

Florilege

Tokyo · Plant-Forward French · Two stars + Green Star · Food 9.3 / Room 9.1 / Value 9.0

Florilege full review →

The Verdict

Den is the joyful one. Zaiyu Hasegawa opened it in Jimbocho in 2008, moved to 2-3-18 Jingumae in 2016, earned two Michelin stars and ranked number one in Asia in 2022, and never let the room turn solemn. The Dentucky Fried Chicken arrives in a takeaway box, the monaka and the garden salad are signatures, and Hasegawa may leave the kitchen to talk to you about anything but the food. It scores 9.4 for food and 9.3 for atmosphere, and it costs roughly 30,000 to 40,000 yen at dinner.

Florilege is the convincing argument for vegetables. Hiroyasu Kawate reopened it at Azabudai Hills in September 2023, its third chapter, in a detached house beside a shrine where every guest sits at a communal counter facing each other across the open kitchen. The cooking is plant-forward French, primarily vegetable-led rather than vegetarian by subtraction, and it carries a Michelin Green Star alongside its two stars and a place in the World's 50 Best. It scores 9.3 for food and 9.0 for value, with a surprise lunch near 10,000 yen and dinner near 20,000.

Scores, Side by Side

Score	Den	Florilege
Food	9.4 / 10	9.3 / 10
Atmosphere	9.3 / 10	9.1 / 10
Value	8.5 / 10	9.0 / 10

Which One for Which Occasion

Occasion	Editorial Pick
First date	DenWarmth and humour keep the table talking; the takeaway-box chicken breaks the ice for you.
Solo dining	FlorilegeThe communal counter facing the kitchen is built for a curious diner eating alone.
Closing a deal	DenA globally ranked two-star name and a host who makes guests feel chosen.
Best value	FlorilegeA two-star Green Star lunch near 10,000 yen is the most cooking for the money in Tokyo.
Vegetable-led tasting	FlorilegeKawate's plant-forward menu is the whole point; carnivores forget what they came for.

Price Comparison

Florilege is the value side by a wide margin. Its surprise lunch runs about 10,000 yen and dinner about 20,000 yen per person before drinks. Den's dinner runs roughly 30,000 to 40,000 yen, close to double a Florilege dinner. Both deliver two-star cooking, so on arithmetic alone Florilege wins; Den charges for the experience and the rarity of the seat. Both land inside our ranking of the best Tokyo tasting menus under $200.

How to Book

Den is the harder seat: a small, world-famous room booked weeks out through Japanese reservation services and concierge channels. Florilege at Azabudai Hills takes bookings through Pocket Concierge and its own site, and its communal counter turns over more seats, so windows open a little more often. Plan both at least a month ahead, and lean on a Tokyo hotel concierge if you have one. Start the wider field from the Tokyo dining guide.

For occasion fit beyond this pairing, weigh them against our guides to the best first-date restaurants, solo-dining restaurants, deal-closing restaurants and birthday restaurants. For another Kawate match-up see Florilege vs L'Effervescence, weigh the counters in Ginza sushi vs Sushi Sho, and browse the full set on the compare index.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Den or Florilege?

Both hold two Michelin stars and both are warm rooms, so it comes down to mood. Den is Zaiyu Hasegawa's playful Japanese creative kitchen in Jingumae, scored 9.4 for food, where the Dentucky Fried Chicken arrives in a takeaway box and the chef may sit down with you. Florilege is Hiroyasu Kawate's plant-forward French counter at Azabudai Hills, scored 9.3 for food and carrying a Michelin Green Star. Book Den for joy and surprise; book Florilege for a vegetable-led tasting that converts carnivores.

How much does Den cost compared to Florilege?

Florilege is the value side. Its surprise lunch runs about 10,000 yen and dinner about 20,000 yen per person before drinks. Den's dinner runs roughly 30,000 to 40,000 yen per person, so a Den evening costs close to double a Florilege dinner. Florilege scores 9.0 on value to Den's 8.5. For a first visit to either chef on a budget, Florilege at lunch is the most cooking for the money in this pairing.

Which is harder to book, Den or Florilege?

Den is the harder reservation. Hasegawa's room is small and globally famous after ranking number one in Asia in 2022, so seats go through Japanese reservation services and concierge channels weeks ahead. Florilege at Azabudai Hills takes bookings through Pocket Concierge and its own site, with a communal counter that turns over more seats per service, so windows open a touch more often. Plan both at least a month out and use a hotel concierge in Tokyo if you can.

Is Den or Florilege better for a first date?

Den, for most people. The warmth, the humour and Hasegawa's habit of breaking the fourth wall keep a first date easy and talkative. Florilege seats guests communally facing each other across the kitchen, which is wonderful for solo diners and curious couples but less private for a nervous first meeting. For a date you want them to remember, Den; for a quietly serious solo or returning-couple dinner, Florilege.