Ace Hotel Kyoto has revealed the details of its soft F&B openings, starting from 11 June.
Designed in partnership with architect Kengo Kuma and long-time Ace partner Commune Design, the full opening date of the hotel is set for later this year.
The property will feature three distinct restaurants helmed by chef partners Naomi Pomeroy, Marc Vetri and Wes Avila.
Each outlet features original art and custom works by Japanese artisans, from woven light fixtures to handmade Karakami frescos.
Mr Maurice’s Italian, by Vetri, is an Italian American osteria with a rooftop bar.
It pays homage to Vetri’s grandfather, Maurice Rotenberg, who owned a popular eponymously named restaurant in Philadelphia in the 1950s.
For his Kyoto menus, Vetri draws from his own upbringing, his years of formal training in northern Italy, and his frequent travels to Rome.
Mr Maurice’s Italian will serve lunch and dinner daily, and the menu will offer a variety of imported Italian cheeses and salami, along with wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas and breads.
Piopiko by Avila is a vibrant cocktail bar and taco lounge overlooking the hotel’s lobby, open for lunch, dinner and late-night service.
The menu draws inspiration from Mexican American tradition, international travel and the global influence of Japanese street art and music.
It features tortillas made in-house using heirloom masa imported from Mexico. Other items include Octopus Quesadilla with Oaxacan cheese, tomato confit, pistachio, salsa seca and chive; Brisket Taquitos with avocado salsa and English cheddar, and Ahi Poke Tostada with avocado, white miso, yuzu kosho, red onion, furikake and chive.
The final F&B venue, whose name is still yet to be announced, is an American restaurant by Pomeroy with an adjoining outdoor space. The menu will feature classic fare elevated through expert technique and an inventive spirit.
Created in collaboration with Pomeroy’s husband and partner Kyle Linden Webster, the restaurant will be situated on the hotel’s third floor, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Dishes will include Smoked Wagyu Pastrami Eggs Benedict with bearnaise; Avocado and Crab Cocktail with ramp thousand island cocktail sauce; and Seared Duck Breast with turnip purée, za’atar cream and demi-glace.
“We’ve been longtime fans of Naomi, Marc and Wes,” comments Kelly Sawdon, Partner and Chief Brand Officer at Ace Hotel Group.
“Collaborating with them on these restaurants has made this project even more special. Each of their unique and thoughtful culinary visions promise inventive, delicious fare in American, Italian American and Mexican American cuisine, and we’re excited to bring their love for food and Japanese culture together.”
Mr Maurice’s Italian and Piopiko will soft-open with a special preview menu from the 11 June, with all three restaurants offering full menus later in the year, alongside the debut of Pomeroy’s all-day restaurant.
