Le Sens @ Paris

Official Website

Entry: No cover charge, but VERY difficult to get in (masked lady at the door + guy/girl ratio)

Music: Dance, electronics, house, a bit of rock

Attire: Dress to impress!

Space: 2 floors - dance floor and main bar on the 1st; VIP section, cocktail bar and more tables on the 2nd

If you are looking for a chic night out in Paris, partying with the A-listers and chasing after models, then Sens is your best bet! Located on a street off of Champs-Elysées, Sens is most known for its crazy "Don't Tell My Booker" nights that attract a large number of top models and celebrities during the Paris Fashion Week. If you are lucky enough to be allowed into one of these special parties, you are in for some serious clubbing! But don't get too excited...Sens is also notoriously known for the bitchy masked lady at the front door. Unless you have made a reservation through some reliable sources/people, she will be the one that decides whether you have what it takes to roll with the big guys. Be aware that the two-girls-to-one-guy ratio might not always work here, it really comes down to the mood of our mighty masked lady!

Sens is a chic restaurant by day, but it turns into a club after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Around 2am the small dance floor will be packed with gorgeous-looking girls moving to best club tunes at the moment, while the big spenders look on from the VIP tables closeby. The DJs at Sens are amazing, naturally...smooth transition from song to song, mixing the best of house, electronics, dance and sometimes rock.

A few pointers:

• Fridays are the best nights to be in Sens!
  
• Peak time is usually around 1:30~2:00am, the resident DJ really spins his best stuff when people are crowding the dance floor and going crazy.
• If you are staying at a hotel, make sure you asks the concierge to making a booking...this is your best bet to get into the club!
• Only book a table if you are planning to open at least a bottle of vodka or champaign, there's minimum charge for each table. (if I remember correctly, a bottle of cheapest vodka is at least €350)
• The club next to Sens is also very good, called Neo, perfect for a rock fan!

Address: 23, rue de Pontieu, Paris 75008

TEL: +33 (0)1 42 25 95 07

瀬里奈 (Seryna) Shabu-Shabu @ Tokyo

 

Official Website

Price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: relaxed, quiet, great for business lunch/dinner

Attire: casual~semi-formal

Languages: Japanese and English (English menu available, and a few waiters can speak simple English)

Reservation: Yes (especially if you want a table next to the windows in Shinjuku branch)

Ever tried Japanese hot-pot, the so-called "shabu-shabu"? Wanna try the legendary Kobe beef from cows that get daily massages, drink beer, and listen to classical music? Well, this is definitely the place to be for the ultimate shabu-shabu experience. Founded in 1961, Seryna has expanded into a corporation with 3 locations within Tokyo: its flagship store in Roppongi, a branch on the 52nd floor of the Sumitomo Building in West Shinjuku, and another branch located on the busy street in Ginza.

Having tried all three locations, I personally recommend the Shinjuku branch for its amazing view of the city, and the Ginza branch for you shopaholic ladies and gents (since it is located on a street with lots of luxury boutiques and department stores). The "must-try" items are its beef and kani (crab) shabu-shabu. I would suggest ordering from the set menu, and for the first-timers definitely try the shabu-shabu or stone-grilled steak course. For those of you who are interested in A La Carte, here are some good ones to try:

• Crab and Avocado Salad
• Fried Stuff Crab
• Pumpkin Soup
• Seasonal Dishes (note that they usually have a seasonal specialty section that changes every few months, for example, blowfish cuisines in winter)

Dinner set is around ¥10000~¥15000/person, but the lunch set is only ¥4000~¥6000/person; might not be a bad idea to go during daytime, except the night view is definitely more spectacular!

Beef shabu-shabu

Kobe beef...the marble-like beef is worth every dime, believe me!

Fried stuffed crab

Stone-grilled steak

1. Roppongi Honten (六本木本店)

    Address: 3-12-2,Roppongi,Minato-ku,Tokyo 106-0032

    TEL: +81 3 3402 1051

    * includes a special section for Teppanyaki (Japanese grill/steak house)

2. Shinjuku (新宿)
    Address: Shinjuku Sumitomo Bldg. 52F, 2-6 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0252
    TEL: +81 3 3344 6761
    * includes a special section for Teppanyaki (Japanese grill/steak house)
3. Ginza (銀座)
  Address: Ginza Tiffany Bldg. B1,2-7-17,Ginza,Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
    TEL: +81 3 3562 6211

Tune of the Moment: Fragma - Memory

I've loved Fragma ever since their hit single "Toca's Miracle (Toca Me)".

It was probably one of the hottest airplay throughout 2008.

Memory was released in September 2008, gaining airplay in early 2009.

My favorite song right now...check it out!!