Review process

Restaurant/Bar/Cafe/Shop

What we see

  • Originality

    Forget chain joints and corporate-backed operations – we’re all about highlighting unique, independent places loved by the locals.

  • Service

    Friendly, attentive service can make a good meal great, while being treated arrogantly or dismissively will have us storming through the door in no time.

  • Quality/Price

    Pay more, get more? Well, sure, but not all of us can burn money at will. Value thus becomes a crucial factor in rating any restaurant, bar, café or shop.

  • Atmosphere

    No matter how well you score in the previous three categories, shamelessly subjective feelings are sometimes what make or break a place. Simply, did we like the atmosphere or not?

Product

What we see

  • Originality

    Forget mass-produced machinations – we’re all about highlighting unique, truly innovative products that excite their users.

  • Quality/Price

    Pay more, get more? Well, sure, but not all of us can burn money at will. Value thus becomes a crucial factor in rating any product.

  • Desirability

    In the end, it comes down to a simple question: would we buy this? Does the product feel relevant to people’s needs, and does it have the potential to make our lives better?

Activity/Face of Tokyo

  • Chosen by the Time Out Tokyo team, the winners in these categories are our ideal representatives of Tokyo in 2016.