JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo, which opened in October 2025 on the upper floors of TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY in Takanawa, Tokyo, will host a special four-hands dinner event on March 13 (Thursday) and 14 (Friday), 2026. The hotel's modern Mediterranean restaurant Sefino will welcome Francisco Araya, chef of Araya—the world's only Michelin-starred Chilean restaurant—as a special guest chef for an exclusive collaboration with Agustín Balbi, the chef behind Sefino's cuisine.
This two-night-only event brings together two globally acclaimed chefs with South American culinary roots for a dream collaboration at Sefino, the modern Mediterranean restaurant located on the hotel's 29th floor. Drawing inspiration from contemporary Chilean cuisine and modern Mediterranean flavors, both chefs will jointly create and present a special 11-course menu featuring seasonal Japanese ingredients.
Guest Chef Francisco Araya
Francisco Araya, originally from Chile, is the co-founder of Araya, a Chilean restaurant in Singapore that has earned recognition as the world's only Michelin-starred Chilean establishment. He is a rising culinary talent attracting global attention.
Sefino's Supervising Chef Agustín Balbi
Agustín Balbi, originally from Argentina, supervises the modern Mediterranean restaurant Sefino at JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo. He earned a Michelin star at his own restaurant Andō in Hong Kong and has been selected for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. He is a popular chef currently gaining attention in the global culinary scene.
Special Menu Featuring Japanese Seasonal Ingredients
The event will feature a specially curated menu exclusively for these two nights, incorporating seasonal Japanese ingredients such as kinki (thornhead fish), scallops, Wagyu beef, and sweet shrimp, inspired by South American and Mediterranean culinary traditions. The two chefs, both with South American roots, reunite in Asia to express their respective culinary backgrounds and journeys through each course.
Event Details
Dates: March 13 (Friday) and 14 (Saturday), 2026
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Price: 11-course menu ¥36,000, Pairing ¥28,000
Venue: Sefino (29th floor)
Reservations: https://www.sefinotokyo.com/about-us
Menu
- Sweet shrimp, tomato meringue
- Yellowtail, apple, cucumber, lime
- Tuna, citrus gel, green peas, caviar foam
- Hokkaido scallop ceviche
- Lobster, yellow tomato cocido
- Coral, mashua espuma, wakame pickles, oyster leaf
- Kinki, moqueca, amaranth
- Wagyu beef, parsnip, chimichurri
- Arroz caldoso, red shrimp
- Lucuma, sugar crystal sphere, pecan nuts
- Chocolate, strawberry, shiso
- Mignardises
Chef Comments
Francisco Araya:
"Agustín and I have visited each other's restaurants many times over the years and have built a strong relationship. This dinner, where we cook together for the first time at Sefino, is also a valuable opportunity to explore Japanese ingredients. I hope it will be a special and memorable evening for our guests."
Agustín Balbi:
"Francisco and I have known each other for a long time, but this is the first time we're actually cooking together. This dinner is about respecting each other's culinary backgrounds while engaging with Japanese ingredients to deliver a unique experience for this occasion. I'm looking forward to an evening that will be memorable for both our guests and ourselves."
About Francisco Araya
Born near Santiago, Chile, Francisco Araya grew up in a family involved in the restaurant business, learning from an early age through his family's kitchen that food creates memories, culture, and connections.
After starting his career at Alma (Viña del Mar) in Chile, he trained at world-renowned restaurants including Mugaritz and elBulli in Spain. After returning to Chile in 2008, he deepened his understanding of native ingredients and terroir-driven cuisine at Boragó, one of Chile's leading restaurants.
In 2012, he opened his own restaurant "81" in Tokyo, where his unique fusion of Japanese seasonal ingredients and Chilean flavors earned high acclaim, receiving a Michelin star within one year of opening. Currently based in Singapore, he co-founded the Chilean restaurant Araya, which bears his name. He continues to create dishes that convey the stories of place through contemporary expressions of Chilean food culture, native ingredients, and culinary memories, characterized by warmth and quiet passion.
About Agustín Ferrando Balbi
Originally from Argentina, Agustín has roots in both South America and Europe. Through his training in Japan and Hong Kong, he has developed a unique culinary philosophy rooted in culture and memory.
In 2020, he opened his own restaurant Andō in Hong Kong, where his innovative cuisine fusing Japanese ingredients with Spanish traditions earned high acclaim. He received a Michelin star in 2021 and was selected for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. In 2025, he received the highest honor of Three Knives in The Best Chef Awards, celebrating his creativity and international influence.
Currently, he supervises Sefino, the modern Mediterranean restaurant at JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo. With the concept of "Gourmet Emotional" inspired by childhood memories, he creates cuisine that combines warmth and sophistication.
About Araya (Chilean Cuisine)
Founded by Chilean chefs Francisco Araya and Fernanda Guerrero, Araya is the world's only Michelin-starred Chilean restaurant, located in Singapore. The restaurant is characterized by cuisine that reconstructs indigenous Chilean ingredients and traditional flavors using techniques cultivated in Japan and Europe.
Just eight months after opening, the restaurant received its first Michelin star and the Michelin Sommelier Award. In 2026, it was selected as one of Forbes' "The Coolest Restaurants of 2026 Chosen by Experts," one of only two restaurants in Asia to receive this honor. The restaurant is highly regarded for its complete dining experience that combines advanced technique, meticulously calculated drink pairings, and powerful storytelling.
About Sefino (Modern Mediterranean Cuisine)
Located on the 29th floor of JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo, Sefino is a modern Mediterranean restaurant supervised by Chef Agustín Balbi, who has earned a Michelin star and received the highest Three Knives (The Best) designation in The Best Chef Awards. Centered on the food culture of the Mediterranean region, including Southern France, Spain, and Italy, the restaurant offers cuisine that layers seasonal Japanese ingredients with the chef's sensibility.
Signature dishes include roasted lamb with traditional Argentinian chimichurri sauce—a recipe filled with memories of the chef's father—and Arroz Meloso, also served at his Michelin one-star restaurant Andō in Hong Kong. Characterized by warm and deeply nourishing flavors inspired by Chef Agustín's childhood memories, the restaurant offers a dining experience to be enjoyed with all five senses in a refined space with Tokyo views.
About JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo
Opening in October 2025 on the upper floors of TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo is an urban sanctuary. Directly connected to Takanawa Gateway Station, the hotel is approximately 20 minutes by car from Haneda Airport and within walking distance to Shinagawa Station, a major Tokyo terminal, offering excellent access.
Providing heartwarming service and mindful experiences that allow each guest to savor "this moment," the hotel features art and design inspired by Zen aesthetics and the rich history and natural beauty of Takanawa. With stunning Tokyo views, the hotel offers 200 rooms in total, including 30 suites, all designed with earth-toned colors creating a refined and elegant atmosphere.
The hotel houses six restaurants and bars: Japanese cuisine Kakō, kappo cuisine Saki (supervised by a Michelin star chef), modern Mediterranean cuisine Sefino, JW Lounge, JW Bar, and croissant bar Le Cres. The property also features comprehensive wellness facilities including an indoor pool, fitness center, and SPA by JW.
The Executive Lounge, a special space exclusively for guests with Executive Lounge access, offers an elevated stay experience. Through subtle attention to detail and premium, comfortable service characteristic of JW Marriott, the hotel delivers memorable and special moments.
About JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts
JW Marriott is one of Marriott International's luxury brands, boasting award-winning hotels and exceptional resort locations worldwide. Inspired by mindfulness, JW Marriott is designed as a sanctuary where guests can focus on achieving unity of mind and body by finding peace in their hearts, nourishing their bodies, and energizing their spirits through programs and offerings that encourage guests to fully experience every moment together.
Currently, JW Marriott operates over 125 hotels in more than 40 countries and territories worldwide, serving sophisticated, mindful travelers seeking experiences that keep them fulfilled, foster meaningful connections, and nourish the soul. For the latest information, visit the website, Instagram (@jwmarriotthotels), and Facebook (@JWMarriott).
JW Marriott participates in Marriott International's global travel program, Marriott Bonvoy®. Marriott Bonvoy provides members with an exceptional global brand portfolio, experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and night credits toward elite status advancement. For free membership registration and program details, visit marriottbonvoy.com.
