ラ・メール
Kashikojima, Shima
Restaurant in Shima, Japan
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
ラ・メール is worth considering if you are already in Agocho Shinmei, but it is not the clearest first pick for Shima without confirmed cuisine, format, or spend. First-timers should cross-shop La Mer The Classic, RIAS by Kokotxa, Tempura Tobari, and Sumibiyaki Unagi Higashiyama Bussan before anchoring a meal here.
About ラ・メール
In Shima, ラ・メール is easiest to evaluate on practical basics rather than on a detailed dining identity. It is in Shima, it is open 24 hours every day, and the dress code is smart casual. Public-facing details such as cuisine, menu format, and spend are not confirmed, so compare it with other options such as Sumibiyaki Unagi Higashiyama Bussan and La Mer The Classic before treating it as the default first booking.
Book this only if timing and setting matter more than menu certainty
For a first-timer, the safer recommendation is to compare against venues with clearer public-facing information before committing. RIAS by Kokotxa and Tempura Tobari are useful reference points when you want to cross-shop. ラ・メール may suit diners who need a Shima option with flexible hours, but it is not the strongest pick for someone who wants to know the food format before choosing.
Do not treat ラ・メール as an off-premise choice. Take-out and delivery details are not confirmed, and neither are menu structure, seating format, or dietary procedures. If those specifics matter, confirm directly before making plans.
First-timers should cross-shop before committing
Use this as a short-list candidate, then sanity-check it against other dining options. Our full Shima restaurants guide is the better starting point if the priority is choosing by cuisine, budget, or occasion. For planning around the meal, use venue details to separate a convenient booking from a worthwhile one.
Bottom line: consider ラ・メール if 24-hour availability in Shima is the deciding factor, and note the smart-casual dress code. For a clearer value or format call, cross-shop La Mer The Classic, RIAS by Kokotxa, Tempura Tobari, or Sumibiyaki Unagi Higashiyama Bussan before making it the anchor meal.
Planning details
- Location
- 731 Agocho Shinmei, Shima, Mie 517-0502, Japan
- Website
- miyakohotels.ne.jp
- Phone
- +81120880310
The take
The Take
The Vibe
La Mer reads as a refined coastal dining room that foregrounds its relationship to the sea. The copy emphasizes the provenance of Ise ebi, abalone and other shellfish from Ago Bay, so the room’s spirit is aligned with careful, ingredient-forward French cooking rather than flashy technique. The writing frames the restaurant as elegant and scenic — a place where the surrounding headlands and pearl-farming bays matter as much as the plates. Service and plating are implied to be disciplined and measured, matching a sophisticated, romantic environment built around the immediacy of local seafood.
Best For
This is a destination restaurant for travelers and serious diners who prioritize the origin of seafood. The profile repeatedly notes visitors making the trip from Osaka or Nagoya and situates La Mer on Japan’s expanding premium dining map, so it’s well suited to date nights, special-occasion dinners and business meals where provenance and seasonality matter. It also appeals to food-focused travelers seeking an ingredient-origin experience rather than a city dining scene — think intentional, reservation-driven visits rather than casual drop-ins.
Ordering Tips
Center your order on the local shellfish that define the menu: the signature abalone steak and the spiny lobster preparations are highlighted for good reason. The description stresses the immediacy of the region’s catch, so ask what arrived that day and prioritize dishes that showcase Ise ebi, abalone and other bay-sourced items. If the kitchen offers a sequence or set menu that emphasizes those ingredients, choose it to experience the logic of eating here; otherwise, select the lobster and abalone preparations and inquire with staff about the freshest impressions of the day.
Venue details
Ambiance
Tranquil and refined with elegant evening lighting overlooking the bay; a space designed for relaxation and sophisticated dining moments.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Formal
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Large
Signature Dishes
- Abalone steak
- Spiny lobster cream soup
- Spiny lobster American sauce
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 731 Agocho Shinmei, Shima, Mie 517-0502, Japan
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- La Mer, Notable alternative
- La Mer The Classic, JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999 JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999, JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999 JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999
- RIAS by Kokotxa, JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 View spending breakdown, JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 View spending breakdown
- Tempura Tobari, JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 View spending breakdown, JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 View spending breakdown
- Sumibiyaki Unagi Higashiyama Bussan, JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999, JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999
Restaurant context
How it compares in Shima
La Mer is the least useful comparison for a Shima-specific decision because it sits outside the metro context provided here. For a local meal, compare ラ・メール first with La Mer The Classic, which has clearer price guidance at JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999 for the higher spend tier and JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 for a lower listed tier. If budget clarity matters, La Mer The Classic is the safer choice.
RIAS by Kokotxa sits in the JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 range, making it the cleaner mid-tier cross-shop for diners who want a planned meal without jumping to the higher La Mer The Classic bracket. Tempura Tobari costs more than RIAS by Kokotxa at JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999, with another listed tier at JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999, and is the better fit if a focused tempura meal is the point of the booking.
For value, Sumibiyaki Unagi Higashiyama Bussan is the practical alternative at JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 and JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999. Pick it when price sensitivity or a casual meal matters more than ceremony. Pick ラ・メール only when its location or specific setting is the reason for booking, since the comparable venues give firmer signals on spend and format.
Explore Shima
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full ラ・メール guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare ラ・メール
| Venue | Location | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ラ・メール | Shima | , | No published awards |
| La Mer | Mie | , | Michelin Guide Germany 20262026 Michelin Plate2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #1602025 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 AAA 5 Diamond Restaurant2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Forbes 5-Star2025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #158 |
| La Mer The Classic | Shima | JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999 JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 | Tabelog 100 - French - WEST - 2025 · #59 |
| RIAS by Kokotxa | Shima | JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 View spending breakdown | Tabelog 100 - Spanish cuisine - 2026 · #69 |
| Tempura Tobari | Shima | JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 View spending breakdown | Tabelog 100 - Tempura - 2025 · #2 |
| Sumibiyaki Unagi Higashiyama Bussan | Shima | JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 | Tabelog 100 - Unagi - 2024 · #26 |
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How ラ・メール Shima compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at ラ・メール?
ラ・メール is open 24 hours every day in Shima. No separate lunch or dinner format is confirmed, so choose the time that fits your plan and confirm any meal-specific details directly. If you want another reference point, compare it with Tempura Tobari.
What should a first-timer know about ラ・メール?
Treat it as a timing-first choice, not a venue you pick for a deeply defined dining identity. The practical hook is that it operates 24 hours a day in Shima, with a smart-casual dress code. If you want more menu clarity before you commit, La Mer The Classic is a useful comparison.
Does ラ・メール handle dietary restrictions?
Ask ahead and be specific, because the details here confirm the 24-hour schedule, Shima location, and smart-casual dress code, not kitchen rules or allergy procedures. That makes it a cautious choice for strict dietary needs unless you can confirm the request in advance. Tempura Tobari is another option to compare while planning.
What are alternatives to ラ・メール?
La Mer The Classic is the closest name-based comparison, while RIAS by Kokotxa, Tempura Tobari, and Sumibiyaki Unagi Higashiyama Bussan are other venues worth reviewing. Cross-shop based on your preferred timing, budget, and how much menu clarity you need before booking.
Is ラ・メール good for a special occasion?
Use it for a special occasion only if the main goal is flexible timing in Shima. The 24-hour schedule is a practical advantage, and the dress code is smart casual, but the cuisine, menu format, and pricing are not confirmed. If the night needs a clearer dining identity, La Mer The Classic is a useful comparison.
