August 20, 2025
Stepping into Aki restaurant in London feels like entering a secret yet elegant world. In autumn 2025, this much-anticipated debut of Malta’s beloved Aki brand transforms a former Grade-II listed NatWest bank into a luxurious 80-cover dining destination with a cocktail bar tucked into the old vaults.
Helmed by the db Group’s emerging global vision, Aki London marks the brand’s first international outpost. Following the success of its Michelin-recognised Valletta flagship, the restaurant aims to introduce modernised Japanese cuisine, focusing on sushi, robata, and kushiyaki, to the heart of Marylebone. The building underwent a £15 million transformation led by designer Francis Sultana, preserving its architectural grandeur while injecting contemporary elegance.
The former banking became an airy dining room, featuring soaring ceilings, marble accents, and custom art pieces. Subtle period details—vaulted arches and brass fixtures—blend with modern lighting, crafting a polished and relaxed atmosphere. A mezzanine terrace and private dining room add layers of intimacy, while the original bank vault was reimagined as a cocktail lounge, hidden behind steel doors.
Aki London is a striking blend of heritage and modernity: an elegant, high-ceilinged space offering a peerless Japanese sharing menu and bespoke cocktails, all set against an architectural backdrop. Casual enough for after-work catch-ups, yet grand enough for celebratory nights, Aki stands as an autumn must-visit.
Aki Restaurant London Menu
Aki London’s menu delivers shareable bites and wood-grilled finesse. The robata grill offers premium cuts like wagyu robata alongside delicate seafood, meant to share and savour around the fire. Hoi Cha Octopus & Spring Onion Kushiyaki are charcoal-grilled morsels with smoky sweetness. The shiitake mushroom, shishō and spring onion skewers have their earthy juices intensified by Binchotan heat.
Binchotan Padron peppers, pork and chive gyoza, and shiro miso soup are comforting starters grounded in umami. Hirata Buns include chicken tacos, miso beef katsu, and soft-shell crab—a delightful mash-up of texture and flavour. For the tempura selection, crispy omakase vegetables and sakura prawn deliver a light, elegant crunch.
The cocktail bar offers Japanese-inspired creations in a moody, exclusive atmosphere—part speakeasy, part style moment. Drinks like the Rising Sun (L’Arbre gin, yuzushu, green tea ice cube) highlight the Japanese-Maltese fusion of mixology craftsmanship. Pairs of sake, natural wines, and expertly stirred cocktails—like the playful Donabe Negroni and Mahoutsukai Iced Tea—balance the menu with finesse. Many are served in the vault bar, lending late-night glamour to the meal.
Aki Restaurant London Cuisine, Dress Code & Address
Cuisine: Japanese
Dress Code: Casual
Area: Marylebone
Address: 1 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0LA
Website: https://akilondon.com/
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