From gold vaults to golden dashi: a new chapter for Aki at 1 Cavendish Square
Certain buildings hold the memory of a city within their walls. They are silent witnesses to ambition, to commerce, and...
Certain buildings hold the memory of a city within their walls. They are silent witnesses to ambition, to commerce, and to the slow, steady current of transformation. Our new home at 1 Cavendish Square is one such place. For nearly two centuries, it stood as a quiet bastion of finance, a place of immense gravitas and discretion. Today, its grand doors open to a new purpose as a modern Japanese restaurant. The ledgers have been closed, the kitchen is now open, and a new story begins.
From heritage of banking to visionary Japanese cuisine
To understand what Aki is today, one must first understand what this building was before. Its longest and most defining chapter began in 1826, when it became the headquarters of Sir Samuel Scott Bart & Co., a prominent private banking house. Refurbished by the celebrated architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville, this magnificent Grade II listed structure was transformed into a fortress of finance.
Upon entering one cannot help but wonder what the atmosphere within these walls was back in the day. This was a world of hushed transactions and quiet authority, of polished wood and the tangible weight of currency. Its purpose was to store and grow wealth, a task it performed with a steady, unwavering focus. Its heart was its vault, a subterranean sanctum protected by formidable steel doors, where the city’s fortunes were secured in locked strongboxes. This was a place of immense value, defined by the tangible assets it protected. Today, we believe its purpose is to create and share sensory richness, expressed through the art of Japanese cuisine.
Reawakening as a Japanese restaurant
A building with such a profound history cannot simply be renovated; it must be reawakened. Our £15 million transformation was approached with the deep respect of a custodian. The project, guided by the vision of internationally renowned designer Francis Sultana, was founded on a single principle: to enter into a respectful dialogue with the building’s past.
We began by listening to its Georgian bones. We traced the lines of the original 18th-century panelling and stood beneath the soaring ceilings, allowing the building’s inherent character to guide our hand. The result is a seamless blend of European grandeur and Japanese craftsmanship. You can feel it in the subtle details. Delicate plaster trees and cloud motifs, inspired by Japanese decorative screens, drift across the ceilings. The rich, unexpected texture of kimono fabrics is integrated into bespoke furnishings, adding a layer of tactile artistry. These are the quiet whispers of a new identity, set against the enduring strength of the original architecture.
A shared language of precision through Japanese cuisine
What could a 19th-century bank and a modern Japanese restaurant possibly have in common? The answer lies in a shared language, a mutual reverence for a specific set of virtues.
At the heart of both worlds is an unwavering focus. The banker, balancing ledgers with meticulous accuracy, and the sushi chef, slicing a piece of pristine fish with millimetre precision, are both masters of a demanding craft. Each requires a lifetime of dedicated practice to achieve a state of effortless perfection. Both share a deep respect for their material. The banker understood the inherent value of gold; our chefs understand the fleeting, perfect value of a cut of otoro tuna at its absolute peak. Whether in the world of high-stakes banking or the art of Japanese cuisine, the same discipline holds true: a belief that every detail, no matter how small, contributes to the integrity of the final result.
The Vault, reimagined as cocktail bar
The most dramatic expression of this transformation lies beneath the main dining room. We invite you to descend the original stone staircase, to the very heart of the old bank. The air changes here. It grows more intimate, more hushed. The formidable steel doors of the vault remain, a proud testament to their history.
Yet, as they open, they reveal not a chamber of cold metal and locked boxes, but the warm, amber glow of our cocktail bar, the Kiyori lounge. The vault has been reimagined. Its purpose, to protect things of immense value, remains the same. The assets, however, have changed. Today, its most precious holdings are bottles of rare Japanese whisky, collections of artisanal sake, and unique spirits infused with herbs grown in our own kitchen. It is a sanctuary where the city’s most valuable currency is no longer financial, but cultural and sensory.
This building has not lost its purpose as a house of value. Instead, its definition of value has been profoundly enriched. The focus has shifted from the tangible to the intangible, from assets held to moments created. It is still a place to invest, but the returns are measured in memory, in connection, and in the quiet joy of an unforgettable experience at a truly unique Japanese restaurant.
We invite you to make your first withdrawal.
The story of 1 Cavendish Square continues with you.
