There are certain addresses in London that carry the weight of history, their corners and cornices echoing with stories of the city’s evolution. Cavendish Square is one of them. The decision of where to begin our London story was not one we took lightly: we were looking for more than just a venue or a location; we were looking for a place whose character was in dialogue with our own.

In the poised elegance of Cavendish Square, with its garden set back from the city’s rhythm, we found it. This historic square, conceived in the 18th century as a vision of architectural grace, resonates with our own philosophy. It is a place born of deliberate design and quiet confidence, qualities that lie at the heart of the Japanese craftsmanship we revere. In a city of constant motion, the square offers a moment of sanctuary, a quality we aim to cultivate within our own walls. It felt less like a strategic choice and more like a natural arrival, a place where our story could not only be told, but where it would feel truly at home.

It is, therefore, with a deep sense of this shared heritage and purpose that we introduce ourselves as its newest resident.

Our name is taken from akitsu, the Japanese word for dragonfly. A creature of balance and light, whose movement is both poised and deliberate. It is not a symbol of aggression or speed, but of deep intentionality. In its momentary stillness, there is focus; in its flight, there is effortless grace. It is this spirit that guides us in everything we do: a belief in considered creation, in the profound beauty of detail, and in an experience that feels both timeless and entirely of the moment.

 

This vision first took flight not in London, but on another island, under a different sky. Our journey began in Valletta in 2020, where Aki was conceived as a modern expression of Japanese dining in dialogue with the rich heritage of Malta. It was an approach that resonated, earning a loyal following and a place in the Michelin Guide for four consecutive years. There, we learned to listen to our surroundings, weaving subtle echoes of the island’s character into our craft. The golden Maltese honey that lends a delicate sweetness to a glaze, the shared reverence for bluefin tuna treasured in both cultures—these were not gimmicks, but quiet acknowledgements of place.

 

Now, that same spirit arrives in London, not to replicate our past, but to begin a new conversation. The core philosophy remains the same, yet the expression is reimagined for the rhythm of this beautiful and amazing city. We bring with us the knowledge we have learned from being a Japanese restaurant with Maltese origins: a commitment to craft, a closeness to nature, and a story of our own. This is the promise we hope to bring to our new home.

 

Since the very first day that we stepped into our new home, we understood that to be a resident here is to be a custodian. Our new home in London, the magnificent Grade II listed former bank at 1 Cavendish Square, is a landmark we have sought not to change, but to reawaken. This £15 million transformation was never simply a renovation; it was a conversation between centuries, a dialogue between cultures.

 

Our approach has been one of reverence. We began by listening to the history held within its walls—to Thomas Archer’s early Georgian vision of harmony, and to the quiet gravitas of its long life as Sir Samuel Scott’s banking house. The project, guided by the internationally renowned designer Francis Sultana, was founded on a single principle: to enter into a dialogue with the building’s past. His vision was to create a seamless blend of European grandeur and Japanese craftsmanship, where one aesthetic does not dominate the other, but rather illuminates it.

 

You can feel this conversation in the details. Look up, and you may see delicate plaster trees and cloud motifs drifting across the soaring ceilings, a subtle nod to Japanese decorative screens. Touch the bespoke furnishings, and you may feel the rich, unexpected texture of kimono fabrics integrated into the design. We have approached the original 18th-century panelling and grand stone staircase not as features to be preserved behind glass, but as living elements of the new design, polishing a historic gem to allow its architectural integrity to shine.

 

The heart of this transformation is the former banking hall itself. Where fortunes were once decided, an eighty-cover dining room now resides, its grand scale softened by the warmth of natural materials and the glow of custom art. The space retains its soul as a grand European dining room, yet it speaks with a new, distinctly Japanese accent.

 

Perhaps the most intimate part of this dialogue lies beneath your feet. We invite you to descend into the building’s original bank vaults. Here, behind the preserved, formidable steel doors, you will not find a fortress of finance, but the hushed, low-lit sanctum of our cocktail bar, Kiyori. It is a space that holds its history close, creating an atmosphere of unparalleled intimacy and intrigue.

 

This storied frame has become a living gallery, where a curated collection of contemporary works from artists like Ryan Gander and Yoshirotten adds a final, vibrant layer to the narrative. The light is different now. The energy has shifted. A new chapter for Aki has begun.

 

But what do we truly offer this neighbourhood, this city?

 

In our many years in the hospitality business we have learned that a great restaurant should offer more than just a meal: it should offer a moment of respite. We hope to be a little sanctuary in the heart of Marylebone. A place where, upon stepping across the threshold, the city’s unceasing rhythm fades into a gentle hush. A space where time can slow for a quiet celebration, an important conversation, or a moment of personal reflection.

 

This is a destination where modern Japanese dining is explored through the lens of meticulous craftsmanship. It is a journey that begins with the earth, with eighty modular farms quietly flourishing within our kitchen, providing herbs and blossoms with no carbon miles, only the pure essence of the season. This devotion to the source translates to the table, where our chefs’ discerning hands shape nature into a refined, instinctive, and quietly surprising form. You will find it in the primal energy of the robata grill, where the distinct aroma of binchotan charcoal kisses perfectly sourced ingredients. You will see it in the quiet theatre of the sushi counter, where years of dedication are distilled into a single, perfect cut.

 

And for moments that call for a different kind of intimacy, an escape awaits. Descend the original stone staircase into the building’s former vault, now the Kyori lounge a hushed, low-lit sanctum where crafted cocktails and rare spirits take centre stage.

 

Ultimately, we want Aki to be place to connect. To connect with the purity of an ingredient, with the depth of a craft, and most importantly, with each other. We have spent months listening to this building, curating our collection, and preparing our offering of Japanese cuisine. The final, most important element is you. Our doors are now open. We warmly invite you, our new neighbours and guests, to step across the threshold and experience the journey for yourself.