The Atrium: private al fresco dining in Marylebone, rain or shine
London does heatwaves with a particular lack of grace. Pavement tables fill before lunch, every restaurant suddenly has a queue, and by seven o’clock the prospect of another heavy meal in a packed dining room begins to feel less like a plan and more like an endurance test.
The answer is not always the loudest terrace or the table closest to the traffic. Sometimes it is a quieter corner above Cavendish Square: a private terrace, a glass roof that opens to the evening sky, chilled drinks, Japanese cooking built around freshness, and the reassuring knowledge that a change in weather will not unravel the whole plan.
At Aki in Marylebone, The Atrium offers a different kind of al fresco dining. It is not a pavement table with passing buses and strangers within arm’s reach. It is an entirely private floor for groups, with its own bar, dining room and terrace — a place to let a summer gathering stretch out at its own pace.
Summer at Aki
Al fresco dining in Marylebone, above the pavement rush
The Atrium at Aki is a private terrace in Marylebone for summer lunches, dinners and celebrations. Set above Aki’s Grade II-listed former banking hall at 1 Cavendish Square, it combines a retractable glass roof, a private bar and Japanese event menus from £75 per person. The terrace seats up to 12 guests for dining, while the full private floor accommodates seated groups and standing receptions of up to 60 guests.
- Where: 1 Cavendish Square, Marylebone, London W1G 0LA
- Best for: Summer celebrations, group lunches, private dinners and after-work gatherings
- The difference: A retractable glass roof lets the evening stay open to the sky without depending on the forecast
- After dark: Continue downstairs at Kiyori Bar in Aki’s original bank vaults
Not just a pavement table
There is a place for pavement dining. A quick glass of wine after work, a seat in the sun, the useful feeling that London is happening around you. But for a birthday, a proper catch-up, a team gathering or a long summer dinner, it can feel surprisingly exposed. The traffic does not stop. The next table is never quite far enough away. And the British weather remains a risky co-host.
The Atrium is designed for a different kind of outdoor dining in Marylebone. Accessed by a backlit spiral staircase, it is separate from the main restaurant below: your guests, your table, your bar, and a terrace that belongs entirely to the occasion. The roof slides open when the evening calls for it, then closes when London changes its mind.
“At first glance, the establishment looked more like an exclusive private club than a restaurant. The ambiance deserves special mention. The interior design is impeccable, tastefully decorated with meticulous attention to detail. For London standards, this level of sophistication in setting is truly impressive.”
Why dine outside at Aki this summer
Open sky
A roof that follows the evening
The retractable glass roof opens when the sun is out and closes when the weather turns. You get the atmosphere of outdoor dining without placing the entire plan in the hands of the forecast.
Privacy
Above the pavement rush
The Atrium is an entirely private floor rather than a sectioned-off outdoor table. It has its own terrace, dining room and bar, giving summer celebrations space to settle in.
A lighter table
Japanese food for warm evenings
Begin with chilled sashimi, seafood, bright salads and dishes shaped by yuzu, herbs, pickles and Japanese vegetables. It is a natural way to dine when a heavy summer meal is not the mood.
After dark
Cocktails below at Kiyori
When dinner reaches its natural pause, there is no need to find another venue. Descend to Kiyori, Aki’s cocktail bar in the original bank vault, for Japanese-inspired drinks and a slower finish.
The right way to order on a hot day
Summer dining does not need to mean less interesting food. It simply asks for a different rhythm: something chilled first, something crisp alongside it, then a table that moves gradually rather than arriving all at once in a succession of heavy plates.
For a private lunch or dinner in The Atrium, build the meal around fresh seafood, sashimi, sushi, Japanese herbs and seasonal vegetables, with cold sake, Champagne or a bright cocktail to begin. For a closer look at the lighter side of Aki’s menu, explore our guide to Japanese summer food in Marylebone.
Summer plans, better placed
The best summer gathering is rarely the one that has been over-planned. It is the one with the right setting, enough time, a table worth lingering at, and nowhere urgent to be afterwards.
Long lunches
A Marylebone lunch that can take its time
For working lunches, visiting friends or a reason to step away from the office, The Atrium brings daylight and privacy to the table. Start with chilled dishes, let conversation settle in, and allow the afternoon to become more than a diary slot.
Summer birthdays
A celebration with its own sky
The terrace seats up to 12 guests for intimate dining, while the wider private floor can accommodate larger seated groups and standing receptions. It is a birthday setting that feels celebratory without needing to announce itself too loudly.
After-work gatherings
A more civilised summer social
Trade the crowded bar terrace for a private floor near Oxford Circus and Bond Street. Japanese canapés, cocktails, a private bar and a roof that stays open to the evening make an easy case for keeping the team together a little longer.
An evening out
Dinner upstairs, Kiyori after dark
Aki gives the evening a natural second chapter. Begin with a private summer dinner in The Atrium, then continue downstairs at Kiyori for Japanese spirits, cocktails and the low-lit atmosphere of the former bank vault.
A private Japanese table, shaped around your plans
The Atrium is available for private events and group dining, with Japanese set menus beginning at £75 per person and bespoke formats available for occasions that need something more tailored. The menu can move from sashimi and sushi into seasonal small plates, with wine, Champagne, sake and cocktails selected around the shape of the event.
Intimate dining
Up to 12 on the terrace
For a smaller summer dinner, the terrace offers an open-sky setting for up to 12 guests, with the privacy to make a long table feel genuinely personal.
Seated celebrations
A private dining room beside the terrace
The Atrium’s dining room accommodates 8 to 22 seated guests, with hand-painted walls, marble-topped tables and a dedicated bar for the occasion.
Standing receptions
Up to 60 across the private floor
For cocktail parties, product launches, post-work events and larger celebrations, combine the terrace and dining room for standing receptions of up to 60 guests.
Plan your summer event
Al fresco dining in Marylebone, without the weather gamble
A private terrace, retractable glass roof, Japanese event menus and Kiyori cocktails waiting downstairs — all at 1 Cavendish Square, a short walk from Oxford Circus and Bond Street.
A cooler way to lunch or dine in London
When the city is hot, the best table is not necessarily the one most exposed to it. It is the one that catches the good part of summer — the open sky, the last of the light, the long conversation — while keeping the rest under control.
The Atrium at Aki offers outdoor dining in Marylebone with the privacy, food and flexibility to make a summer plan feel easy. Bring the people worth lingering with. The roof will take care of itself.
The Atrium is Aki’s private event floor at 1 Cavendish Square, Marylebone, London W1G 0LA. The terrace seats up to 12 guests, with space for seated dining and standing receptions of up to 60 guests across the full private floor. For availability, menus and bespoke event planning, enquire online.
Frequently asked questions about al fresco dining at Aki
Everything to know about The Atrium, Aki’s private terrace in Marylebone.
Does Aki have outdoor dining in Marylebone?
Aki’s outdoor dining space is The Atrium, a private terrace on the restaurant’s upper floor at 1 Cavendish Square. It is available for private lunches, dinners, celebrations and group events.
Is The Atrium terrace covered if it rains?
Yes. The terrace has a retractable glass roof that can open to the sky in good weather and close when conditions change, allowing outdoor-style dining without relying on the forecast.
How many guests can dine on The Atrium terrace?
The terrace seats up to 12 guests for intimate dining. The adjoining private dining room accommodates 8 to 22 seated guests, while the combined private floor can host standing receptions of up to 60 guests.
What food is available for a summer event at Aki?
Aki offers Japanese private-dining menus from £75 per person, with options that can include sashimi, sushi, seasonal small plates and other dishes from the restaurant’s Japanese menu. Bespoke menu planning is also available for private events.
Can we have drinks after dinner at Kiyori?
Yes. Kiyori is Aki’s cocktail bar in the original bank vaults beneath the restaurant. Speak to the events team when enquiring if you would like to continue your event with drinks downstairs.
Where is Aki in Marylebone?
Aki is at 1 Cavendish Square, Marylebone, London W1G 0LA, within easy walking distance of Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations.
How do I enquire about private terrace hire at Aki?
You can enquire online with your preferred date, guest numbers and occasion. The events team can then advise on availability, menus and the best format for your gathering.
