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Aki London
Marylebone, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Aki London is a practical central London option when location and scheduling matter more than a fully documented chef, cuisine, or awards profile. Book it for flexibility near Oxford Circus and Marylebone; choose Palm Court at The Langham or The Wigmore if the occasion needs clearer expectations.
About Aki London
Aki London is a London venue with daily hours and a smart casual dress code. It opens from 12 PM daily, closes at 11 PM Monday to Wednesday, 2 AM Thursday to Saturday, and 10 PM on Sunday.
The main decision is risk tolerance. This is not the pick for someone planning around a specific culinary identity, published accolade, or known price tier. It works better as a flexible London option when timing matters, especially for diners who want an evening plan on the later-closing nights.
Book for timing and flexibility, not for a named culinary thesis
For diners who want a clearly published format, the stronger move is to choose a venue with more specific information. Here, the appeal is practical: daily opening hours, a smart casual dress code, and later closing on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. That makes Aki London useful for a plan built around schedule, but less definitive for diners who want to compare producers, tasting formats, chef credentials, or awards before committing.
If the brief requires more detail before booking, compare Aki London with other London options such as Palm Court at The Langham. If you want another venue to research, The Wigmore is also worth comparing. For a broader city scan, use Pearl's London restaurants guide, with related research also covered in the London bars guide and London hotels guide.
Who should choose it
Choose Aki London for a low-planning London option where the schedule is the priority. Skip it if the booking needs a named cuisine, a public awards signal, a published price range, or a tightly defined sourcing angle. Diners comparing other London venues can also look at Chez Roux, Madera at The Treehouse, Palm Court at The Langham, Roux at the Landau, and The Wigmore for alternatives with different positioning.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12–11 PM · Tuesday: 12–11 PM
- Location
- 1 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0LA, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- akilondon.com
- Phone
- +447402847957
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Aki London positions itself as a serious Japanese dining room on the northern fringe of Mayfair, operating in the quieter, more residential register of Marylebone. Aki occupies a different tier from classic London heavyweights, one defined by careful reinvention rather than conspicuous grandeur. Expect a restrained, refined atmosphere that leans into modern fine-dining composure: composed tables, attentive service, and a focus on high-quality Japanese preparations such as Tuna Tartare, Wagyu Tataki, hay-smoked scallop and Kobe beef.
Best For
Aki reads as an evening destination best suited to dinner service and milestone meals. The review situates it among London’s high-end dining geography and describes a 'serious dining room' in a Mayfair-adjacent pocket, which signals a place for date nights, business dinners and special-occasion meals. The menu’s signature items, from tartare to wagyu and Kobe beef, point to a menu built around shareable or coursed plates that favor a longer, sit-down experience rather than quick casual dining.
Ordering Tips
Highlights to look for on Aki’s menu are explicitly called out: Tuna Tartare, Wagyu Tataki, Hay-Smoked Scallop and Kobe Beef. These dishes represent the restaurant’s strengths and are reliable anchors when ordering. Given the emphasis on premium ingredients and Japanese technique, sampling a selection of these signature plates provides a clear snapshot of the kitchen’s approach and is an efficient way to experience what defines Aki within the Mayfair-Marylebone dining scene.
Venue details
Ambiance
Grand high-ceilinged former bank with Art Deco opulence, plaster trees, soft cloud motifs, kimono fabrics, and live DJs creating an elegant yet energetic atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Omakase, Small plates
- Private Dining
- Available
Signature Dishes
- Tuna Tartare
- Wagyu Tataki
- Hay-Smoked Scallop
- Kobe Beef
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0LA, United Kingdom
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12–11 PM
- Tuesday
- 12–11 PM
- Wednesday
- 12–11 PM
- Thursday
- 12 PM–2 AM
- Friday
- 12 PM–2 AM
- Saturday
- 12 PM–2 AM
- Sunday
- 12–10 PM
Location
1 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0LA, United Kingdom · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to look if this is not the right fit
Choose The Wigmore if value and a Traditional British ££ format matter. Choose Palm Court at The Langham if the booking needs a more formal hotel setting.
Restaurant context
How it compares in central London
Palm Court at The Langham is the safer choice for a formal occasion because the setting is easier to read before booking. Aki London is better suited to a lower-commitment central meal, especially when timing and location matter more than ceremony.
The Wigmore has the clearest value signal in this set: Traditional British, ££, and a more casual pub-adjacent brief. Pick The Wigmore for a relaxed meal with clearer expectations; pick Aki London when the priority is a Cavendish Square-area plan with broader timing flexibility.
Chez Roux and Roux at the Landau make more sense for diners who want the Roux name attached to the booking. Madera at The Treehouse is the cross-shop for a livelier hotel-restaurant feel. Aki London is the practical pick when the plan needs centrality first.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Aki London guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Aki London
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aki London | London | 2026 Michelin Plate2026 Michelin Guide New Restaurants | ||
| Palm Court at The Langham | London | No published awards | ||
| The Wigmore | London | Traditional British | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #7572025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Chez Roux | London | No published awards | ||
| Roux at the Landau | London | No published awards | ||
| Madera at The Treehouse | London | No published awards |
How Aki London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aki London good for a special occasion?
Only if the occasion is mainly about convenience and timing. Aki London has daily hours, a smart casual dress code, and late closing from Thursday to Saturday. If you need more detail before booking, compare it with other London venues such as Palm Court at The Langham or Chez Roux.
Is Aki London good for solo dining?
Aki London may suit solo diners who want a London venue with flexible hours and a smart casual dress code. The opening window runs from 12 PM daily into the evening, with later closing Thursday to Saturday. If you want a more clearly defined dining style before booking, The Wigmore is another comparison to consider.
What should a first-timer know about Aki London?
Plan around the hours first: Aki London opens daily from 12 PM, closes at 11 PM Monday to Wednesday, runs until 2 AM Thursday to Saturday, and closes at 10 PM on Sunday. First-timers should treat it as a practical London booking for timing, with a smart casual dress code, rather than a venue chosen for a cuisine, chef, price tier, or award signal.
What are alternatives to Aki London in London?
Other London venues to compare include Palm Court at The Langham, The Wigmore, Chez Roux, Roux at the Landau, and Madera at The Treehouse. Choose Aki London when the main requirement is flexible timing.
Is lunch or dinner better at Aki London?
Aki London opens from 12 PM daily, but no specific lunch format or pricing is available here. Dinner may be useful if you want to use the venue's late-hours advantage, especially Thursday to Saturday when it runs until 2 AM. For a more structured daytime plan, compare other London options such as Madera at The Treehouse.
