The Maltese-owned restaurant opened in October last year
The London offering of a Malta-born contemporary Japanese restaurant has made it onto the Michelin Guide less than a year after opening.
Aki London, the flagship Mayfair offering from prominent Maltese company db Group and which opened to much fanfare in October last year, now features on the popular international restaurant guide.
The addition comes less than a year after Prime Minister Robert Abela cut the ribbon to officially open the restaurant in an event marking the Debono family’s first international venture.
Restaurants do not pay to be listed in the guide, instead applying to be visited anonymously by a Michelin inspector, who does not make themselves known to the establishment and pays the bill for the meal, according to the organisation’s website.
The listing notes the “striking restoration” of the Grade II-listed former bank housing the restaurant, which Michelin notes is “good for groups”. Aki London is rated in the highest cost bracket, denoted by four currency symbols.
The guide points to the midweek ‘Business Lunch’ menu as “the best value for money”.
db Group chairperson Silvio Debono told Times of Malta last year that it had “always been our dream to open a London restaurant”. He said Aki London’s opening made the family “very proud because this is one of the most competitive food hotspots in the world”.
Commenting on the listing, a spokesperson for db Group said: “Receiving this recognition before our first anniversary is a proud moment for everyone at Aki. It reflects our team’s commitment to delivering an exceptional dining experience, and we’re delighted to see that being recognised so emphatically by both critics and our guests”.
The restaurant hit the headlines ahead of its opening when it hosted the birthday celebrations of model Romeo Beckham, son of football legend David Beckham.
While firmly rooted in Japanese cuisine, the menu makes use of Maltese staples such as rabbit and fennel and features a collection of artisanal sake offerings. The restaurant utilises on-site vertical farming facilities in addition to ingredients sourced from suppliers.
The London eatery features a curated selection of contemporary art.
Aki London opened its doors around five years after the debut of Aki in Valletta.
