Sushi in London
London now has one of the most varied sushi scenes outside Japan. The city offers everything from neighborhood counters and hand-roll bars to highly traditional omakase experiences that require planning months in advance. The best choice depends less on budget and more on the type of evening you want.
À La Carte
Sumi
- Lunch for the terrace
- Dinner at the counter for the full hand-roll rotation
- Casual catch-ups and excellent sushi outside the Mayfair circuit
- Otoro and scallop
- A more relaxed sibling to Endo at The Rotunda and one of Notting Hill’s most reliable sushi addresses.
- Nigiri, sashimi and hand rolls sit at the centre of the menu.
- The temaki are passed directly across the counter and designed to be eaten immediately.
- Minimal dining room with a small terrace for warmer months.
Pro-Tip:
Ask for the chef’s selection at the counter.
Dinings SW3
- Dinner
- The courtyard comes alive during summer
- Date nights and long dinners with friends
- Yellowtail belly with yuzu kosho
- Japanese cooking with an izakaya influence and great Cornish seafood sourcing.
- A sushi counter, courtyard and upstairs dining space create three distinct experiences.
- The courtyard remains one of the most appealing outdoor dining settings in Chelsea.
Pro-Tip:
Skip the Wagyu burgers and focus on the hand rolls.
Juno
- Dinner only
- Two seatings, 6pm and 8.30pm, Tuesday to Friday, with a Saturday lunch added
- A high-energy omakase for adventurous eaters who don't mind being two inches from the next diner
- Kobe nigiri finished with bone marrow oil
- A six-seat omakase counter hidden behind Los Mochis Notting Hill.
- The smallest omakase counter in London.
- Japanese technique with subtle Mexican influences.
- Guests sit in close proximity, creating a highly interactive experience.
Pro-Tip:
Walk through the main Los Mochis dining room. The entrance is concealed behind a curtain at the rear.
Cubé
- Lunch for the omakase value, and dinner for the full sushi-counter
- Date nights and omakase without the formality of larger counters
- Seared salmon
- A discreet Mayfair counter that delivers one of the area’s best-value omakase experiences.
- Six seats at the sushi counter, with a small dining room behind.
- The atmosphere remains notably calmer than many nearby restaurants.
Pro-Tip:
Book when Yama is working the counter.
Niju
- Dinner at the sushi counter; quieter lunches during the week
- Dinners looking for something between a traditional restaurant and a full omakase
- Negi-toro gunkan
- A quieter alternative to many Mayfair Japanese restaurants, balancing sushi with katei ryori-inspired cooking.
- The restaurant is split between a sushi counter and a larger main dining room, with the the counter offering a noticeably more intimate experience.
- The atmosphere remains understated even during busy dinner services.
Pro-Tip:
Request one of the four counter seats and order the chef’s nigiri selection.
Omakase
Sushi Kanesaka
- Dinner
- Two seatings nightly at 6pm and 8:30pm
- Milestone dinners and a highly traditional omakase
- Cornish king crab with beluga caviar
- Binchō-tan grilled Kobe
- Shinji Kanesaka’s first restaurant outside Asia and one of London’s most formal omakase experiences.
- Nine seats at a counter carved from a single piece of hinoki cypress.
- The meal follows a traditional Edomae approach.
- The atmosphere remains remarkably calm despite its location inside a major London hotel.
Pro-Tip:
Avoid perfume. The restaurant asks guests to do so in order to preserve the aromas of the meal.
The Araki
- Dinner only
- Two seatings each evening
- Dedicated sushi enthusiasts and special-occasion dining
- Langoustine
- One of Europe’s most influential sushi counters and still among London’s most sought-after reservations.
- Nine seats, one menu and a dining experience built around complete trust in the chef.
- The room is intentionally spare and free from distraction.
Pro-Tip:
Order the Toro Gelato at the end.
Kurisu Home-akase
- Your dining room
- Subject to availability
- Advance booking is recommended
- Hosting friends, family dinners and private celebrations
- Scallop Houdini nigiri
- Counter-quality omakase served in your own home.
- Chef Chris Kurisu brings everything required for the meal, including fish, rice, knives and serviceware.
- The experience feels more relaxed than a traditional sushi counter without compromising on technique.
- Guests have the flexibility to shape the pace of the evening themselves.
Sushi Amamoto
- Lunch for a shorter introduction
- Dinner for the full menu
- Experienced omakase diners and special occasions
- Toro with truffle and caviar
- A direct arrival from Taipei and one of London’s most ambitious omakase counters.
- Sixteen seats arranged around a single oak counter.
- The meal is served in a single sitting, creating a shared rhythm across the room.
- The atmosphere is more contemporary than many traditional omakase counters.
- Most guests book specifically for the chef’s signature combinations rather than classical Edomae restraint.
Pro-Tip:
Ask for the centre seats for a direct view of Park’s (chef) station.
Cubé
- Lunch for the omakase value, and dinner for the full sushi-counter
- Date nights and omakase without the formality of larger counters
- Seared salmon
- A discreet Mayfair counter that delivers one of the area’s best-value omakase experiences.
- Six seats at the sushi counter, with a small dining room behind.
- The atmosphere remains notably calmer than many nearby restaurants.
Hand-Roll Bars
Kumori
- Lunch for a quick counter meal
- Evenings for a busier room
- Solo diners
- Casual sushi occasions
- After-work dinners
- Baked crab, toro with bone marrow, unagi foie gras
- One of London’s most distinctive hand-roll counters.
- The menu focuses on crisp nori, high-quality seafood and combinations designed specifically for temaki.
- The atmosphere is laid back, with great finishings and music.
Pro-Tip:
Order in smaller rounds rather than all at once.
Romeo San - The Temaki Bar
- Mid-afternoon or early evening
- Quick meals
- Solo dining
- Negi-toro with fatty tuna
- Spring onion and fresh wasabi
- London’s first dedicated temaki bar with twenty-five counter seats. Still one of the city’s most focused hand-roll concepts.
- No bookings, just walk-ins.
- The format is simple, with a small menu and very little customisation.
- The atmosphere feels more like a Tokyo neighbourhood.
- Most guests are in and out within an hour.
Pro-Tip:
Visit outside peak lunch and weekend hours.
Sumi
Dinings SW3
Juno
Cubé
Niju
Sushi Kanesaka
The Araki
Kurisu Home-akase
Sushi Amamoto
