Aki London has earned a place in the Michelin Guide less than a year after opening, adding an international stamp of approval to db Group’s first restaurant venture outside Malta.

The restaurant occupies a former bank at Cavendish Square, a short walk from Oxford Circus and follows the sustained success of Aki’s original Valletta location, which has appeared in the Michelin Guide for five consecutive years.

Michelin describes the space as a chic brasserie-style setting within a high-ceilinged banking hall, complete with a statement cocktail bar and an open kitchen. Chefs prepare sashimi, maki and nigiri alongside robata-grilled dishes including caramelised black cod. The guide also singles out a Wagyu beef selection for celebratory occasions and the midweek Business Lunch menu as the standout value option.

Since opening last October, Aki London has built a visible profile in the UK market, appearing across several leading publications and hosting a string of high-profile events. These have included Romeo Beckham’s fashion brand launch and his 23rd birthday celebration, as well as a summer soirée co-hosted by Oliver Cheshire and Pixie Lott.

At the restaurant’s inauguration, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela said the venture reflected the strength of Malta’s culinary industry and its potential to grow beyond the island’s shores. The Michelin recognition, arriving so early in the restaurant’s life, lends that assessment some weight.