Sake no Hana
Chinese and East Asian
0.5 miles
23 St James's Street, St James's, Central London, SW1A 1HA
Placed on the prominent St James's Street within a 1960s listed building, Sake no Hana's entrance is incredibly discreet. Upon entering the restaurant's reception, you are presented with a stylish scene, with running escalators and highly shined black surfaces that would not look out of place on a James Bond film set.
Designed by esteemed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the restaurant walls are awash with his trademark linear bamboo, set alongside sporadic tree-like structures of cypress wood which punctuate the space and create the feel of a futuristic forest. To contrast with such a strong palette of materials, screens ripple the windows, providing a soft veil.
The restaurant was launched by the same man who created Hakkasan and Busaba Eathai, Alan Yau. Alan opened Sake no Hana for Evgeny Lebedev, most recently linked to the Evening Standard. Needless to say, the first-floor restaurant, with its lively sushi counter overlooking St James's, is defined by banquette seating, where you might catch a glimpse of one or two celebrity faces among the general public.
Head chef Daisuke Hayashi has devised a menu that presents simple, diverse and accessible Japanese cuisine, with an average price of £35 per person for dinner, and lunch menus starting at £15 per head. The menu offers up a wide array of freshly prepared sushi, sashimi and salads, alongside heart-warming Japanese fare. The green tea soba salad with seared tuna; the rib-eye beef tataki with sesame dressing; the Ibérico pork shabu shabu; and the grilled quail with sancho pepper are all superb choices from the menu.
The ground floor hosts a chic lounge bar, with low banquette seating and armchairs creating an intimate space in which to relax. Boasting a range of Japanese-inspired cocktails, the bar also offers an extensive wine and sake list and a premium Asahi draft beer. Diners can choose from small dishes such as the moreish king crab and rice cracker croquette, addictive broad bean karaage, and chargrilled teriyaki chicken wings, to accompany their beverage of choice. Sake no Hana is the epitome of stylish dining - an unforgettable experience awaits
Designed by esteemed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the restaurant walls are awash with his trademark linear bamboo, set alongside sporadic tree-like structures of cypress wood which punctuate the space and create the feel of a futuristic forest. To contrast with such a strong palette of materials, screens ripple the windows, providing a soft veil.
The restaurant was launched by the same man who created Hakkasan and Busaba Eathai, Alan Yau. Alan opened Sake no Hana for Evgeny Lebedev, most recently linked to the Evening Standard. Needless to say, the first-floor restaurant, with its lively sushi counter overlooking St James's, is defined by banquette seating, where you might catch a glimpse of one or two celebrity faces among the general public.
Head chef Daisuke Hayashi has devised a menu that presents simple, diverse and accessible Japanese cuisine, with an average price of £35 per person for dinner, and lunch menus starting at £15 per head. The menu offers up a wide array of freshly prepared sushi, sashimi and salads, alongside heart-warming Japanese fare. The green tea soba salad with seared tuna; the rib-eye beef tataki with sesame dressing; the Ibérico pork shabu shabu; and the grilled quail with sancho pepper are all superb choices from the menu.
The ground floor hosts a chic lounge bar, with low banquette seating and armchairs creating an intimate space in which to relax. Boasting a range of Japanese-inspired cocktails, the bar also offers an extensive wine and sake list and a premium Asahi draft beer. Diners can choose from small dishes such as the moreish king crab and rice cracker croquette, addictive broad bean karaage, and chargrilled teriyaki chicken wings, to accompany their beverage of choice. Sake no Hana is the epitome of stylish dining - an unforgettable experience awaits
