Restaurant near Wigmore Hall: pre-concert Japanese dining and cocktails at Aki
You have booked a night at Wigmore Hall, one of London’s most treasured music rooms. The programme is set, the calendar is blocked, and the anticipation is real. But there is one variable left to solve: where to eat before the concert.
A night at Wigmore Hall deserves more than a meal chosen for convenience alone. You want a restaurant that understands timing, atmosphere, and the quiet difference between eating nearby and dining well.
At Aki, located just a short walk away in Cavendish Square, we offer Japanese dining that feels equal to the occasion — whether you want a paced pre‑concert dinner, a full signature menu, or cocktails after the applause has faded.
Wigmore Hall
London’s temple of chamber music
One of the world’s great recital halls, celebrated for its intimacy and acoustic perfection. A typical evening concert begins at 7.30pm, with occasional matinees.
- Address: 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2BP
- Box office: wigmore-hall.org.uk
- Nearest stations: Bond Street (4 min), Oxford Circus (6 min)
Aki at a glance
Your Pre‑Concert Restaurant
1 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0LA
- Distance: A four‑minute walk from Wigmore Hall
- Dining style: Refined Japanese cuisine, from sushi and sashimi to binchotan‑fired robata dishes
- Pre‑concert timing: Dinner service begins at 5.30pm daily, allowing a comfortable, paced meal before a 7.30pm curtain
- Post‑concert drinks: Kiyori, our underground cocktail lounge, is open Thursday to Saturday until late
Why choose Aki before a Wigmore Hall concert
Location
A short walk
Step out of Wigmore Hall, walk west along Wigmore Street towards Cavendish Square, and Aki is there within minutes. Dinner fits naturally into the evening.
Timing
Service with pace
For pre‑concert reservations, we understand that timing matters. The experience should feel composed and unhurried, while still ensuring you reach your seat.
Flexibility
Flexible dining
Keep it light with nigiri and a hot dish, or make the meal the main event with our signature menu. The evening can be as simple or as expansive as you want.
After Hours
Cocktails after the show
When the concert ends, Kiyori waits below — our underground lounge for a final cocktail, dessert, and a softer landing to the night.
Atmosphere
A room that resonates
The former banking hall’s soaring ceilings, marble, and curated art create a sense of occasion that mirrors the grandeur of Wigmore Hall itself. The prelude begins here.
Cuisine
Lightness & clarity
Japanese cooking — clean, precise, never heavy — is the ideal companion to an evening of music. Every dish is designed to energise, not overwhelm.
A better pre‑concert dining experience
There is always a temptation to choose the nearest possible table and call the job done. But Aki gives you more flexibility than the usual pre‑concert default. Instead of a standard pre‑theatre set menu, you get a Japanese kitchen that can move in different directions.
If you want something light, our sushi counter provides clean, precise sashimi and nigiri. If you want warmth and depth, the robata grill delivers wagyu gyoza and binchotan‑fired black cod. You choose the rhythm of the meal, and we ensure it is delivered with the discipline required before a performance.
Four ways to build your Wigmore Hall evening
Not every concert night asks for the same thing. Some call for a quick, elegant dinner. Some deserve a longer tasting menu. Some end with a desire for one more drink in a darker room. At Aki, all four are easily arranged.
Pre‑Concert Dinner
The quick pre‑concert supper
À la carte from £8
A polished meal before a 7.30pm curtain. Sample your evening:
- To start: Miso soup £5 | Spinach salad, Tokyo turnips £12
- Sushi & sashimi: Scottish salmon nigiri £9.50 | Hamachi sashimi £14.50
- Robata grill: Caramelised black cod £32 | Wagyu beef gyoza £18
- Small plates: Rock shrimp tempura £16 | Crispy skin salmon £19
Best for: When you want a composed, relaxed meal without missing a note.
Full Experience
The Aki Signature Menu
£95 per person (Thursday £75)
Nine courses that turn dinner into a performance of its own. A typical journey:
- Omakase sashimi, chef’s selection
- Edomae nigiri, warm akasu‑seasoned rice
- Koji den miso black cod, binchotan charcoal
- A4 Japanese Miyazaki sirloin
- Autumn miso soup, myoga, mitsuba
- Hokkaido millefeuille, soba cha, vanilla ganache
Offer: Thursday evenings enjoy a special reduced price of £75.
Best for: Nights when dinner deserves equal billing with the concert.
Post‑Concert
The post‑concert nightcap
Cocktails from £14
When you’re not quite ready for the evening to end. Kiyori’s underground vault bar offers:
- Cocktails: Rising Sun (green tea ice cube, whisky, yuzu) £16 | Midori no Michi (matcha ice ball, shiso, vodka) £15 | Hana Fubuki (blossom shrub, elderflower soda, alcohol‑free) £12
- Japanese whisky: Nikka from the Barrel £14 | Suntory Toki £12
- Sake & umeshu: Junmai Daiginjo £15/glass | Umeshu on the rocks £9
A restaurant near Wigmore Hall should not only solve dinner. It should also know what to do with the rest of the night.
Best for: The afterglow of a concert, when one more drink is the only sensible decision.
Special Occasion
Private dining & bespoke events
Contact us
For a milestone concert, a birthday, or an anniversary, make the entire evening your own.
- Exclusive use of The Atrium or private dining room
- Bespoke menu designed with our head chef
- Pre‑ and post‑concert cocktails in Kiyori
- Wine and Champagne pairings from our cellar
- Dedicated events team — from enquiry to execution
Best for: When the occasion deserves as much attention as the music.
A Japanese restaurant worthy of the programme
Wigmore Hall gives you one of London’s most treasured musical settings. The restaurant around it should rise to the same standard. Aki offers the short walk, the right pace, and the kind of Japanese dining that makes the evening feel complete rather than conveniently assembled. From a quick pre‑concert supper to a nine‑course tasting menu, every option is tuned to the rhythm of a concert night.
Aki’s pre‑concert dining, just four minutes from Wigmore Hall, brings together refined Japanese cooking, a stunning former banking hall, and a hidden vault bar for post‑concert cocktails. It is the restaurant near Wigmore Hall that respects both the clock and the occasion. Aki at 1 Cavendish Square, Marylebone, welcomes concert‑goers throughout the season.
Aki London, a short stroll from Wigmore Hall, is now taking reservations for pre‑concert dinners and post‑show cocktails in the former banking hall at 1 Cavendish Square, Marylebone.
Reserve Your Table
Authentic Japanese dining, four minutes from Wigmore Hall
Warm Edomae rice, fresh wasabi, 30‑year soya, and omakase that respects the craft. Every piece prepared to order at 1 Cavendish Square, Marylebone.
