Best Sushi Restaurants In London

Does the idea of fresh sashimi make you drool? Are you a sucker for tempura rolls? Have you got a hankering for nigiri like no other? Get out there and explore London’s incredible sushi scene. We’ve tracked down the finest practitioners of Japanese cuisine this side of Tokyo, and we’re talking about tech-savvy Soho restaurants, sky-high city plots and chilled casual sake joints in our list of the top sushi restaurants in London.

Last edited by Izzah Kazi

Last updated on 30th April 2024




KIBOU - Battersea

After the success of their first restaurant in Cheltenham back in 2013, KIBOU opened a few branches across the UK, including in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge and, of course, London's leafy neighbourhood Battersea. This gorgeous outpost offers a taste of Tokyo, with murals of geishas lining the walls and a towering cherry blossom tree, not to mention an eclectic menu of Japanese delights. You'll find a delicious range of signature sushi here, from the surf & turf nigiri (featuring seared salmon topped with wagyu beef and truffle mayo) and the volcano roll, a medley of salmon, avocado and tobiko, tempura-style. And, if you're looking for the most affordable sushi in London, swing by on a Sunday and enjoy bottomless sushi for just £34 per person.

Ayllu

Bank Holiday Bottomless Brunch

Found along the canal in Paddington, underneath Smith's Bar & Grill, lies a beautiful restaurant that combines the flavours of Peru and Japan. The elegant space is intimate with low lighting, rich forest green walls lined with lily pads and sophisticated seating, making it perfect for date nights. You'll find a range of Nikkei dishes here, although we've got our eye on the sushi. Get stuck into the chef's selection of nigiri, the vibrant Ayllu platter (featuring spicy tuna rolls, soft shell crab furomaki and more) and dive into fresh slabs of sashimi – although our personal favourite is the rainbow roll, made with tuna, salmon, sea bass and avocado. Oh, and did we mention they also host DJ sessions and live samba shows?

The Fuji Grill At Beaverbrook Town House

Make your way to the elegant Fuji Grill At Beaverbrook Town House in Chelsea. An extension of the famous hotel in Surrey, it too features interiors from Nicola Harding and Sir Frank Lowe. Dine in a glamorous space decked out with gorgeous, oval lighting, dark wooden furnishings and prints of Mount Fiji fixed to the wall. Choose between a nine-course omakase menu or moreish plates from the a la carte, which includes chicken dumplings, miso and fresh truffle o'toro nigiri, and hispi cabbage with sake kombu. 

Miro

The perfect glistening backdrop to spice up your camera roll, Miro is a swanky Mayfair haunt dishing out global sharing plates that range from crunchy truffled yellowtail maki rolls to cauliflower karaage - managed by executive chef Toby Burrowes, previously at Zuma London and Michelin-starred Elystan Street. The restaurant's ambience evokes that of a nightclub, with neon hues and hand-painted murals contrasting with the exposed brick walls.

Inamo Covent Garden

Unlimited Asian tapas & sushi with free-flowing wine or beer £49.95 per person and 2 other offers

Specialising in Pan-Asian delicacies, Inamo is slinging out some of the best sushi in London from its Covent Garden and Soho outposts. What makes them stand out against the rest? It isn't just their cutting-edge, interactive tables, on which you can play retro games, watch the chefs in the kitchen or create a work of art – it's also renowned for its fantastic food. You'll discover a fusion of Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Korean dishes here, with a fantastic lineup of sushi and sashimi on the go. From salmon tataki with lime marmalade to a classic spicy tuna roll and prawn tempura butterfly rolls, you'll be absolutely spoilt for choice.

Gura Gura

Nestled in Covent Garden, Gura Gura is a striking Pan-Asian restaurant that transports you to sunnier climes with pretty foliage dangling from the ceiling and understated bursts of colour from the seating, floors and pictures framed along the walls. Grab a seat and watch the chefs behind the live sushi bar whip up your order, each dish prepared with incredibly fresh produce. Go for a round of mixed sashimi (tuna, salmon, hamachi and sea bream) or treat your senses with a few of the rolls – the oshizushi tuna and tomato salsa roll is a highlight. But if you really want to push the boat out? Make sure to order one of the sushi boats, with passengers including salmon cream cheese rolls, California rolls and a selection of nigiri.

Aqua Kyoto

If you're on the hunt for the best sushi in London with a view, look no further than Aqua Kyoto. The Soho hotspot, found just off Regent Street, is a gorgeous rooftop restaurant boasting views across Central London. But if you head inside? You'll also be treated to a luxurious, slinky space with low lighting and sultry shades spread across scalloped booth seating. Alongside succulent wagyu steaks, robata grill dishes and mouthwatering mains, you'll discover an extensive selection of sushi to get stuck into. There's more than enough maki to go around, featuring Canadian blue lobster tempura futomaki and unagi with sansho, shiitake, cucumber and pickled takuwan. But if you fancy something really deluxe, their signature crystal sushi is not to be missed – think scallop and caviar with kimchee jelly. And, if that wasn't enough, there's also a long list of sashimi, ranging from red snapper and surf clam to akami tuna and sea urchin.

Bamboo Mat Stratford

From Denis Gobjila (formerly of Chotto Matte) and Victor Rosca (previously at Lucky Cat and Sushisamba), Bamboo Mat is a sought-after Stratford spot for beautifully prepared plates of sushi. Coming with the wave of Nikkei restaurants to recently hit the capital, this joint slings out nigiri, sashimi (including one topped with flame-torched A4 grade wagyu beef) and sushi. Our favourite dish? It has to be the ceviche hot maki, made of seabass, prawns, aji amarillo tiger's milk and salsa.

YO! Sushi Restaurants in London

For those of you after something a little more affordable, YO!'s sushi restaurants across London (found in locations like Bond StreetStratford and Bromley) have got what you need. Inspired by the restaurants of Japan, it uses a cool conveyor belt system, where you can pluck colour-coded dishes right off the belt. Get ready to wrap your lips around California handrolls, dynamite rolls, freshly prepared maki and so much more, with a fantastic selection of vegan sushi up for grabs too, including the squeaky bean hoisin 'duck' roll.

Ginza St James

Offering authentic Japanese cuisine with fine dining flair is Ginza St James's. The Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant offers a luxury experience from start to finish, with sophisticated interiors showcasing elegant neutral tones and geometric wooden partitions. But it doesn't stop there, as it's also home to a sushi counter where you can enjoy some of the best omakase in London; the professional chef will surprise you with a creative selection of dishes using fresh, premium ingredients. Or, if you fancy going a la carte, you can order nigiri platters, high-grade sashimi and rolls (don't sleep on the Ginza maki, made with tuna, salmon, yellowtail futomaki, smoked mouli, shiso, cucumber and avocado). To pair with your feast, choose from Japanese whiskey and an acclaimed sake list.

Sticks'n'Sushi Kingston

Though originally hailing from Copenhagen (opening in 1994), you'll now find Sticks and Sushi London branches across Kingston and Shoreditch. The restaurant's founders, Thor Andersen and brothers Jens and Kim Rahbeck, celebrate their half-Danish, half-Japanese backgrounds, making for a suave, Scandi-chic setting mixed with Japanese elements, like eye-catching art installations. As for the food, you'll find an expertly prepared lineup of sushi, from seared salmon nigiri topped with Exmoor caviar to ceviche kaburimaki and wagyu tartare house rolls.

Sumi

If you're feelin' a little fishy and fancy, go to SUMI, sushi master Endo Kazutoshi's fabulous hangout in the heart of Notting Hill. This place is the perfect mix of upscale and approachable, catering to sushi lovers with an authentic and high-quality menu featuring goodies like sashimi, nigiri, robata grills, hot pots and temaki rolls. And if you're a sake fan, they've got you covered with their selection of premium goods like the melon-infused Dewazakura Cherry Bouquet Ginjo.

Tsunami Clapham

Going strong since 2001, Tsunami is a Clapham institution just off the high street offering beautiful plates of sushi to the South London masses. Alongside a load of mouthwatering Japanese dishes, there's an abundance of hand rolls, sashimi, nigiri and uramaki. So, grab a seat in the trendy space, which showcases plush, pastel-coloured armchairs alongside leather banquettes, or perch alfresco-style on their cute foliage-lined patio. Some of the highlights include the dragon roll (an inside-out roll, made with shrimp tempura, spring onions, eel and avocado) and the soft shell crab rolls. And if you just fancy some sashimi? You can nab yellowtail, tuna, mackerel, scallop, seabass, salmon and shrimp variations.

Temaki

As the first and only handroll bar in London, Temaki is the go-to Brixton hotspot for delicious sushi cones filled with top-tier ingredients like BBQ eel and prawn tempura. Their minimalist decor and communal counter add to the experience by letting you watch your meal being prepared right in front of your eyes. Plus, the staff are highly knowledgeable and can provide insights into the raw ingredients used in the dishes.

Nobu Portman Square

If you're looking for a fancy feast, head over to Nobu Portman Square. This super sleek hotspot is a collab between superstar chef Nobu Matsuhisa and legendary Hollywood actor Robert De Niro that's totally worth the splurge. Dig into Nobu classics like the famous black miso cod, crispy pork belly with apple wasabi salsa, or lobster wasabi pepper while you people-watch from their gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Marylebone.

SUSHISAMBA

It's literally in the name over at SUSHISAMBA, which is located on the 38th and 39th floors of Heron Tower at 110 Bishopsgate. This sky-high spot is both stylish and colourful, with the impressive views to match - an awe-inspiring setting that matches the menu's unique blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine. As for sushi? Think yellowtail with jalapeño and lemongrass, A5 Kobe beef with pickled wasabi, bubu arare and truffle citrus soy, and shrimp tempura rolls - followed by robata-grilled dishes or large plates to round off your meal.

Issho-Ni: Bethnal Green

It doesn't get much trendier than Issho-Ni, a hip Bethnal Green hangout where you can delight in all manner of Japanese small plates in a cool space fitted with pendant lights, live wood counter dining and a real chill vibe. Led by founder Claire Su, whose parents owned Noodle King (the venue's predecessor), the kitchen whips up prawn tempura maki rolls, salmon sashimi, and seabass nigiri, topped off with a round of mochi ice cream for dessert. Just make sure to pair your feast with one of the signature cocktails, such as the Bloody Geisha (a kimchi-flavoured spin on the classic).

Endo At the Rotunda

Looking for Michelin star sushi in London? As well as having previously worked as the executive chef of Zuma restaurants and world-renowned El Bulli in Spain, Endo Kazutoshi is a famed sushi chef in his own right. His eponymous restaurant, Endo At the Rotunda, is found in White City at the former BBC TV Centre - occupying an 8th-floor lookout over the surrounding area. And that's not all, since his 20-course omakase menus have earned a coveted Michelin star too.

Hot Stone

You can expect some seriously good sushi at Hot Stone, prepared by Padam Raj Rai, the former head chef at Mayfair spot Tsukiji restaurant in the 5-star Westbury Hotel. You can even have a go at cooking things yourself on their signature hot stones, as the name suggests, with everything from rock shrimp tempura to A5 Japanese Wagyu beef or grilled miso aubergine.

Sushi Atelier

Craving Japanese food? Head over to Sushi Atelier on Great Portland Street in Fitzrovia. This cosy Asian spot offers a contemporary take on traditional sushi recipes, with creative dishes and exciting flavour combinations. We're talking nigiri with toppings like ponzu jelly and rolls filled with yellowtail and truffle mayonnaise. The menu also features carpaccios, steamed dumplings, salads, and cervices. And let's not forget about the drinks—from premium sake and wine to draft Japanese beer and shochu, this place has got it all.