Koyn

Koyn is a high-end Japanese spot in Mayfair which serves the kind of top-quality sushi that’s rare to find in London. This is a special occasion restaurant which works just as well for an all-out dinner when you’ve got the corporate card, as it does an anniversary sushi date to celebrate getting through three years of arguing over whose turn it is to load the dishwasher. Just make sure you’re prepared to throw down £100 per person.

Koyn is the restaurant equivalent of upstairs for thinking, downstairs for dancing. Upstairs is a serene dining room with quiet chatter and yellowtail being sliced behind the stunning sushi counter. It’s where to take your parents to show them that you almost definitely know what an ISA is now. Downstairs is a moody black and red den that says “seduce me with sashimi”. Bring your date to show them that you almost definitely know what The Weeknd is talking about in 80% of his songs. On both floors, you can expect the same menu of excellent Japanese classics that make a meal at Koyn feel special without trying too hard.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

You’ll find your overpriced edamame and California rolls with a high profit margin, but there are no frills in the form of dramatic smoke-filled domes or truffle foam-topped rolls, because the food here speaks for itself. Their most basic rolls are some of our favourites, like the spicy salmon roll, or a single piece of hotate nigiri. But if you’re trying to impress, order the lobster tempura maki that’s presented alongside a whole lobster head and tail. It feels OTT, it is OTT, and we’re into it. Even the usually boring black cod is done excellently. It feels effortless, so when you’re looking to show off in a nonchalant I-always-eat-this-good kind of way, or have a very grown-up birthday dinner, Koyn will get the job done.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Sliced Yellowtail

The truffle ponzu with this thinly sliced, buttery yellowtail is the kind of sauce we’d like to drizzle on our toast in the morning when we’re feeling extra.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice

CC hash browns everywhere—these crispy rice bites are the grade-A spicy tuna and deep-fried carby collab we all need. Get these, and then get the avocado-topped ones for good measure. It’s the kind of dish you alert your group chat about immediately.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Black Cod

Black cod doesn’t usually give us butterflies when we see it on a menu but this black cod was so soft, so buttery, and so light, that we’d pay the £50 price tag all over again.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Spicy Salmon Sushi Roll

A simple roll, this light and creamy salmon number is one of our favourite things to order. If you’re in a group, don’t be polite, these disappear quickly.

Shrimp Tempura Sushi Roll

Zero frills, with all the flavour. This crispy tempura number is bready and we’re big fans of the chilli aioli.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Lobster Tempura

A hefty lobster roll which is nice to look at and even nicer to eat. The pieces are huge so it’s more of a two bites situation.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Hotate Nigiri

The hotate is soft and buttery, and the vinegared rice has the perfect swipe of wasabi for a nice kick.