Dining Out: The 8 Tastes of Japan at 8 at The Londoner

An elevated encounter with Japanese flavours—eight ways—at London’s most theatrical rooftop bar.

Eight floors above the chaotic elegance of Leicester Square, something altogether more refined is unfolding. At 8 at The Londoner, the city’s sleekest rooftop bar, the new 8 Tastes of Japan menu doesn’t just offer a dining experience—it offers a culinary concept. One rooted in craft, ceremony, and a sly wink of fun.

Part cocktail collection, part cultural narrative, the menu is the brainchild of Amir Jati and Shailesh Deshmukh of the Edwardian Hotel Group—names that, if you’re a regular at The May Fair Bar or Peter Street Kitchen in Manchester, should already resonate. Their vision is ambitious: eight cocktails, each capturing a distinct essence of Japanese cuisine, paired with equally thoughtful small plates.

This isn’t just about sushi and sake. It’s about robata smoke, wagyu fat, red bean syrup, and daikon. It’s Japan seen through a polished, modernist lens—filtered through London’s love for luxury and flair. And it’s all happening in a rooftop garden bar designed by Yabu Pushelberg, a glass-and-marble fantasy that mirrors the skyline it surveys.

The menu reads like a haiku recited by a very well-dressed bartender. Each pairing speaks to a facet of Japanese culinary identity, from the savoury depth of dashi to the delicate theatre of tempura. Take Palom-pura—a playful nod to tempura, blending Cachaça, sudachi, and an umami-rich ama ponzu cordial, finished with shiso shōchū and grapefruit soda. It’s a cocktail that manages to be both clean and complex, perfectly offset by tiger prawn clouds with truffled yuzu mayonnaise: airy, crisp, and just spicy enough to flirt with danger.

Then there’s The Wagyu. If you’re going to reference A5 beef in a drink, you’d better commit—and 8 does. Nikka From The Barrel whisky mingles with an infusion of actual A5 Wagyu fat, their house vermouth blend, and a bespoke mix of amari. It’s a little mad. It’s also magnificent. Paired with the Wagyu “hot dog”—a glorious mess of gorgonzola hash brown and habanero-laced sausage—it’s decadent, witty, and weirdly emotional.

In short: it works.

Pierpaolo Schirru, Head Mixologist for the group, has clearly had fun here. His approach balances technical expertise with poetic intuition—something particularly evident in Storm Mochi, a dessert drink that shouldn’t work, but does. Red wine distillate, adzuki bean leftovers (yes, really), and Cocchi Americano meld into something silken and seductive. Think Port with a Japanese passport.

Pair it with the chef’s selection of mochi—pillowy orbs of cool sweetness—and suddenly you’re transported, not to Tokyo’s nightlife, but to its quieter, more introspective corners. The kind with tea shops and cherry blossom shadows.

Other standouts include the Jasmine & Yuzu Margarita—sharp, floral, and kissed with Patrón Añejo tequila and Cointreau Noir—and a Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned that marries Yamazaki 12, Hibiki Harmony, and WhistlePig 6-year rye for a transatlantic twist on the classic. Served with a wax seal, of course. It’s theatre, but it’s also damn good drinking.

Let’s not forget the solid half of this symphony—the food. While cocktails steal the spotlight, the dishes more than hold their own. “KFC” Karaage Fried Chicken with spiced aioli served in a warm brioche robata roll might sound like street food, but it’s pure cocktail couture: crispy, juicy, and layered with umami.

The edamame candy—tossed in lemon butter and chilli salt—is pure bar snack bliss. Meanwhile, crispy tiger prawn maki rolls with a cool, creamy spiced mayonnaise land with just enough crunch and zing to make you reach for that second Palom-pura.

This is Japanese cuisine viewed through a London lens—polished, playful, and unapologetically luxe.

Of course, no review of 8 at The Londoner would be complete without mentioning the venue itself. A rooftop bar, yes—but more accurately, a sanctuary of soft light, black marble, and architectural drama. The Shima Garden is the kind of space that makes you forget which country you’re in, let alone which tube line brought you here. Floor-to-ceiling glass offers panoramic views that compete valiantly with what’s in your glass.

The clientele? Well-dressed, well-heeled, and generally unbothered. Expect soft tailoring, designer denim, and plenty of moody stares over Old Fashioneds. And if you happen to show up in a Tom Ford tuxedo? All the better.

The 8 Tastes of Japan menu is, in many ways, a love letter to Japanese cuisine—but one written by someone who grew up in London, dined in Tokyo, and knows how to wear a velvet blazer. It’s elegant, irreverent, and deeply pleasurable. A place to impress a date, entertain a client, or simply spoil yourself because it’s Thursday.

For The Rakish Gent, which lives at the intersection of style and substance, this kind of place is a natural fit. It’s dining as performance, drinking as narrative. And if you’re the kind of man who likes his whisky with a story—or his tempura with tequila—this rooftop reverie is calling your name.

The Details
8 at The Londoner
38 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX
thelondoner.com

Opening hours:
Mon – Sat: 5 PM – 1 AM
Sun: Closed

Pricing:
Cocktails: £22–£28
Small Plates: £12–£25
Set pairing menus: Not currently offered; all items à la carte.

Recommended pairings:

• Palom-pura + Crispy tiger prawn clouds

• The Wagyu + Wagyu hot dog with gorgonzola hash brown

• Storm Mochi + Chef’s selection of mochi

• KFC Karaage + Jasmine & Yuzu Margarita