Home to Michelin-starred sushi master Endo Kazutoshi, the new fusion restaurant and sake bar opens its doors at the Grade II* listed Old War Office.
2 min read
Photography: Polly Tootal
Opening to the public on 15 May 2024, Kioku by Endo is the latest addition to London-based Creative Restaurant Group’s portfolio. Crafted by fellow London design studio Pirajean Lees, the warm, tactile interiors were inspired by head chef Endo Kazutoshi’s travels through Japan and Spain – from his family’s sushi restaurant in Yokohama, Tokyo, to his time working in the Japanese Embassy in Madrid. Pirajean Lees therefore envisioned a space that paid homage to the textures, colours and design principles found in both cultures, while also harnessing the incredible views and changing light offered by the Grade II* listed Edwardian Old War Office (The OWO).
Somewhat bucking convention, Kioku’s sake bar occupies the ground floor (accessed by discreet side entrance on Whitehall Place), while the rooftop restaurant offers diners panoramic views of Whitehall, The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, St James’s Park and Westminster. When creating their design concept, Pirajean Lees began by focusing on Japanese joinery techniques, which are present in the handcrafted joint details, wall panelling, built-in cabinetry, window frames and bespoke furniture throughout both spaces. Mediterranean influences can be seen in the soft, organic material palette, which includes oxblood leather, hand-crafted tiles and light layered mesh.
Kioku’s intimate, 25-cover bar boasts a menu curated by sake sommelier Natsuki Kikuya, who was awarded the coveted title of Sake Samurai in 2015. A custom reception desk clad with embroidered Japanese fabric, oak and mesh screens and chequered cork panels welcomes guests in the entrance, joined by ink calligraphy signage suspended from above. The walls are plastered with breathable, natural clay, while custom tables and stools (designed by Pirajean Lees) are arranged at varied heights to add an intimate, multi-layered feel to the bar even on quieter evenings.
Ascending by lift to the rooftop of The OWO, diners enter Kioku Restaurant through oak-framed double doors to discover a series of intimate spaces divided by timber frame and mirror ‘portals’. Brightened by accents of aged brass, the leather accents and mesh screens first found in the bar are repeated throughout each different zone of the restaurant, from the 56-seat main dining room to the eight-seat chef’s table by the kitchen and the 60-cover outdoor terrace. Oak dining chairs are upholstered with Japanese embroidered silk and include a carved bow detail, offering a nod to those used in Endo’s favourite hotel in Yokohama.
Those seeking an even more memorable dining experience can book a striking, eight-seat private dining room stationed in one of the building’s historic turrets, where a mesmerising indigo moon mural (designed by Pirajean Lees and painted by British artist Tess Newall) adorns the ceiling alongside a Japanese rice paper lantern.
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