Akoko

Akoko occupies a single, thirty-cover room on Berners Street in Fitzrovia, where founder Aji Akokomi opened the restaurant in October 2020 with chef William JM Chilila, a Masterchef: The Professionals finalist, leading the kitchen. The tasting menu draws on the cooking of Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, worked over an open grill and served across six or nine courses at dinner, with a shorter sitting at lunch. A single Michelin star, awarded in 2024, has held into the current Guide.

The room is the work of René Dekker Design, its walls clad in terracotta by Clayworks and hung with pieces by the contemporary artist Niyi Olagunju. Tableware runs to bespoke stoneware referencing the potter Ladi Kwali and the Nupe peoples of Nigeria, made with a roster of independent ceramicists. Well-spaced tables, a small marble-topped bar and the open kitchen sit within the one room rather than a warren of separate spaces.

The whole restaurant can be reserved exclusively for private dining, with its own dedicated team and a menu built around the host's preferences. Enquiries route directly to the restaurant.