MA/NA Mayfair

Thesleff Group is on a major roll. Between Los Mochis, Sale e Pepe and twin omakase joints LUNA and JUNO, it's a group with its finger firmly on the pulse of London’s dining scene. Stepping through the revolving doors into its new Mayfair outpost, MA/NA exudes pure confidence. The long dining room brims with high-end club energy: a DJ pumps out rumbling tribal house, staff breeze back and forth in sleek charcoal dresses and double-breasted suits, and a warm, golden glow illuminates the space. That party atmosphere is softened by cloud-pruned bonsai trees and spindly potted black olives - a welcome dash of green against the beige and timber.

This is a restaurant unapologetic about its wealth. To our right, floor-to-ceiling wine fridges display bottles of Krug, Cristal and Dom Perignon front and centre. The food is equally opulent: edamame pods come piled high with grated truffle; and the menu includes caviar, Norwegian King Crab, bluefin tuna, Wagyu, foie gras, and more. Occasionally, these luxury heavyweights are squeezed into a single course, like a Wagyu, bone marrow, foie gras and teriyaki bite that ranks among the most hedonistic five seconds you can spend in London.

If you’re easily overwhelmed by a massive a la carte, the tasting menu is the route to take. It delivers a succession of heavy hitters, starting with a knockout tuna tartare - a generous puck of fatty bluefin, avocado, daikon and shallots dressed in truffle soy and crowned with tobiko. Like everything at MA/NA, it’s very generous, and we pile it onto rice crisps and devour.

The cooking trends towards big flavours and luxurious ingredients: there’s a fantastic roasted cod, painted in yuzu miso and perfectly grilled; a pile of tender grilled ribeye with spicy leek; and more truffle in amongst a pile of fried rice. An impressive dinner is rounded off with more richness in the form of a dark chocolate fondant, which finds an unusual partner in wasabi ice cream.

If you're looking for low-key and understated, look elsewhere. But for ostentatious Mayfair glamour, and a dining room that easily shifts into a late-night party spot, MA/NA delivers on every level.

MA/NA is a luxury Japanese dining concept from the Thesleff Group - the team behind acclaimed venues such as Los Mochis, LUNA Omakase, and Juno Omakase. Located in the heart of Mayfair on Upper Grosvenor Street, MA/NA promises refined Japanese cuisine, elevated cocktails, and immersive hospitality, all set within a 156-cover restaurant and bar.

Interiors by OV&CO set the tone for a dramatic dining experience, with a striking dragon-shaped banquette winding through the lounge and custom handblown Magma light sculptures adding flair to the glamorous, no-expense-spared aesthetic.

Executive Chef Leo Tanyag - who also oversees Thesleff Group restaurants such as Los Mochis, LUNA and JUNO Omakase - leads the kitchen with a menu that explores the craft and ritual of Japanese cuisine. Signature dishes include tiger shrimp tempura with creamy wasabi, teriyaki edamame with black truffle, and a luxurious king crab salad with Asian leaves, yuzu masago, pink peppercorn, truffle ponzu and caviar.

From the robata grill, expect bold flavours and premium cuts, such as bone-in ribeye with ginger, garlic and sesame soy, and M5 Wagyu seared on Himalayan salt stone, served with garlic-soy, ponzu and truffle-garlic fried rice.

As evening progresses, MA/NA transforms into a sleek cocktail bar, where resident DJs and in-house mixologists take centre stage. Overseen by Thesleff bar director Pietro Collina - also of award-winning Viajante87 - the bar champions the precision and elegance of Japanese bartending, with a curated list of cocktails, wine and sake.

The venue also offers several private hire options, including a 20-seat private dining room and an intimate open wine room for up to four guests, making it ideal for both exclusive gatherings and high-energy nights out.