Finding the best omakase in London is about more than securing a seat at a sought-after counter. It comes down to the quality of the ingredients, the instinct of the chef and the way each course unfolds: an experience shaped by precision, restraint and the natural progression of the meal.
At ALBA, opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge, omakase is served at an intimate ten-seat counter set to the left of the dining room. Here, Japanese Head Chef Takuya Kaneko guides the experience through the season's finest sourcing, preparing and serving each course directly across the counter. The format is intimate, the pace unhurried, and the focus firmly on the ingredient.
Omakase means "I leave it to you". Understanding what makes the experience exceptional begins with that simple act of trust, and with knowing what to look for when choosing where to book.
What the Best Omakase in London Has in Common
Four things matter most: the fish, the setting, the chef and the welcome.
The fish comes first. Omakase begins with the quality of the day's catch and the ingredients at their seasonal best. The setting matters, too. A smaller counter creates a closer connection between chef and guest, allowing each course to be prepared, presented and enjoyed at its own pace.
Then there is the chef. Omakase is built on trust: in the chef's judgement, technique and ability to shape a meal around what is best that day. Finally, there is the welcome. The experience should feel personal and considered, whether it is your first omakase or a familiar ritual. Everything else, from the interior design to the view, adds to the evening.
The Fish
At ALBA, the omakase menu follows the day's sourcing. Hand-selected Icelandic uni, bluefin otoro, Kristal and Beluga caviar, foie gras, A5 wagyu and the finest catch delivered daily all have their place, with the selection shaped by the season and the ingredients at their best. The sequence evolves with the produce rather than following a fixed script. Alongside the counter, our Japanese à la carte menu features dry-aged A5 wagyu nigiri, a dish that leaves a lasting impression.
As an Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge, our identity has always been rooted in coastal dining. Long before the omakase counter arrived, we built ALBA around the seafood traditions of southern Italy, with crudo, oysters and tartare shaped by the quality of our daily deliveries. Crudo and sashimi express a similar instinct in two culinary languages: respect the ingredient, preserve its character and know when to leave it alone. Our Japanese concept extends our shared love of the sea, a passion that has been part of ALBA from the beginning.
Ten Seats
The omakase counter runs along the left of ALBA's dining room, facing Harrods through the window, with just ten seats. The intimacy is intentional. With only ten guests, the chef can give each course individual attention, preparing every piece by hand and passing it across the counter as it is ready. It is this direct connection between chef and guest that distinguishes omakase from a conventional tasting menu.
With two dinner sittings each evening, Tuesday to Saturday, the counter offers a limited number of seats each night. The view of Harrods is part of the setting, but the focus remains on the counter itself: the craft, the timing and the exchange between chef and guest.
The Chef
The omakase counter is led by ALBA's Japanese Head Chef, Takuya Kaneko, who brings more than twenty years of Japanese fine-dining experience to it. Each dish is carefully prepared in front of the guests. Before serving, the chef presents each course, sharing the story behind its ingredients and their sourcing. Every course becomes a moment of connection between chef and guest, delivered with precision, care and a genuine spirit of Japanese hospitality.
The Welcome
Some of the most admired counters in London are also the most forbidding, and for a first omakase that matters. ALBA's counter sits inside a restaurant that is light, loud enough to talk in and used to people who have never eaten this way before. There is very little etiquette to learn, the chef will tell you what you are eating, and nobody is watching to see whether you use your hands. If you have done the austere counters and want the same standard of fish with the formality turned down, or if you have never done one at all, this is the room for it.
Two Menus, Two Seatings
Guests choose between two chef-curated omakase tasting menus: nine courses, or an extended twelve-course experience, both shaped by the season, the day's finest sourcing and the chef's selection. The ten-seat counter offers two dinner sittings, at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, with reservations required.
For a more flexible visit, the Japanese à la carte is served in the main dining room, Tuesday to Saturday, at lunch and dinner. The same respect for seasonal ingredients and careful sourcing runs through both, whether enjoyed course by course at the counter or ordered by the plate. Allergies and strong dislikes go in at booking, not at the counter, because the sequence is planned around the room before the first guest sits down.
Opposite Harrods, Easy From Anywhere
The counter is at 70 Brompton Road, directly opposite Harrods and a few minutes from Knightsbridge station, which puts it a short ride from most of central London and makes it the omakase that does not require crossing the city. The view is Harrods lit up across the road, which is a better backdrop than most counters can offer and a convenient one for anyone finishing a day in the store. For the thinking behind an Amalfi restaurant running a Japanese counter at all, the story is here.
Why This Is the Counter to Book
Measured against the four tests, ALBA's counter passes each one: fish chosen that morning, ten seats and no more, a chef with two decades behind him setting the pace by hand, and a room that welcomes people in rather than testing them. Add a location most of London can reach in twenty minutes and a seat that can actually be booked, and it is a strong answer to the question of where the best omakase in London is. Book the counter here, and book Friday and Saturday earliest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Omakase in London?
The counter that gets the fish, the seat count, the chef and the welcome right. ALBA's ten-seat counter opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge answers all four, and is easier to reach and to book than most of the counters it is compared with.
How Many Courses Is Omakase at ALBA?
Nine, or twelve on the extended menu. Both are chef-curated and built around the day's sourcing.
When Does the Omakase Counter Run?
Tuesday to Saturday, with seatings at 6:30pm and 8:30pm. It is pre-booking only.
Is ALBA's Omakase Suitable for a First Timer?
Yes. The counter is small, the chef explains each piece, and the etiquette comes down to eating each piece as it arrives and mentioning allergies when you book.
How Far Ahead Should I Book?
As early as you can for Friday and Saturday, which go first. With twenty seats an evening, midweek is the easier night to find.
Where Is the Best Omakase Near Harrods?
ALBA, at 70 Brompton Road, directly opposite the store. The counter faces Harrods through the window.
