What makes a table genuinely hard to get in London? Not just demand - it's size, and what size allows. A ten-seat counter means the chef cooks for you, not for a room. That's the idea behind ALBA's new omakase counter opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge: ten seats, one nightly sitting, and nothing beyond it. By design, it's one of the most exclusive tables in London - here's what makes it that way, and how to secure a seat before word gets out.
Below, we explain what makes the counter so limited, what a seat includes, and how to secure a space at London's newest, most in-demand omakase table.
Ten Seats, One Sitting a Night
The scale is deliberate. Ten guests, one seating a night, at 7.30pm - there is no second sitting, no turning of tables, no room to expand into. It is not artificial scarcity, it is the format itself, a fixed number of seats built each evening around the chef's selection for that day.
It works precisely because it stays small. At ten seats, the chef can watch every guest, time each course by hand, and land every piece at its peak. ALBA has kept the counter this size on purpose, so the seats stay scarce. Worth booking ahead.
What a Seat Includes
Each of the ten seats follows the chef's selection, built around the season's finest sourcing: Hokkaido uni, bluefin otoro, Kristal and Beluga caviar, and daily deliveries of the day's best catch. Diners choose between two tasting menus - a nine-course omakase and an extended twelve-course expression - with nigiri, sashimi and small raw courses prepared and served directly across the counter, in full view of their preparation. For a more flexible visit, a Japanese à la carte menu is served daily. Leading the counter is chef Dmytro Pak, who joins ALBA from UNI Paris' celebrated Japanese kitchen.
A seat here isn't simply dinner - it's a front-row place at a small, unhurried performance, framed by a view of Harrods across the street, a setting as considered as the food itself.
Why Exclusivity, Not Just Scale
London has grand Japanese dining rooms with hundreds of covers. ALBA's counter is the opposite proposition: its value lies not in size or spectacle but in intimacy and precision - the sense of being cooked for, personally, by a chef within arm's reach. For guests who've done the big rooms and want something quieter and rarer, that's exactly the draw.
It also makes the counter a natural choice for an occasion that deserves a little ceremony - a milestone, an anniversary, a dinner worth remembering. Ten people share the counter each night. Nobody else does.
How to Secure a Seat
Given the limited seats and single nightly seating, demand is expected to outstrip availability - so booking ahead matters here more than most places. Pre-booking opens through the ALBA website ahead of launch. As an Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge extending into Japanese technique, ALBA offers a counter unlike anything else in the area. To secure your place, pre-book the omakase counter as early as you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Seats Does ALBA's Omakase Counter Have?
Ten, with a single nightly seating at 7.30pm - no second sitting.
Why is the Omakase Counter So Exclusive?
Its exclusivity comes from its size, not artificial limits. A small counter lets the chef give each guest full attention and serve every course at its peak, which only works with a handful of seats.
What Does a Seat at the Counter Include?
A nine-course or twelve-course chef-curated tasting menu, prepared in full view across the counter, led by chef Dmytro Pak.
Is the Counter Suitable for a Special Occasion?
Yes. Its intimacy and single nightly seating make it well suited to milestones, anniversaries and memorable evenings.
How Do I Book a Seat at ALBA's Omakase Counter?
Pre-booking opens through the ALBA website ahead of launch. With only ten seats and one seating a night, early booking is strongly recommended.
