Check out the signature restaurant in the recently refurbished Montcalm Mayfair.
Akira Back is back! The South Korean chef has made his mark around the world with FACT award-winning restaurants in Dubai and Riyadh. Now, he has opened Lilli by Akira Back in Montcalm Mayfair. Located in Marble Arch, it offers his personal take on British cuisine with international influences.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Akira was raised in the United States. Before entering the culinary world, he made waves as a professional snowboarder. Now, he runs more than 28 restaurants around the world, from Bangkok to Paris. At Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, he debuted several restaurants, from his signature Akira Back, which fuses Japanese and Korean flavours, to DOSA serving contemporary Korean cuisine.
In March 2025, Montcalm Mayfair, the hotel formally known as Montcalm Marble Arch, reopened after a one-year renovation. FACT was one of the first media outlets to visit, and admire the beautiful boutique hotel. Nadira Lalji, director at Precis Advisory Limited, explained: “This characterful independent spirit heralds a new flagship for our small collection of hotels. A thoughtful top-to-toe renovation that shows fresh imagination thanks to our creative team excited to share their love of stories, characters and history from its neighbourhood.”
Montcalm Mayfair oozes quiet confidence and luxury. Located near the traffic-heavy, tourist heavier end of Oxford Street, where you have to pass the likes of Candilicious and Wafflemeister, you’ll find the classy calm of Great Cumberland Place. Lilli by Akira Back is a serene spot, so much so, we were only two of four visitors.
Lilli by Akira Back’s design draws inspiration from Georgian gardens. The space features shades of green and potted plants. Look out for Art Deco touches, bespoke chandeliers, and a hand-painted abstract ceiling mural. Take your pick from big banquettes to sink-into seats with cushions adding catchy colour.
If you want to make an evening of the visit, come for Lilli by Akira Back and stay for cocktails at The Bar. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The all-day menu spans starters, grills, mains, sides and desserts. The menu is concise but diverse, from a very British Beef Wellington to a Japanese Wasabi Marinated Celeriac.
While we were given bread with a butter made with red pepper and spices, the staff were on hand to help and were passionate about the dinner and drinks. No trip to an Akira restaurant is complete without trying his namesake, Akira Back Wagyu Pizza. The simple yet successful signature dish can be found across his restaurants. It is a pretty plate with F1 striploin from Australia topped with shisho, tomato, and truffle.
The Dynamite King Shrimp was just that – dynamite. This was, without a doubt, the marvel of the meal. The flavours were fantastic and combined a creamy sauce with a wasabi tobiko kick. The Grilled Chicken Breast could have easily felt like a cookie-cutter dish, but it came alive with braised kimchi, flamed bok choy and a strong aji panca teriyaki sauce.
For a wow-worthy meal, the desserts didn’t quite capture the culinary concept. The Baked Alaska was generously sized, and a tad too sweet for our taste buds. One is more than enough to share, and it comes with a fluffy finish, raspberries and vanilla ice cream.
Throughout our meal, we had a superb sommelier who had created a wine pairing. Trust their rose pairings, as it helps the flavours (and floral theme) flourish. The cocktail menu is just as flowery, from the Crimson Bloom with lavender decorations to the Georgian Martini with an oyster leaf.
Akira is most certainly back with a bang. Go. Now. It won’t stay quiet for long.
GO: Visit https://montcalmcollection.com for more information.