The big money restaurant group behind the likes of Sale e Pepe and Los Mochis will open a new Japanese-inspired venue in Mayfair next year.
Ma/Na is to launch on Grosvenor Street in January and will be a “groundbreaking luxury Japanese dining and drinking destination”, according to the Thesleff Group.
The concept behind the 156-cover restaurant is based on the Japanese philosophy of mana: that “every ingredient carries an invisible power, a life-force shaped by nature and the hands that honour it.”
On the menu — arguably the most Mayfair-sounding in recent memory — will be dishes such as shrimp tempura with wasabi; king crab with “Asian leaves”, yuzu, pink peppercorns, chilli, truffle ponzu and caviar pearls; spicy tuna crispy rice; “scallop dynamite”; and wagyu steak seared on a Himalayan salt stone with garlic, soy, truffle and garlic rice.
An announcement said the restaurant and bar will also feature an “exceptional cocktail, wine and sake list”, while chefs will “celebrate the craft of Japanese cuisine”. There will be a focus on precise cuts of meat, fermentation techniques, and “the connection between earth and ocean”.
Ma/Na is the latest project from the Thesleff Group, which also operates the highly rated Luna and Juno omakase fixtures across town. It will be led by executive chef Leo Tanyag.
The design, meanwhile, will be about dark wood paneling, amber lighting, an open wine space and a “dramatic” dragon-shape banquette which will run from bar to dining room.
Founder Markus Thesleff said: “Everything we do is intentional and inspired by culture and tradition.
“I have a love for Asia. My father was born in Japan and my grandfather was Finnish Ambassador to the country, so I have the utmost respect for Japanese culture and ritual. You can see this philosophy running through every detail at Ma/Na, from the food to the furnishings.
“It’s a destination where incredible food, creative cocktails, and best-in-class entertainment meet under one roof, whether you’re here for a post-work drink, a unique dining experience, or late-night cocktails. Ma/Na isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a celebration of ritual and the quiet mastery behind it.”
Ma/Na will open at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street in January 2026, manarestaurants.com
