Iné in Hampstead is a Japanese restaurant with a contemporary touch
Iné in London's Hampstead reflects edomae traditions, offering counter omakase and à la carte dining in a minimalist, contemporary setting

Tucked away in leafy north London, Iné's narrow and elegantly unassuming shopfront offers only a hint in its signage that inside lies the latest foodie concept from the team behind Mayfair's Taku – the coveted Michelin-starred stop for lovers of Japanese cuisine. With Iné (Japanese for ‘rice’), restaurateur Geoff Leong and businessman Lucas Leong bring Japanese flavours and sensibility to a tiny Hampstead space with a minimalist architecture setting that nods to the country’s fine dining traditions.
Take a seat at Iné
The delicate nature of Japanese classics, such as sushi maki, nigiri and sashimi, reign supreme here, both in the extensive à la carte menu and the characterful omakase (which translates as 'I’ll leave it up to the chef'). The latter is available exclusively through Iné's dedicated eight-seater counter.
At the same time, guests can also experience contemporary takes on classics such as caviar and otoro (tuna) tartare. Bolder flavours are on offer too, such as in truffle-infused nigiri and seared tuna nigiri. Also on the menu are lobster with cauliflower and sudachi jelly, grilled Iberico pork, and wagyu beef katsu sando.
Everything is overseen by head chef Meng, who trained in the Taku kitchen (under chef patron Takuya Watanabe). The 15-course omakase echoes the Mayfair venue's approach through its edomae style (food preparation steeped in the history and traditions of Japan's Edo Era).
Says Meng, 'Iné has been the perfect opportunity to offer the traditional delicacy of omakase seen at Taku, alongside contemporary Japanese cuisine, reminiscent of the restaurants in Japan.'
Dishes are all artfully paired with the appropriate sake – specialist sake sommelier Frankie will ensure a meal is accompanied with the right spirit, from aperitifs through the main course, and with dessert sake to finish the experience (plum and yuzu sake are on offer).
Iné is set to launch its own sake bar – one of just a handful in London – which will open in its first-floor space on 24 February 2024.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spot
Heritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Discover midcentury treasures in Marylebone with Álvaro by Appointment
London is full of sequestered design havens, and Wallpaper* knows them all. Allow us to point you in the direction of Álvaro González’s shop window on Nottingham Place, home to a bonanza of beautiful 20th-century antiques
-
Beach chic: the all-new Citroën Ami gets an acid-tinged, open-air Buggy variant
Citroën have brought a dose of polychromatic playfulness to their new generation Ami microcar, the cult all-ages electric quadricycle that channels the spirit of the 2CV for the modern age
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spot
Heritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Rosewood Miyakojima: ‘Japan, but not as most people know it’
Rosewood Miyakojima offers a smooth balance of intuitive Japanese ‘omotenashi’ fused with Rosewood’s luxury edge
-
One Club Row is London’s answer to the Lower East Side
Located at the site of the former hotspot Les Trois Garçons, One Club Row brings back noughties glamour with 19th-century interiors, gourmet bites, and jazz nights
-
Marylebone restaurant Nina turns up the volume on Italian dining
At Nina, don’t expect a view of the Amalfi Coast. Do expect pasta, leopard print and industrial chic
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Treehouse Hotel Manchester: you may not want to leaf
Treehouse Hotel Manchester offers a nature-infused biophilic sanctuary amidst the city’s ever-growing architectural canopy
-
Dining at Pyrá feels like a Mediterranean kiss on both cheeks
Designed by House of Dré, this Lonsdale Road addition dishes up an enticing fusion of Greek and Spanish cooking
-
London restaurant Tatar Bunar puts Ukrainian heritage front and centre
Family recipes and contemporary design merge at this new east London restaurant by Ukrainian restaurateurs Anna Andriienko and Alex Cooper
-
Corner Corner may be London's most unique entertainment destination yet
The newly-opened venue combines food, jazz and—yes—urban farming beneath one sprawling roof