Designing London’s most expensive steak restaurant,
a lighting masterpiece
Aragawa, the renowned Japanese steakhouse, has been masterfully designed by Rosendale Design for its first overseas outpost in London’s Mayfair.
The design blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary touches to create an opulent dining experience.
Enter through a stately archway into a wood-panelled reception area painted in a calming pale green, which sets the tone for the sophisticated, culturally rich environment that follows.
This entrance leads into a corridor illuminated by natural light from overhead skylights, guiding visitors past an elegantly designed wine display cabinet that wraps around the back wall.
The ground floor features pendant lamps inspired by traditional Japanese paper lanterns, which hang through a void between the ground floor and the basement, drawing the eye and providing a preview of the main dining area below.
These lanterns, which are a key design element, are suspended from a dark wood lattice ceiling that echoes the architecture of traditional Japanese castles, adding authenticity and enhancing the overall atmosphere.
Rosendale Design has a team that designs all lighting in-house, a key USP in the industry.
The studio possesses a deep understanding of light’s properties and behaviour, allowing it to deliver meticulously crafted and innovative interiors for a diverse range of projects.
As guests descend to the main restaurant area, they pass by an open kitchen prominently featuring a Japanese kiln surrounded by cornflower-blue tiles.
This kiln, essential for preparing Aragawa’s specialty Kobe beef, is modelled after the original in Tokyo.
Rosendale Design worked meticulously with a local manufacturer to replicate this feature, ensuring it harmonizes with its London setting while paying homage to its Tokyo counterpart.
The main dining room provides a luxurious and warm finish, with walls adorned with hand-painted red-and-gold panels inspired by Nishijin silk kimonos.
These panels are softly illuminated, highlighting their intricate patterns and enhancing the room’s opulent feel.
The crimson-red velvet-lined seating provides a vivid contrast against the pristine white tablecloths, creating a dramatic and romantic ambiance.
A significant feature of the restaurant is its private dining room, which can seat up to 12 guests.
This room is designed to offer privacy while still feeling connected to the overall aesthetic of the restaurant.
The use of glass and wood doors, along with a slatted wooden screen, ensures that this space feels exclusive yet inviting.
Rosendale Design has managed to integrate traditional Japanese elements with a contemporary twist throughout the restaurant.
The blend of deep reds, golds, and dark woods creates a cohesive design language that is both rich and inviting, ensuring that Aragawa stands as a sophisticated representation of Japanese culture adapted for a London audience.
Aragawa’s meticulously crafted design offers a unique blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern luxury.
From the thoughtful entrance to the dramatic main dining room, every element has been considered to provide an exceptional dining experience.
Photography: JustinDaSouza
