London just got a little more exciting with the arrival of AKI Restaurant, a sleek new Japanese-inspired dining concept that blends flavour, atmosphere, and modern luxury. Located in the heart of the city, AKI promises a culinary journey through contemporary Japanese cuisine with a bold London edge.
This past week, AKI hosted its exclusive soft launch event, giving a select group of guests a first taste of the experience. But behind the buzz and the bookings is a seamless digital launch crafted by MPiFY, the creative agency responsible for bringing AKI’s brand alive online.
The soft launch of AKI took place ahead of its upcoming full opening (invite-only for now), offering an exclusive glimpse into what will surely become one of London’s go-to spots for design-conscious dining. From the moment guests arrived, it was clear that AKI is playing in the premium league, with a setting as refined as its menu.
Among those in attendance was one of MPiFY’s founders, invited to experience the result of months of creative collaboration, not in the venue’s interiors, but on its website and digital presence, which were live in line with the soft launch.
MPiFY was engaged to lead the full digital execution of AKI’s brand presence, a responsibility we approached with strategy, design precision, and a deep understanding of what makes hospitality brands stand out in today’s experience-driven landscape.
The result? A high-performing, responsive, and visually immersive website that captures the essence of AKI’s identity — sleek, modern, and effortlessly refined. From the very first scroll, users are introduced to a carefully curated digital journey that mirrors the energy and aesthetic of the restaurant itself, all while remaining lightweight, scalable, and SEO-optimised.
Let’s be clear: MPiFY did not design the interiors or physical elements of the venue. Our role was entirely digital... and we’re proud of that.
Our work began with information architecture and wireframing, ensuring a smooth and intuitive user flow across devices. From there, we developed a custom UI/UX design system that aligns with AKI’s tone, minimalist yet impactful, with a focus on clarity, conversion, and aesthetic vision.
We also incorporated interactive 3D elements, enhancing the visual storytelling of the homepage and select sections. These animations add subtle motion and sophistication without overwhelming the user, a technique used to suggest ambience without replicating interior design.
On the functional side, we built out a mobile-first, lightning-fast platform that includes:
Every pixel, transition, and motion element was designed to do one thing: elevate the online brand experience while ensuring that AKI stands out in the ultra-competitive London hospitality market.
“Our goal was to make the online experience feel like an elegant introduction to the restaurant, polished, immersive, and intuitive.”
Visit the live site here: akilondon.com
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Today’s diners don’t just find restaurants through word of mouth, they Google, scroll, and swipe. That means your website is your front-of-house, long before a customer ever books a table.
We’re experts in crafting digital identities for hospitality brands that:
AKI London is a textbook case of this, a brand that launched quietly offline, but boldly online, attracting attention, traffic, and conversions from day one.
While it wasn’t part of the soft launch, AKI London earned an unexpected wave of publicity when Romeo Beckham, son of football legend David Beckham and fashion icon Victoria Beckham, celebrated his 23rd birthday at the restaurant just days earlier.
…the coverage gave AKI a massive SEO boost and helped position it as a go-to spot for the elite, even before it officially opened.
MPiFY quickly adapted its ongoing SEO structure to include local schema, keyword tagging, and image metadata to capitalise on the exposure.
The site was developed using best practices:
A flawless experience from iPhone to desktop:
Behind AKI London’s ambitious debut is none other than DB Group, one of Malta’s most prominent hospitality powerhouses. Known for operating luxury destinations such as db Seabank Resort & Spa, db San Antonio Hotel, and their latest luxury project in Malta, ORA Residences. This marks the group’s first international venture, a bold step into the competitive London dining scene. The move signals DB Group’s intent to expand its footprint beyond the Mediterranean, bringing its signature blend of refined service, contemporary cuisine, and elevated guest experiences to a global audience. With AKI London, they’ve launched not just a restaurant, but a statement of intent, and MPiFY is proud to have delivered the digital platform that supports this vision from day one.
“We loved working with AKI because it’s a bold brand with a clear vision. From a design perspective, it gave us the chance to explore motion, texture, and rhythm in a digital format, which we live for! This project is another step forward in our expansion across London and the UK, and we’re just getting started!”
MPiFY Team
With the successful soft launch and a polished digital footprint, AKI London has cemented itself as one of 2025’s most talked-about openings and MPiFY is proud to be part of that journey.
For other hospitality brands looking to make a mark, the AKI collaboration is a case study in:
MPiFY is Based in Malta, working globally!
Specialised in hospitality, Travel, lifestyle brands, and more!
So If you’re:
Let’s build your next success, together!
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