The district of Chamberí is the home of this sumibiyaki restaurant, first opened in 2020. Serving popular Japanese cuisine, it is one of just three restaurants in Spain that serve Kobe Beef and the first in Europe to serve the Japanese Crown Melon. In 2023, it was named “Best of the Best”, an award that goes to the 10 Best Restaurants in Spain at the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards. That same year, it became the first restaurant outside of Japan to serve Matsusaka Beef, the most prized wagyū beef by the Japanese.
Pilar Akaneya is run by Ignasi Elías and his partner Chiho Murata, who launched the first sumibiyaki restaurant in Europe in 2011, the iconic Carlota Akaneya, in Barcelona.
Pilar Akaneya is one of 150 restaurants outside Japan licensed to sell Kobe Beef. Matsusaka Beef, Kobe Beef and Ōmi Beef are the three most prestigious trademarks of wagyū beef in Japan that can be enjoyed at this restaurant, with A5 quality and, in addition, the diner can cook their beef to their liking over charcoal.
This is sumibiyaki restaurant serving popular Japanese cuisine made with premium ingredients from Japan. Inside, eleven bespoke barbecue tables are raised on the floor in two adjoining rooms. The design is inspired by Japanese functional minimalism and classic Kyoto aesthetics, with clean, simple lines, natural colours and noble materials such as wood, iron, clay, ash, cotton and rope. Inside, beauty and tradition are combined to create a haven of peace surrounded by rice paper lanterns and jazz music.
Chef Pepe Fernández brings breathes into the culinary creations of Pilar Akaneya, which consists of three menus: Akaneya, Fukuroi and Sansekai (the latter must be requested in advance when booking).
