# Split-Level Japanese Restaurants Nakimushi Turns a £2m Townhouse into a Dual-Service Dining Venue By Ellen Smith | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-10-11 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/split-level-japanese-restaurants References: [wallpaper](https://www.wallpaper.com/travel/restaurants/nakimushi-london-review)  Nakimushi gives diners two ways to eat Japanese food in one townhouse: quick ramen downstairs and a longer meal upstairs. Chris D'Sylva's latest Notting Hill opening puts a £2 million conversion in the hands of chefs Robin Kosuge and Yuji Shimokawa Kelly, who drop sushi and widen the format. At 7 Kensington Mall in London, the ground floor pairs a [robata kitchen with communal seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mitsu), while the upper room has 25 seats and a tiled bar. Brushed pine, oxblood accents and movable table lamps warm up the space and steer it away from the icy feel many [sushi rooms lean on](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fifteen-east). The £2 million split-level build turns one address into two service models, giving D'Sylva a fast ramen room and a slower dining floor without opening another site. In Notting Hill, where he already operates several food businesses, that widens how local diners can use the same restaurant. Image Credit: Eleonora Boscarelli ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 38% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 99% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Dual-service Dining:** Restaurants that combine fast-casual and full-service formats under one roof create flexible revenue models that serve different dining occasions from a single premium location. - **Townhouse Hospitality Conversions:** High-value residential-style properties are becoming adaptable restaurant venues where layered layouts support distinct atmospheres, service speeds, and customer segments. - **Sushi-free Japanese Concepts:** Japanese dining formats that move beyond sushi highlight ramen, robata, and composed meals as differentiated offerings in markets crowded with conventional omakase and sushi rooms. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Restaurants:** Split-level concepts give operators more ways to maximize urban real estate by blending quick turnover areas with higher-margin seated dining experiences. - **Commercial Real Estate:** Converted townhouses present landlords and developers with hospitality-ready assets that can accommodate multiple concepts without requiring separate storefronts. - **Interior Design:** Warm materials, flexible lighting, and residential cues are reshaping Japanese restaurant interiors into more inviting environments that contrast with minimalist luxury dining norms. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Modern Japanese Steakhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shinji-japanese-steakhouse.md) - [Slow-Cooked Noodle Bases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slow-cooked-noodle-bases.md) - [Kid-Friendly Ramen Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kinton-ramen-kids-menu.md) - [Luxurious Japanese Steakhouse](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japanese-steakhouse.md) - [Convenience Store-Inspired Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/konbini-confidential.md) - [Japanese-Peruvian Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nikkei-brunch.md) - [Japanese-Influenced Beverage Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/secret-sandwich-shop.md) - [Japanese Greek Dining](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onuki.md) - [Compact Urban Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-nakano.md)