The Aubrey Launches “Youkoso”, London
The Aubrey Launches “Youkoso”: Celebrating Women Chefs in London’s Most Beautiful Izakaya
London’s dining scene is never short of a headline. Still, few openings feel as considered or as celebratory as “Youkoso”, a new guest chef takeover series hosted by The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Launching this September, the programme brings together three visionary female chefs, The Rangoon Sisters, Ana Da Costa, and Julie Lin, for a series of intimate dinners that promise to be as much about culture and memory as they are about flavour.
For The Fluxx, this series of events is a must-see: design, food, and experience. It’s an invitation not just to dine but to immerse yourself in The Aubrey’s layered interiors and global culinary talent. And for anyone searching for unique food events in London, this is one of the most exciting series of 2025.
The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
Before talking menus, we need to talk space. Because The Aubrey isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a total experience. Created in partnership between Maximal Concepts and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, it takes inspiration from the eccentric English illustrator Aubrey Beardsley and the late-19th-century Japonisme movement.
The interiors, designed in collaboration with Brady Williams Studio, are sumptuous yet intimate. Think lacquered woods, deep plum velvets, gold-leaf accents, and over 250 pieces of individually sourced vintage Japanese art. Each room — The Library, The Curio, The Salon, and the Dining Room, feels like a world, layered with detail. The result is a space that manages to be at once theatrical and homely, bold but never brash. For design lovers, it is reason alone to visit.
Food and drink here are equally elevated. The Aubrey’s izakaya-style dining celebrates Japanese flavours with a global twist, complemented by a world-class cocktail bar known for experimental mixology. Regulars know to expect creativity at every turn. With “Youkoso,” the team has gone further still, opening its kitchen to a trio of female chefs whose own culinary journeys tell stories of migration, heritage, and innovation.
What is “Youkoso”?
“Youkoso” translates to “welcome” in Japanese — and that spirit runs through the entire series. For the first time, The Aubrey is inviting guest chefs into its kitchen, handing over the creative reins to showcase three distinctive female voices in food.
Each chef will host a two-night residency, curating a multi-course menu priced at £80 per person, with a bespoke welcome cocktail crafted by The Aubrey’s mixology team. Inspired by each chef’s childhood and cultural influences, the drinks will set the tone for evenings built on memory, nostalgia, and discovery.
Meet the Chefs & Menus
The Rangoon Sisters | September 8th & 9th
Amy and Emily Chung are NHS doctors by day and supper club stars by night. Known across London for their celebrated Burmese cuisine, the sisters first launched their supper club in 2013 and have since written a bestselling cookbook and collaborated with restaurants from Koya to Chick ’n’ Sours.
Their menu at The Aubrey is a love letter to their upbringing, with Balachuang butter served with The Aubrey’s own shokupan bread, fiery Burmese fried chicken, Dawei ceviche, and a delicate coconut milk and tapioca dessert. Expect bold flavours, deep comfort, and the kind of dishes that critics like Grace Dent once called “the nicest thing I put in my mouth all year.”
Ana Da Costa | October 6th & 7th
Ana Da Costa is the chef and creative behind FAT TEA, a supper club that reimagines Macanese cuisine, a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese culinary traditions born from centuries of trade and migration. Ana’s cooking is rich with history yet playful with innovation, earning her a loyal following among London food lovers.
Her residency at The Aubrey will showcase dishes such as Aubergine Sambal and skewers of Capela with soy-cured yolk, all served family style. Sharing, dipping, and exploring are the order of the evening, making this one of the most convivial dinners of the series.
Julie Lin | November 3rd & 4th
Julie Lin — Malaysian-Scottish chef, author of the acclaimed cookbook Sama Sama, and TV personality, concludes the series with her two-night residency. Known for appearances on Saturday Kitchen, Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil, and collaborations with chefs like The Hairy Bikers, Julie has built a reputation for cooking that is personal, joyful, and unapologetically flavour-driven.
Her menu will highlight dishes such as Rojak, a textured Southeast Asian salad, Curry Leaf Chicken with butter sauce and salted egg yolk, and a playful Chocolate mousse with Sichuan peppercorns. Her food captures what she calls the “transformative power of memory,” where every bite is rooted in story.
Why “Youkoso” Matters
In a city brimming with supper clubs, pop-ups, and chef residencies, “Youkoso” stands out for two reasons. First, it places the spotlight firmly on female chefs, who remain underrepresented in the global culinary world. By creating a stage for these voices within one of London’s most luxurious dining settings, The Aubrey is making an important cultural statement.
Second, it offers something increasingly rare: intimacy. With just two nights per chef, each residency feels unrepeatable, a chance to step into the chef’s world for an evening. And because it’s hosted within the layered interiors of The Aubrey, the experience isn’t just about food, but about atmosphere, detail, and design.
The Aubrey Experience
For those who haven’t yet been, visiting The Aubrey is an event. Beyond dinner, the cocktail programme is one of the most imaginative in London. Expect Japanese spirits, rare whiskies, and seasonal infusions crafted into drinks that look as spectacular as they taste. Brunch, too, is legendary, a decadent affair that runs Friday to Sunday and comes dog-friendly (a rarity in Knightsbridge).
The Aubrey’s location within the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park also means the experience can extend into a full luxury stay. For overseas visitors looking for a complete design and dining escape in London, pairing a night in the Mandarin Oriental with a “Youkoso” dinner is the epitome of contemporary indulgence.
Planning Your Visit
Series: Youkoso — A Guest Chef Takeover Series Celebrating Women in Cooking
When: September – November 2025, The Rangoon Sisters: 8th & 9th September, Ana Da Costa: 6th & 7th October and Julie Lin: 3rd & 4th November
Price: £80 per person (includes multi-course menu and welcome cocktail)
Bookings: Seven Rooms
The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
Photography: @lateef.photography
