Nikkei Nine

Neuer Jungfernstieg 9, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

Over the past decade, Europe has benefited from a sushi revolution. Lunch options have been healthily upgraded and it’s introduced palates to a new world of flavour. Now, diners are looking for sushi 2.0. Enter Nikkei cuisine.

Fusing Japanese flavours with those of Peru, Nikkei is sushi’s evolution, and this superb restaurant in Germany’s second city is a perfect example. The room couldn’t be sexier if it tried: gilding sits smoothly aside black leather, with clandestine coves giving way to tables perfect for intimate liaison.

Head chef Benjamin Dayag adds sensual flair to every course that leaves his kitchen. Start with a fine incarnation of Peruvian striped bass ceviche and follow it with wagyu tartare to take you seamlessly back to Japan. Tempura vegetables come with the faintest lick of crispy batter, served with a dipping sauce that sets the freshness of the produce alight. Unite Peru and Japan with Koji cod, a near-perfect dish grilled on the robata and served with a ginger chimichurri sauce and a hint of sweetness. As globe-trotting restaurants go, there are few finer.