Robun

Fusion thrills and creative cocktails

It’s hard to find great Japanese food that goes beyond sushi and tempura in London, let alone the South West, so to find a restaurant doing a modern take on yakiniku (the art of grilling meat, seafood and vegetables over a traditional robata charcoal fire) in the centre of Bath is quite something.

Robun opened on George Street in July 2021 and quickly made a name for itself as one of the city’s most exciting dining spots. Jon Claro worked at some of the capital’s best pan‑Asian restaurants (The Ivy Asia, Sticks’n’Sushi and Pen Yen at Soho Farmhouse) before stepping into the role of head chef at Robun, where he leads a talented brigade.

Visit to try hero dishes such as pan‑fried sea bream with truffled ponzu sauce, iberico baby pork ribs with soy and mirin, and grass‑fed beef filled with Japanese pickles. If you’re of an indecisive nature, take the sharing route and sample small plates that include panko soft‑shell crab with nuoc cham sauce, wagyu sliders in brioche buns, and katsuobushi takoyaki (traditional octopus dumplings with bonito flakes).

Sake fans will be thrilled to find a comprehensive list available by both glass and bottle. There’s also a fantastic line‑up of creative cocktails and Japanese whiskies.