Described as “the most successful restaurant creator and investor in Britain” by Newsweek, Arjun Waney is the Karachi born septuagenarian behind restaurants in Dubai, Istanbul, London, Malibu and New York that number such hotspots as Coya, La Petite Maison and The Arts Club. Waney began his culinary journey after realising “that every time [he] called up Nobu, they were always full and wouldn’t give [him] a reservation”. After one rejection too many, he “told the girl, don’t worry, I will open my own Japanese restaurant” and did just so with the chef Rainer Becker in launching Zuma in Knightsbridge in 2002. He is also known as a generous philanthropist and admits to having spent his youth in the company of the great gamblers John Aspinall, Sir Jimmy Goldsmith and Kerry Packer.
Two stories to keep beside you
Hugo Campbell-Davys
Described by the Evening Standard as “London’s best connected man”, this Chelsea based sage is the founder of Urbanologie, an online private members’ lifestyle club.
Michael Polenske
This financier turned vintner was born in Bermuda and is now based in California’s Napa Valley.
Readers have their say
3 comments
I love Zuma!!!!!!!!!!!!
La Petite Maison is superb.
He has a kindly face.