According to filings with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, a Type 47 full liquor on-sale general eating place license is currently pending for Zuma San Diego at the northwest corner of West Broadway and Columbia Street in downtown San Diego. The license lists Zuma Japanese Restaurants, Inc. as a member of the entity, with officers including Kemal Tevfik Akdag, Simon Christopher Drysdale, and Sven Koch, CEO of Azumi Ltd., the global hospitality group that operates Zuma and several affiliated brands.
The address corresponds with The Guild Hotel complex in the former Armed Services YMCA building, though it remains unclear whether Zuma will occupy space directly within the hotel or in an adjacent development footprint.
Further confirmation of the project surfaced via LinkedIn, where Zuma Restaurants posted an opening for a People and Culture Manager for “Zuma San Diego,” describing the venue as an upcoming pre-opening operation. The position outlines full-scale HR infrastructure development, onboarding systems, compliance frameworks, and operational leadership, indicators of a substantial, full-service restaurant rather than a limited-service outpost.
Founded in 2002 in London’s Knightsbridge neighborhood by German-born chef Rainer Becker, Zuma pioneered a modern interpretation of Japanese izakaya-style dining, centered around sushi, robata grill cooking and a high-energy, design-forward environment. Becker, who previously served as executive chef at Park Hyatt Tokyo and Park Hyatt Sydney, built Zuma around precision technique, premium sourcing, and a format that balances informality with luxury.
The concept quickly expanded internationally after its early London success, growing into a global portfolio under Azumi Ltd. Today, Zuma operates in major international markets including London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Miami, New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Rome, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, and several Mediterranean resort destinations. Azumi’s portfolio also includes restaurant brands ROKA, Oblix at The Shard in London, ETARU, and INKO NITO. As of mid-2024, the company operated more than 35 restaurants worldwide.
San Diego’s addition places the city alongside major cosmopolitan markets that typically serve as Zuma expansion targets. Historically, the brand has prioritized high-density urban cores and affluent tourism corridors. The West Broadway and Columbia Street location situates Zuma within downtown’s evolving luxury hotel and residential cluster, adjacent to The Guild Hotel and walking distance from the waterfront, Little Italy, and the Gaslamp Quarter.
Zuma San Diego is expected to open this year at the northwest corner of West Broadway and Columbia Street in downtown San Diego. For more information, visit zumarestaurant.com.
Originally published on February 17, 2026.