Buddha Bar London - Knightsbridge & Belgravia, London

Back in the heady days of the mid-nineties, ripples of excitement spread across the globe with the institution of Buddha-Bar in Paris by celebrated restaurateur Raymond Visan. Redefining the role that a restaurant can play in a metropolitan centre, Buddha-Bar became a record label and important platform for house music, a member of the vanguard of Pan-Asian dining concepts, and a stopping-place for the beau monde. Following the closing of the London branch a couple years ago, Buddha-Bar has regrouped. The end result is a reincarnation for the glamorous Knightsbridge set and its current manifestation exudes a hearty, vibrant spirit.

Set over two floors, Buddha-Bar is dimly lit with a seductive ambience, and mirrors the transcontinental fusion of the menu with interiors that take cues from colonial, baroque, eastern and western traditions. Steelmesh sculptor David Begbie has created two bespoke Buddha sculptures in the dining room; 'TRANSPOSE' is created from a single sheet of bronze mesh, while 'TRANSCEND' is made of 207 brass Buddha figures. The famous soundtrack that won Buddha-Bar countless plaudits in the 90s is back and updated for contemporary musical sensibilities, to create a dining room drenched in ice cold glamour.

The menu at Buddha-Bar London masterfully blends cuisines from all corners of the Pacific Rim, with flavours from China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia all coming into play to create some wonderfully sophisticated dishes. A large cross-section of the menu will be specific to the London branch, running the gamut from venison tataki to smoked duck and foie gras gyoza to pan-fried seabass with shiso butter. However, if you're yearning for some of the signature dishes from outposts abroad, selections like the Buddha-Bar chicken salad or their famous sashimi and crispy sushi (which we highly recommend) will still be available. 

Cocktails have always been one of the staple components of the Buddha-Bar experience and this will hold true for Knightsbridge, with new concoctions including the Heart of Darkness, which amalgamates red grapes, red port and cognac into a sophisticated melange; or the Bubble Wrap, created with strawberry and raspberry puree, rose and raspberry cordial, elderflower liquor, Belvedere and Champagne.

Buddha-Bar London is now an Innerplace affiliated restaurant and any members and guests who make a reservation through Innerplace will receive priority bookings as well as a Bubble Wrap cocktail upon arrival.