One of the most highly anticipated bar launches of 2008, the Buddha Bar concept has arrived in London and there’s nothing zen about the hysteria it is already causing.

The Venue
Bars close and more open in their place every week in the capital so finding a site that has previously never been used before is no mean feat. However, Buddha Bar achieves it with style, occupying a unique spot on the North bank of the Thames beneath Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is as impressive as the location. Two intricately wrought lamps provide a warm glow beneath the sweeping arch of the underside of the bridge and a red carpet leads up to gigantic red laquered doors surrounded by slate. Smartly dressed, impeccably mannered doormen greet you and lead you through to the reception area where the success of the concept around the world immediately becomes apparent. Display cases house Buddha Bar T-shirts and row after row of Buddha Bar compilation CDs line the shelves.

Steps sweep up a flight and then back down into the restaurant area presided over by a giant silver Buddha statue but for the bar itself head either left or right and up a further flight of stairs to reach the balconied bar area. A long bar runs the entire far length of the room and the other three sides of the room include intimate seating areas, all of which provide great views of the restaurant and the giant Buddha statue. Giant chandeliers consisting of clusters of small red lampshades add drama to the surroundings, as do the low lighting, back lit red bar and embroidered satin chairs in red, blue and gold. The DJs set the mood and table service is refreshingly friendly and down to earth given the ostentatious surroundings.

The Atmosphere
Businessmen, couples and groups of friends nestle into the seating areas, snacking on the complimentary prawn crackers to soak up the cocktails and Japanese beers and after work drinks quickly slide into late night ones as the low level crimson lighting suspends time and the DJ cranks it up a notch. Later on, the atmosphere shifts from low key to electric as the capital’s bold and beautiful take full advantage of the late licence (4am during the week and 6am at weekends).

The Drink
The cocktails are the main focal point and are reasonably priced for the calibre of the bar, starting at £8.50 and creeping up to £12 for Champagne cocktails. Presentation is simple so cocktail service is speedy throughout the night as the bar staff aren’t having to mess about with unwieldy garnishes but it’s also helped in no small part by the fact that it’s only table service available so they aren’t distracted by also serving customers at the bar.

There’s a small selection of sake cocktails of which the Sake Cucumber (£8.50) is the stand out thanks to the refreshing combination of sake meibo, vodka and gomme that’s perfectly balanced with ginger infused lime to prevent it being too sickly. However, it’s worth avoiding another of the sake cocktails – the Red Asian (£8.50) is disappointing to say the least. The sprig of redcurrants is a simple and effective touch as a garnish but sadly this is the most impressive part of the cocktail. Most of the glass is filled with ice so there’s very little cocktail to speak of and the crushed ice is interspersed with chunks of ice. As ingredients, the sake meibo, vodka, creme de cassis and cloudberry liqueur blend together well and are inspired choices but the already sweet blend becomes disconcertingly so with the addition of vanilla sugar which also adds an unpleasant gritty texture to the cocktail as you drink it. At the top end, the Yaoliao is £12 well spent. Served in a long glass it combines spiced peach syrup with Limoncello and Champagne for a tangy combination thanks to the strong overtones from the Limoncello.

As for the wine, although the Buddha Bar concept hails from France and the wine list is as strong as you would hope they haven’t restricted the selection to French wines or made the list too pricey. The Argentinian 2007 Viognier is the cheapest glass of white wine on the menu at £6 but it’s extremely drinkable, perfectly chilled and blends citrus notes without ever veering towards acidic. However, there is the opportunity to splash cash if you have the bank account for it with a magnum of Cristal Roederer Millesime 2000 costing a cool £1, 650.

The Last Word
This Buddha has got it going on. Buddha Bar is perfectly suited to a romantic date or an upmarket night out with friends. The late licence (4am during the week and 6am at weekends) and credible DJs cry out for decadent partying and the attention to detail is faultless when it comes to the decor. With a few refinements to the cocktail list, one of the capital’s most highly anticipated bars could easily become one of the best loved.

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