316–318 Kings Road,
Chelsea,
London,
SW3 5UH
(020) 7351 5998
The ViewLondon Review
Winner of Best Bar 2011 at the London Club and Bar awards, JuJu is a bit of a celebrity hotspot, offering great food, cool cocktails and a stylish setting.
The Venue
The sleek exterior feels exclusive and, on entering the bar, the dark, seductive venue really draws you in. Inside feels almost maze-like, with mirrored ceilings, dark walls, plush leather seating and strip lighting on the walls. Seating is mainly booth-style with stools to allow groups to come together and some larger areas with sofas to the back. The bar is tucked away so table service is most likely here, but there are a few bar stools and an attractive display of spirits should you wish to watch the bartenders in action.
There's also a downstairs area, including private rooms, which are available for parties and those who value extra privacy.
The Atmosphere
Well-dressed people preside here, with plenty of potential for famous faces. The booths are likely to all be reserved and will mainly be filled with big groups celebrating, but there is some after-work trade in the week and plenty of girls’ nights out. Staff are as well-dressed as the customers and, as table service is their thing, you’re never left wanting anything for too long. They are happy to help you choose food or drink if you’re not sure, and are extremely friendly and attentive. Music gets louder as the night goes on and is mainly inspired by club favourites, although they're often those of a slightly slower tempo, giving an atmosphere of effortless cool.
The Food
The bar’s name is African for ‘black magic’, but it’s actually pan-Asian food you’ll find here – and no one’s complaining. Try dim-sum-style dishes like steamed pork dumplings (£7.50) and aromatic duck rolls (£7.50) – a little on the pricey side for what you get, but very tasty all the same. The chilli squid and green mango salad (£8) is really delicious, with perfectly cooked squid, refreshing mango and a good hint of chilli, and pad Thai with prawns (£8.25), which can also be ordered with chicken, is a generous portion of noodles with succulent king prawns and plenty of vibrant flavour. Every dish on the menu is great for sharing.
The Drink
Cocktails and champagne are the main theme here – and if you want both, never fear, there’s a whole page of champagne cocktails. But let’s start with gin: Equilibrium (£9) – the best gin cocktail, according to the menu – is a stylish blend of gin, orange peel, fresh ginger and dark chocolate, shaken and triple-strained for a super-smooth drink. The JuJu Mai Tai (£9) is a fruity concoction served long, unlike the classic, with rum, cognac, sugar, lime and pineapple juice, and a float of dark rum on top. The Chelsea Long Island Iced Tea (£9) swaps the usual cola for champagne and passion fruit juice to make a more stylish cocktail, with a little less emphasis on the spirits. The Scorpio (£9) is one of the prettiest drinks you’ll find: gin, elderflower, rose water and champagne are blended in a sleek long glass and garnished with a real flower – it’s floral and fragrant. The Baby Tequila Sunset (£9) is a short, strong drink for those who like them spicy – it has home-infused chilli as well as coriander-infused tequila, grenadine and fresh orange juice.
House champagne is Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label at £70 a bottle, but you could go all out on a magnum of Cristal for £675 if you’re feeling flush. There’s also a succinct list of wines to choose from, starting at £18 a bottle.
The Last Word
Stylish surroundings, beautiful drinks and the chance of spotting a celebrity or two, JuJu is Chelsea’s very own little piece of black magic.
JuJu has been reviewed by 21 users