London - August 08, 2008

The Big Chill

Buddha Bar Opens

You know the Paris flagship intimately. Owner Raymond Visan is on your speed dial. You chill to its soundtracks in destinations all around the world.

So you’ve already booked a table at London’s first Buddha Bar, which opens tonight under the grade two-listed Waterloo Bridge overlooking the Thames.

East meets West over two sleek floors. Upstairs, a bar serves Millionaire’s mojitos and passion fruit martinis, while downstairs a restaurant (complete with giant wooden Buddha) serves Pan-Asian dishes like spicy tuna tartar with avocado or Peking duck with fruit compote and chilled mango soup with coconut crunch. A casual sushi bar caters for those who just want to get on and dance.

Like its siblings around the world, London’s Buddha Bar is as much about the ambience as the food.

It should have you rubbing your tummy in no time.

Buddha Bar, 8 Victoria Embankment, WC2R 2AB (020 3371 7777 or buddhabar-london.com).

  Boozehound, Music, Relax