Buddha-Bar (quick sip)

Buddha-Bar London

www.buddhabarlondon.com

145 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7PA

Buddha-Bar, the serene looking cocktail bar/restaurant in the middle of the decadent Knightsbridge. I had the chance to pop into this lovely bar for some quick pre-dinner refreshing drinks.

The ladies at the reception gave us a warm welcome even though we had made no booking. We got seated near the bar and were left to read the wondrous cocktail choices available to capture the essence of their cocktail making prowess. Having a quick glance over their cocktail offerings I notice how words exuding freshness and tropical fruitiness jump out at you at every recipe - be it mixed with vodka, gin or whiskey. This surprised me a bit as whiskey is quite hard to mix with fruit flavours and winter is not normally when the fruitiness is most popular in choices.

We finally settled on our choices: Bubble Wap - a mix of strawberry & Raspberry puree, rose liquor, elderflower liquor, touch of Belvedere vodka, topped up with Champagne. Presentation is pristine and clean - mouthwateringly beautiful fluffy top with bright yet natural looking juicy cocktail shining through the glass in expertly dimmed light. Just the thing you want to see when you sit down for a refreshing drink in a busy city like London. Music is soothing and pleasant to the ears, really relaxing you and making you feel at ease. It already feels like a holiday. Drink tastes anything but standard - it is strikingly refreshing and not overly sweet as you would often find your fruity cocktails. the subtle hints of rose liquor and elderflower liquor really soften the fruitiness in this drink and make it really quite pleasant. And to make sure the drink still stands out, the champagne really gives it a bit of a buzz without affecting the taste of the drink too much. They say everybody can make a cocktail with the right drinks and equipment but I disagree. To make something as standard in writing yet so outstanding in actual outcome really requires some skill to pull off perfectly each time.

Our sexond choice was Kiwi Kukama - a mix of Ketel One Citroen vodka, elderflower liquor, fresh kiwi, fresh cucumber and lemon bitters. When I picked this drink I was really after something fresh, hoping to really taste the kiwi fruit as you don't really come across too many kiwi flavours in drinks these days. My only fear is that the lemon bitters will overpower my drink and flood the nice fresh tastes of kiwi and cucumber. When the drink arrives, I make a quick judgement and think that my fear has become reality as colour is clearly towards more citrusy shade. I try to balance the beautiful cucumber garnish as I take my first sips and instantly perk my eyebrows up in pleasant surprise as if I had just tried something that reminded me of my childhood. The drink tastes so fresh, I feel like I could drink the whole glass in one go and go for second and third just to quench my thirst on a hot summer's day. The taste is strongly cucumber-like and the strong flavours of kiwi and lemon actually only accentuate the cucumber as if to bring it to the forefront of the whole experience rather than be the main body of the drink.I feel like the name of the cocktail is a bit of a twist as to taste the kiwi, you really have to concentrate as it blends so well with lemon. I maintain my pleasant enjoyment of the drink throughout my time at Buddha-Bar and observe the environment.

This place is perfect for a quick after work drink when you really need that 'ahhh' moment of relaxation in a slightly dimmed surrounding with spa-like music. It is perfect for those catch ups with your friends where you can get away from the busy streets outside and really enjoy each other's company. Moreover, this place is absolutely perfect for couples and anyone trying to impress a date. The bar staff are very attentive yet non-intrusive which makes the experience even better. Customer service at its best.

As we need to move on to our dinner location, I feel that this was just a taster. It has left me hungry for more. Having found such a great venue I really want to try out the barman skills and see if they could perhaps use the same skills as when putting together the cocktails they serve to deliver my perfect lucky-dip Martini. I would also like to try their selection of wine as this place really relaxes you and makes you want to return for more. Until my next visit....

MM Rating - to follow once I've returned to challenge the bar staff

Cocktail Rating - 9/10

Venue rating - 10/10