Buddha-Bar Kyiv looks to be the new hot spot
The iconic Paris-based restaurant and lounge bar Buddha Bar opened its Kyiv outlet on 11 July. Located in the heart of the city in the same building as the Khreschatyk hotel, Buddha-Bar Kyiv is spread over three floors comprising a range of private and semi private areas surrounding the main dining room. As you walk through the main entrance it feels as though you are entering a theater, about to be treated to some unforgettable spectacle. And in a way you are.
Founded by entrepreneur Raymond Visan, Buddha Bar Kyiv is the company’s eighth restaurant following launches in Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Jakarta, San Paolo, London. A ninth site in Prague is still in the plans, which makes the Kyiv location the first Buddha Bar in Eastern Europe. Smaller versions named Little Buddha Bar are located in Las Vegas, Vienna, Hurghada, and Sharm El-Sheikh.
The very first Buddha Bar opened by Raymond Visan in 1996 in Paris near the Consent area. Initially, a worker in his family’s duty free perfume business, Visan found his true calling in the restaurant and entertainment industry. Inspired by his travels through Asia and a desire to create a grand venue with Asian inspirational exotic charms Visan opened Buddha-Bar restaurant.
The first Buddha Bar deejay Tunisian Claude Challe had invented a music concept, which later became popular all over the world. After traveling to India, Indonesia, Nepal and Tunisia he settled in France and created a new style of music combining Western and Asian tunes. Since then Buddha Bar residents have been playing music based on Claude’s idea. The compilation of Indian and Oriental, Arabic, Hispanic, Peruvian, Vietnamese, Greek and Tibetan music is considered one of the key elements of Buddha Bar atmosphere. The Buddha Bar compilations have become so famous that a series of CD’s (Buddha Bar I-X) became best sellers. In Kyiv the music spirit of Buddha Bar is being created by DJ Kirill Doomski, with CD’s offered for sale in the boutique inside Buddha Bar Kyiv complex.
Like all other Buddha-Bars, the Kyiv one presents a combination of several architectural styles, inspired by Asian temples, Portuguese estates and Santa Fe colonial style mahogany furniture. Decor is filled with Chinese and Japanese artifacts, wooden panels, ancient vases, oriental statues, mosaic, golden fabric, lacquer wood, and magic lanterns. On the third floor there is lounge-bar mezzanine, enlaced with 18th century style wrought-iron balustrades, looking out over the dining area where the gigantic Buddha sits enthroned. The statue equally binding for all Buddha Bar restaurants was created in Thailand.
On the mezzanine you will find the dimly lit, cozy alcove areas where you can dine or enjoy drinks while observing the people gathered around illuminated tables in the restaurant below. You may want to stop by the bar to taste Buddha-Bar’s original cocktails or you might wish to get cozy on the soft sofas in lounge-bar. The pinnacle of Buddha Bar Kyiv is a comfortable VIP hall with a view down on all lower floors. The restaurant is illuminated by more than 200 lamps changing their color together with the music.
The focus of Buddha-Bar menu is Fusion Asian, combining dishes from Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai cuisine adapted for Europe. French chef Manu Due, who has worked at such Kyiv restaurants as Apollo, Eldorado and Casa Bella, manages the kitchen. In all the countries Buddha Bars have common strict rules on cuisine. Therefore, the chef and his team had to go through training at the Paris Buddha Bar in order to learn the master secrets and technologies of cooking the main dishes. Among the delicious meals of Buddha Bar Kyiv you may taste Chinese chicken salad, several kinds of spring rolls, tuna and shitake vinaigrette, wok fried beef with Thai basil, curry shrimp in banana leaves, as well as a wide selection of sushi. Original sauces and spices are the spirit of all dishes. For a full dinner I recommend hot “Buddha” noodles – a big portion with soy-bean sprouts, ginger and shiitake. Also try steamed dumplings with beef, pork, chicken, mutton and spinach, or wonton noodle soup of chestnut bullion, meat dumplings and shrimp. For dessert don’t miss the wonderful chilled mango soup. It will go perfectly with sweet sticks of chocolate and sesame and various exotic fruit sorbets. The estimated average bill is Hr 400 to Hr 450 ($100) per person.
By the way, note that despite all its exotics, none of the Buddha Bars around the world offer hookah.
Maria Leontieva can be reached at [email protected] or 496-4563
Buddha-Bar (14 Khreschatyk, 270-7676). Open 7 p.m. till 2 a.m.
Starting Sept. 1 the restaurant will be open for lunch – noon till 4 p.m.
