Aqua Spirit

Having visited Aqua in Hong Kong almost every night for my entire stay there, I was convinced that Aqua is the best bar on earth, and was delighted that they were opening in London.

Although the London establishment cannot boast the wow-factor of double height floor-to-ceiling windows with views to Hong Kong Island at night, I had hoped for much more in all the other ways that the HK branch seduced me. Unfortunately Aqua London is in a word – bland.

Aqua Spirit has no palpable atmosphere, although there has been much effort invested in the interior of the bar and the grand entrance via the lifts from the ground level. The staff are keen to assist (mostly), although are lacking in knowledge. Usually when one does not feel exhilerated by the atmosphere, reaching for a cocktail helps… not so much here. Unfortunately the cocktails look and sound delicious, but dont carry the clout you would expect (especially at the price).

I gave Aqua Spirit several tries, including an events open evening as part of my job, and I can firmly, and sadly, say that I would not choose to go here for a drink unless I was in the area and wanted a less crowded spot to relax than on Oxford Street. There are much better bars hidden around this area, so I would suggest to save the pennies and head to Hong Kong to experience what the Aqua Group does best.

My visit to Aqua resulted in the conclusion that it, like many others, boasts a barrels of style but delivers little to no substance. Cocktails sound like they ooze flavour and can transport you from the rooftop terrace to some tropical island, but when delivered to your table, taste mainly of crushed ice.

The terrace and inside bar have been tastefully decorated with sleek furniture to boot and it does allow you to escape from the hustle and bustle of Regent St below. However disappoints when your gasping for a nice drink at the end of a long day and have to wait over ten minutes to flag a waiter down to order your much needed drink (despite the fact they've acknowledged your arrival).

Despite the less than satisfactory delivery, local hedge fund managers, and their day-tripping WAG's will continue to flock as long as their pockets are full and the champagne is stocked up. If your after a drink, any drink you'll love it. If like me you actually give a damn about acquiring a well made drink – skip it and head to Sketch.