Hakkasan

8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD.
W: www.hakkasan.com
E: email@hakkasan.com
T: 020 7927 7000

A well-hidden gem!

Review

Where is it?

Hakkasan is tucked away down an alleyway off London's busiest thoroughfare, Oxford Street. Get away from the tourists and walk towards this top-notch restaurant in what appears to be one of London's grottiest accessways. The neon sign and besuited doormen will make sure you know you've found the right place though.

What's it like?

Dark Oriental woods and colours dominate the dining space, creating a moody, sexy feel that's sure to satisfy and the dim lighting helps flatter any complexion. The Michelin star guarantees you top notch food, one of my favourites being the cod with champagne and honey, although you'll have to save room for it if you start off with the generous dim sum portions. Perhaps less common in restaurants is the concentration on cocktails rather than wine. Exotic ingredients such as lychee and coconut dominate the cocktail list, and it is these drinks that help give Hakkasan its own unique selling point when measured up against rivals such as Nobu and Zuma. Prices are high, with main courses often over £30 cocktails around a tenner.

Why does Johnny Ikon love it?

I love joining Hakkasan's glam guests such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna to enjoy food of exceptional quality and as for the cocktail list - well, that's just a very welcome added bonus!

Johnny recommends somewhere to go afterwards

	Shoreditch House Ebor Street, Shoreditch, E1 6AW. The East End cool kids' very own private members club
	Volstead 9 Swallow Street, W1R 7HD. If it's good enough for Madonna....
	Crystal 78 Wells Street, W1T 3QL. Jet set favourite
	Automat (Almada club) 33 Dover Street, W1S 4NF. Outstanding, with a door policy so strict you probably don't even know it's here