SimplyAbuDhabi IX

D uring our wonderful stay at the Sanderson Hotel, we decided to hop over to London’s Buddha-Bar one evening to experience their posh decor and oriental cuisine. We’ve tried Buddha-Bar locations all over the world, including in Dubai, Barcelona and Paris – but this was our first voyage to the venue’s London location, which is nestled in the heart of Knightsbridge. We walked into a space of sumptuous oriental interiors, replete with colonial and baroque references and intimate lighting, and found ourselves literally transfixed by the scene before us. We weren’t in London anymore. Spearheaded by co-founder Tarja Visan, Buddha-Bar London has reinvented the brand, which has descended from the widely acclaimed and successful restaurant- bar-lounge Buddha-Bar Paris, established in 1996 by founders Raymond and Tarja Visan. Our waiter helped us to our table near the floating Buddha sculpture – a common decorative element in every Buddha-Bar we’ve visited. The London Buddha was designed by renowned sculptor David Begbie who specializes in steelmesh. He has created the maquette of the Buddha sculpture entitled Transpose 2 3 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I