Aqua Nueva is kind of hidden and located through a narrow street in the back. Once you find it, the place is super fancy and elegant. I felt under dressed with my American hoodie and joggers. Our server was nice and friendly, advising us to get 2 or 3 dishes per person, as the plates were kind of small. We ordered: Cod Brandada which is a cod brandade, crispy cod skin, burnt Seville orange. I really like the crispy cod skin. It was a nice texture explosion for me. Order came in 2. Wild mushroom croquettes. I never had croquettes and these were ok. Order came with 4. Slow cooked lamb, sweet potato puree Kale, lamb jus Galician Octopus, tomato, almond which had Potato cream, paprika crisps. This was the star of the show. The octopus was so tender and delicious. BATHROOM REVIEW. We sat on the second floor, so this review is for the bathrooms up there. If you're not from London, look for the door that says "WC", which stands for water closet. There is a men's and women's after you open the water closet door. In the men's, everything was in working order. Pretty clean. Urinals seem to all work fine. Stalls had decent privacy and cleanliness. Sit or squat? Sit! read more

aqua nueva - Tapas Bars Near Me - London, XGL

A stylish tapas bar in the heart of London. Situated on the 5th floor, this expansive restaurant can accommodate a large number of diners. We booked a 1pm Friday sitting so the restaurant was empty and lacked any atmosphere. The food is a minimalistic play on Spanish tapas. We were encouraged to order 3 plates each but I feel 4-5 was enough for the two of us. Overall the food was pretty good and I would eat here again. Next time I would order less food. read more

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The ambiance was calm but we went on a Tuesday so I'm assuming on the weekends must have more vibey.. But the server was nice, the place is beautiful and the food was delicious. They have a beautiful rooftop but it was too cold so we just went out for photos read more

aqua nueva - Patatas bravas y las tapas más ricas son las de beef - Tapas Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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It's unfortunate that there are such poor reviews of this place. The atmosphere is trendy and dark with sophisticated decor. The service is not poor as described by other reviewers. Good for nice corporate dinners. It's definitely pricey for the average Joe so if you have a corporate expense account, you may want to pay a visit to this place. Aqua Nueva has a nice selection of Spanish tapas. Check out the photos for a feel of what the portions/dishes look like. The 2006 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva wine is very nice. Cocktails are just OK (nothing too memorable and some are a little watered down for the price you pay). The bread is served warm, which is a pleasant surprise. :) Some tasty dishes include: seared foie gras, hand carved Iberian ham, Spanish salt cod with pig's trotter, and Iberian pork "Secreto" If you like raw oysters and want to eat them with a twist, order the freshly shucked rock oysters on ice with seawater jelly and salmon roe. The cheesecake is nicely presented and tastes very cheesy. So if you like cheesecake with an intense cheese flavor, you should order this dessert. Ladies, put on those nice heels of yours and gentlemen, don't be afraid to wear that fashionable dress shirt with the cool trendy prints and nice jeans. Lastly, don't get lost finding the place. The entrance is like an entrance of a nightclub. After you walk in, take the elevators to the 5th floor. It shares the same entrance as Aqua Kyoto. Upon arriving on the 5th floor, you will walk into the central bar of Aqua Kyoto so you'll need to turn left and walk down the dark corridor towards the bullhead to get to Aqua Nuevo. read more

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The high-end Japanese lounge look is so overdone (red! black! low-lit! mirrors! Thievery Corporation tracks!) and Aqua Kyoto is no exception. No matter- I came for the rooftop views (and drinks). My experience is a bit one-sided as the west wing of the 5th floor patio, which I heard promises better views, was closed off for a private party. I was then left with vistas of flat Mayfair and beyond, with the only point of interest being a gorgeous dome directly across the street. This is definitely for the sleek and posh, but in no way felt- how do I say it- "douchey". Drinks are pricey as expected. I ordered the Mai Tai Don "Beach Comber", and it nearly knocked me off my feet. Mai Tai's are usually sweet and lightweight...but not this one. It was the most "manly" Mai Tai I've had, so the value was (surprisingly) spot on. Service? Bleh. I just don't understand why people would take a job they're not happy with. They're plenty of people in London who would take bartending jobs and do it with a smile. Unlike the cocktail, it was the service that left me with a sour taste. Would I go back? If friends invite me (and the views I didn't get to see are available). I'm more than happy at The Boundary Rooftop in Shoreditch. Tip: try to beat the after-5 crowd as quickly as you can...the queue to enter the patio during busy times is nerve-wracking. read more

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The place reminds me of where i used to dine ( when I had money) ! Soho in Hong Kong! dayummmm! anyways all good atmosphere and super nice decor, just romantic. Thumbs up to the date who pick that place. wink wink* or if i misinterpreted , blush blush* anyways, very nice tapas, and nicely craved , instant mouth watering and ready to loose my belt, and prepare to put on weight, food is just nice and they come one after the next, and jesus wine at 3 is just "heaven, i am in heaven" , anyways, good to pick one tapas from each category, so you have a nice range of choices. and best of all, pick a good date, i mean when it is not raining, it is better. but dont worry, there is cloakroom upstairs. so still cozy and romantic, btw , when i say good date, puns intended. LOL read more

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Came here with John (another LBS student) and really liked it here! It was both our first time at Aqua Spirit (recommendation of a friend) but the lounge/bar didn't disappoint. It has a rooftop area with great views, the drinks are delicious, everyone is dressed to the 10's and the atmosphere is really nice! Reminded me of cool glitzy New York rooftop cocktail bars and lounges :) Very spacious area with lots of seating inside, by the bar, and outside (where we sat). Really nice place! :) read more

A great bar at a fab location just off oxford street. It is rather dark in there and there is not much seating available but it's not the busiest on a Saturday night so you're going to be ok. There was an outside terrace area but it was the middle of December so we didn't venture out. Drinks were great cocktails and the bar staff were willing to try a concoction to serve the taste buds, which is always nice! read more

Nice spacious venue with a nice rooftop area. There was a list of cocktails on the menu covering two pages. I requested a pornstar martini which was not on the menu and it tasted how it should. however the prosecco that came on the side was not nice at all, so i left that untouched. The venue is fairly brightly lit up until around 10pm, so it would've been nicer if the lights were dimmed whilst having drinks with friends or with a date. read more

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Aqua Kyoto is one of those places which offer an experience, more than a simple dinner. The main entrance is a hall, and you have to pass by a first "boucers", who checks out your group. If yor go past that screening, then it's fancy fancy ! Great welcome by the receptionists, who help you undress (as in take off your coat), and then take you to a superbly set table. A fter ordering cocktails (a great selection of them !), you can go on the terrace, and take a bling picture of you with London in the background. When it comes to food, oh mama... The sushi are exquisite, tempura are tastylicious (and not greasy at all !), the Udon noodles are crazy, etc. Amazing stuff (though a bit pricey, I admit). For desserts, you'll be spoiled with choice, but the panna cotta crumble is very unique, as is the combination of chocolate mousse and wasabi ice cream ! On the down side, the service is nice, though I've known better... But hey, you'll want to stay there all night ! read more

aqua nueva - Da Chocolate Mousse !!! - Tapas Bars Near Me - London, XGL

This place is trendy but I have mixed feelings about it. The pre-cocktails we ordered were really good but the one coming with the foraging menu was just too strange it tasted like hand soap. As for the food, it tried to be creative which is good but got lost in translation in a way. The ostrich was too tough, the scallops not crispy which didnt give enough dimension to the dish as the yomogi rice was bland. On the other hand the green tea soba was delicious but very classic in flavours. The ultimate fav was the desserts a great marriage of classic chocolate truffle and more adventurous flavours of wild herbs and sweet meadow ice cream. Overall I think it a good place to entertain people visiting or enjoying the rooftop bar but it wont be my go to place read more

I was hesitant about booking Aqua Kyoto for a family party having had mediocre reports of its soft opening from a knowledgeable friend, but I should not have worried. You enter through a dark cavern of an entrance opposite the Palladium and take a lift to the top of the old Dickins & Jones building where you are greeted by name - as the result of giving it to the doorman at the entrance - setting the scene for a seriously impressive experience. True, the decor is more Hong Kong nightclub than Japanese, but we were immediately taken with the space and lack of crowding - though the room was full. We sat at a comfortable banquette table where talk was eminently possible and were served by a Japanese waitress who explained the dishes to us carefully, Zuma-style, but also managed to impress my wife, who is herself Japanese, with her knowledge. We had a dazzling array of dishes; so many that I can't recall exactly which they were, though the dobin-mushi (fish soup in a kettle) stood out as entirely authentic and delicious and the crab and other sushi dishes were uniformly excellent. The black cod was every bit as good as Nobu and twice the size and the beef was succulent melting perfection. The most important ingredient - the rice and tofu (about which we agree with sherlocksteel) were impeccable, causing us to recall similar great meals taken in Kyoto and Hong Kong. Importantly too, we were able to chose a good dry sake from the short list that was exactly what we wanted and wasn't impossibly priced. An unexpectedly fine experience; and not at all expensive for this quality at £280 for five. read more

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This place is one of a Hong Kong based chain that has some international outlets. It is part bar, part Japanese restaurant, part Spanish restaurant and part lovely roof terrace overlooking Regent Street. The place was very empty on a Sunday afternoon, so great for outside drinks on a sunny day. As previous reviewers have commented, it is all dark wood and chic low lighting. The decor is probably more suited to night time, and the loos were particularly badly lit (but chic-ly so). In the daytime, the dark entrance means that you could miss the greeter downstairs, who checks that you have a reservation before you ride the lift up to the 5th floor. We went for the infinity Sunday brunch at the Japanese restaurant. Basically £35 for a 3 hour all you can eat starter buffet (sushi, some robata grill items, some fried items and udon noodles with mushrooms), followed by mains (a choice of chicken teriyaki, pork, squid tempura or a vegetarian dish) and dessert (ice creams, a selection of mochi ice creams or a chocolate pudding). Add £20 and you have unlimited Veuve Clicquot champagne for 2 hours. The staff were efficient at topping up the champagne, so no complaints there, and the manager took pains to make good a mistake made by the reservation staff. The food, sadly, was just average. The sushi not particularly fresh, the pork main really quite forgettable, the chicken main passable and the squid tempura nice, not greasy, but bland. Desserts were the highlight food wise, although after a few glasses of champagne, a good afternoon was had by all. read more

aqua nueva - Infinity Sunday buffet - Tapas Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Great place to go for fanciful cocktails with friends. Overlooking Regent St and near the heart of all the nightlife action on Oxford Street and Soho, Aqua is a great spot to go when you want a proper lively night out. Upscale mood, with polished decor and a quasi Asian look without it being a theme. Trendy, with beautiful people yet not pretentious, it ticks a lot of boxes for a good formula. Good cocktails, and easy going. read more

MAMA BEAR over here loves herself a bit of AQUA! Yessir, yes.she.does! Whether your girl here is out with her basics for a soiree of shenanigans, or in need of them Japs delicacies, this places always delivers, and YAH it's a little expensive, but what are we dating all the fancy City boys if not for a bit of a spoil-a-thon? Kidding, I pay all my own bills children. Point is, the sushi here is delish, and it's inspired! I love inspired sushi, and for every cow in India please dont ask if they'll make you a fucking California roll, ya feel me. THEY WONT. Go back to whatever zone 23 Tesco you came from, and get a flippin corndog, it's better for all. Oh and hang out outside. It doesn't have the world's most Radio-Rooftop views, but it's puuuurty and we all know you smoke when the second Amaretto sour hits. read more

It is 5pm on Sunday, and summer is officially here and I'm not going to miss one ray of sunshine by sitting indoors. So when its more than 16 degrees outside, what do you do? Go to a rooftop terrace and enjoy life! - I chose Aqua Kyoto! (its probably going to rain tomorrow) I have eaten in Aqua but it was a while back, and this time, we decided to get some cocktails. I wish I spent more time taking pictures of the views, as they were beautiful and you can literally see the whole of London from where I was standing. The crowd is a little young; 20's -mid 30's and I would suggest going between Thursday's- Sunday's as these days seem to have a vibrant and buzzing crowd. My choice of drink was a pornstar martini made by an amazing Italian bartender, whose name I cannot pronounce but he did well. Very strong but yet so sweet! Next time I will definitely be going back to try their Sunday infinity brunch read more

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Team GB for Olympics 2016 were kind enough to invite me down to their clubhouse at Aqua Nueva to watch Team GB compete that night. The event included free food and drinks all night aswell as big screens to watch the action, and live Brazilian entertainment including Capoeira and samba women. The clubehouse was cordoned off so I only really experienced part of the venue, which was very spacious with little seating but had a large bar. The place was packed, noisy and too bustling to actually watch the Olympics on the big screens however. Not a bad place to hold the event. read more

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I love how Yelp gets people with similar interests together. In this case a group of us got together with a similar interest in getting drunk at lunchtime on a weekend on as much champagne as we could carry. Well, to me that's as valid an interest as knitting or football. The first place we decided on for this outing was Aqua Kyoto - I've been to Aqua Shard (a sister restaurant) for cocktails before and had a splendid time, so I was very excited to try this place out. Either that or I was excited at drinking as much champagne as possible in 2 hours with some friends. Or having lunch on the top floor of a Regent Street building. Nevertheless, I was excited!! The restaurant itself was smooth and sleek, with dark, rich colours that gave off the immediate feeling of opulence. Not a good start for me then wandering in wearing jeans. #LifeYelp there! But we were paying £55 each for this brunch so to be honest I think we should be able to wear what we want. That sounds a lot of money, but I do think we got a pretty good deal, considering that the champagne was Veuve Clicquot and there was a really generous amount of food. We were also the first ones there, arriving so early that the restaurant wasn't even open. Well we were just SO excited! We were (wisely, in hindsight) given a corner table away from other diners, who were probably about to enjoy a sophisticated luncheon in between a morning of shopping and an afternoon of polo or such like. And after 2 hours of at least 3 bottles of champagne each, we were LOUD. Now in my view that is a positive thing - it means that the restaurant were very quick to keep our glasses topped up and would often refill the table when we weren't even out of alcohol. Got to love attentive service like that! The food (whilst my memory is a little hazy) was a really brilliant selection of Japanese sushi and noodles, including vegetarian options for the non-meat eaters of us. 2 huge plates of sushi between 7 of us as well as edameme beans, miso soup, mushroom style noodles, yakitori skewers, seaweed salads and even dessert. Can't complain about the amount of food or the choice and whilst other more discerning palettes had sampled superior sashimi I had not had anything better before or since so far. All in all, a pretty perfect brunch with a pretty perfect group of people (obviously, they were my friends!) read more

More than just disappointing, this place is a disaster. We went to have drinks and dinner, but had such bad service at the bar (there was no excuse -- the place was entirely empty, and in spite of that the waiter got our drink order wrong twice, when he came to take our orders at all) that we didn't stay for dinner. With prices as high as this, there is no excuse for anything but top-notch service and excellent food. I can't vouch for the food, but if it's anything like the service, it must be inedible. Appalling service, seedy atmosphere. It feels a bit like a depressing brothel. I'd advise discerning diners to avoid this place at all costs. read more

Perhaps one of the best bars in London, definitely the best rooftop. You're very unlikely to have trouble getting in, but do expect to fork out a bit of cash - most people will surely call it pricey. Great for pre-drinks for... Just about anything! read more

In short, over-priced and pretty - but terrible, TERRIBLE service with not much to say of the food. Just got back from lunch here. We sat for a good 15 minutes before even being given menus - then we clocked up half hour before being brought our drinks. This is not only irritating, but with staff milling about all over the place looking bored and doing nothing, you start to get annoyed. The two stars here are for the bread, and my dessert. My starter was luke warm and the scallops weren't very well cooked (served with potato puree with very little taste, I left most of mine). My main was a seriously overcooked piece of duck breast (such a waste) with four individual pieces of vegetable and a bed of sickly sweet apricot chutney. My chocolate and hazelnut cake with ice cream was a little piece of heaven though, and we had great wine (though Nueva can't take credit for that!). As I said before, very good bread and oil, but I can rock up to Princi on Wardour Street and pick up a bag of ciabatta rolls for a couple of quid if that's all I want from a lunch. The general consensus from the table was similar, with some nice parts to everyone's meals, but not enough to make us want to return. Silly expensive when you take that into consideration as well. I've been here once previously, and honestly, I can only imagine that I'd just had too much bubbly to work out how disappointing it was. Agree with the other two reviews, I definitely wouldn't go here again if I had the choice. read more

Infinity Brunch Club Outing #1: Aqua Kyoto. Aqua Kyoto was our inaugural outing for our Infinity Brunch Club. (Infinity drinks? Sign me up.) For £55 they will give you a selection of Japanese food with infinity Veuve Clicquot champagne for two hours. (If you don't want the champagne, you can just get the food for £35, but it doesn't seem worth the price if you don't get the booze.) Some of our party was a bit late, and we were warned in advance that if we started the infinity champagne, the countdown begins for them as well. So we waited five minutes (because we're terrible friends) and started it up. I've been to infinity brunches before, and I was slightly worried that a) they wouldn't fill our glasses up very often or b) they'd cut us off prior to the two-hour time period. Luckily, they held true to their word and we were not cut off. (Although in retrospect with how the rest of the day went, it probably would have been a smart decision on their part.) I was really impressed because my glass always seemed full, and there were only a couple of occasions where my glass was empty for more than a minute or so. So bravo to Aqua Kyoto! So the food consisted of Edemame and Miso soup to start. Followed by a giant sharing platter of sushi nigiri and rolls. We then were given a seaweed and tomato salad and a mushroom noodle dish. This was followed by meat and asparagus skewers (and some mushroom one for the non-meat/fish-only eaters) and some mochi for dessert. The food was fairly good, but nothing amazing or outstanding. But in all honesty, while we were hoping for amazing food, we were really there for the infinity drinks. Because infinity drinks. So the first outing was a resounding success! We all left full and more drunk that we should have been allowed to become (given then issues we had at the next stop we went to), and we all had a grand time catching up and getting to know new people. Given the amount of bubbly we polished off, I wouldn't be surprised if they raise the price soon or stop doing it all together, but run in soon and have a Japanese Sunday drunch! read more

Sushiiiiii!!! And unliited champagneeeeeeee! *come face* What a lovely image, I'm sure. My brother from another mother's sister's husband had his surprise 30th lunch here so we turned up, the 10 of us and hid in their special glass room while we patiently awaited the arrival of the guest of honour. Unbeknownst to him, we were ready to jump out at a moment's notice and yell 'SURPRISE' and hopefully not give him a heart attack or anything, but since we were in the aforementioned special glass room, though we jumped out he only saw the jumping action and didnt hear any of the 'yelling', though unfortunately, we did manage to scare a baby who then proceeded to cry. Oops. On to the food, we had......5(?)...a load of courses which started with sushi and sashimi and another course had very dreamy yakitori, not forgetting a noodle course and mochi as well. I love sushi so I had been kinda dreaming about this day for a few months. Alas, I have to say that I don't think that the food only price of £39 was definitely fairly valued, though I do understand that there is a markup for location, decor (very pretty red and gold) and beautifully presented food (I love a bit of food porn) but I remember thinking that the flavours weren't quite up there as I was expecting to get at restaurant off Regent St. The unlimited champagne however, adds another £21 to your bill and is probably more worth it if you're planning on writing off the rest of your Sunday. The waitress attending to our sushi-themed needs was very lovely and gave us far warning when we were nearing the end of our 2 hour infinite champagne window and additionally ensured that we were all kept topped up. In fact, Imma gonna ramp this up to a 4-star review because she was so lovely. Would I come back? I loved the venue itself and they have a rooftop bar which I remember frequenting before this became Aqua Kyoto so I think I could be persuaded :) read more

* * * Update time! I previously gave this place four stars. I really liked it! Then I went again tonight. On my way out, I had decided I was going to drop them to a two. Why the drop? Thanks for asking! The quality of the fish had suffered, in my opinion. The tuna was the only sushi I ate that I didn't have to work to get through. The salmon was thick and spongy, the hamachi unimpressively chewy as well. I tried and immediately regretted a mackerel and ginger roll. Everything was just unpleasant. And the price seemed to have gotten higher. 10 pieces of nigiri, one cut roll, edamame, and some tap water. For 60 quid? Not worth it, at all. I won't be coming back. In fact, I think I might avoid sushi in London almost altogether. Why is it so hard to get it right here? I am not a picky eater, at all. Check out my rating distribution. I love everything! But sushi in London continues to disappoint me. Again and again. Anyways, back to my Aqua story. By the time I got back to my hotel, I felt nauseous. I threw up a few times and am now laying in bed with my eyes puffed up and my nice ladyfriend sending me well-wishing texts. I never throw up - I maybe have done this a total of 10 times in the past 20 years. And I drink often, too. So, I called the restaurant to let them know about my experience and they took my number to call me back, which they did just now. I figured I'd give them the benefit of the doubt before I amended my review. The night manager told me that he spoke with a doctor and the doctor insisted that food poisoning cannot affect you until at least 24 hours after the meal. OK. Well. I just threw up after eating at your restaurant. Immediately after. Not related at all, really? At some point he asked me if there was anything I would like him to do. Hmm. Yeah. How about making me feel a little better about the $100 meal I just sent directly into my toilet? Drink some sparkling water to burp it all up, he suggested. Thanks, doc. One star, coming up. * * * What's not to love here, except the price? I've been three times now, twice for lunch and once for a drink. It's definitely on the more expensive side, but the fish is absolutely worth it. Very fresh, well prepared, and quite the variety. There's a LOT of pretentiousness on the way to your table. There's a hostess on the ground level when you walk in who attempts to make you feel guilty for not having a reservation. She then leads you to an elevator which has only one button, 5, for the 5th floor. Thanks for the help, lady. Then, when you get upstairs they're already expecting you, and they lead you in to the empty ass restaurant. Nice guilt trip. Expect to spend about 100 for two people, if not more. They have a nice rooftop garden area as well, but it's never been nice enough for me to want to sit out there. Drinks are north of 10 a piece. But, since every time I've gone here it's been for work, I don't mind the cost at all. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of quality sushi or if you like to spend a lot of money on things you don't appreciate. read more

I went to Aqua for drinks at the open rooftop terrace. Great scene and a good looking crowd. Then moved inside for dinner and they seated us in a nice cozy arc-shaped booth perfect for two. The service was extraordinary, the wine selection fancy, and the sushi was pretty close to the best I have had. Definitely recommend this place for pre dinner drinks at the rooftop and the amazing restaurant. Update: I have had dinner at Aqua Kyoto again and i can't say enough good things about this place. Manager Philipe is amazing and makes sure he takes care of his patrons. Love it! read more

First of all, don't get me wrong by the rating I gave this place. I had a great time! Aqua Kyoto is beautiful, a slick and sexy venue of opulent red, gold and black. Definitely a date venue. The place also offers a great rooftop bar with spectacular views. So, I came here with fellow Yelpers for an infinity brunch. I was surprised at how quiet the place was when I turned up. Only 1 other table had people at it. It did fill out over the course of our brunch but never to capacity. The atmosphere was quite subdued...except, of course, for our table. We were joyously imbibing as much Veuve Cliquot as our greedy little mouths could swallow! First course, was edamane and miso soup. The soup was quite salty. The second was a platter of sushi ngiri. Delicious, the best course in my opinion, 'though not the best I've had. Third course was a salad of seaweed, baby plum tomatoes and red onion. I like seaweed, but I'm not sure tomato and red onion really compliments it. Fourth course, mushroom noodles which were tasty and lots of them. Fifth course was the meat course of meat skewers. For the pesky-tarians like myself there were skewers of charred mushroom and asparagus. Then final course was dessert, mochi, little ball of ice cream in a gelatinous shell of what I'm assuming is rice starch or somehting. not very appetizing. So, in my from my experience, Aqua Kyoto is a beautiful venue. Go for drinks but not the food. That might explain how quiet it was, not the norm at venues offering infinity brunches. read more

After a disastrous dinner at Aqua Shard, I was a bit hesitant but decided to try this restaurant anyway. Fortunately Aqua Kyoto managed to deliver. The restaurant is a bit hard to find at first; after checking in with a hostess, elevators whisk you up to the 5th floor where the restaurant, bar, and terrace are actually located. Food was quite good, but not exceptional. There are some pretty standard items like gindara and tempura rock shrimp à la Nobu (although the sauce is on the side, which does help to preserve the crunchiness of the tempura batter), as well as some more interesting and unique dishes. Although all our dishes were executed well, they ultimately failed to truly astound - for example, the truffles in the the truffled chicken and leek yakitori failed to elevate the dish, being mostly overpowered by the teriyaki sauce. On the other hand, the green tea and black sesame ice cream I had for dessert had plenty of flavor, highlighting the chief ingredients while avoiding being overly sweet or milky. Service was professional and decently friendly. Only a few several minor items, such as a lack of chopsticks at the table setting, and failing to replace plates promptly. The restaurant is fairly dark, with plenty of wood and a soft red lighting scheme throughout. There is a nice terrace that reportedly has nice views of London, although it was raining when I came. Noise definitely spills over into the dining area from the bar, and music is also louder than average as well. Aqua Kyoto manages to be a decent Japanese fusion restaurant. However, in my opinion, it is ultimately surpassed by other contenders such as Nobu, which manages to pull off both exceptional food and service much better than this place. read more

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This place is super crowded. Also, don't come dressed casually with a school backpack, you'll look like a fool. Plus, the backpack will get in the way, because this place is so full of people. My friends had to wait in line for about 30 minutes before they got their drinks from the bar. The crowd seemed to consist mostly of people in their mid-30s. Anyway, I came on a Friday night, so maybe that's why it was packed, but it's hard for me to believe that this place would just be empty, Ingrid. read more

Hum, well... This was overpriced but not as much as I thought. The food was OK but the service wasn't. Too many waiters going everywhere. For sure, you, don't feel confortable there. The atmosphere was not relaxed and I was expecting much more. I will not go there again. read more

Aqua has transformed the old Dickens and Jones tea terrace into a sundeck for events one of which I attended last night. We didn`t have use of both sundecks as Bernie Ecclestone had commandeered one for his daughter`s 26th birthday. Oh Dad! But one was enough. Not much room to move around, mind, and I kept getting kicked by people who tried to pass in the narrow spaces...still it was fun. Great views. Friendly staff. Good booze. Not crazy about the canapes though. What really sticks in my mind is the Kubrick-style entrance to the arena. You have to walk quite a way in pitch dark (and are escorted by a staff member) It seems like something out of `Eyes Wide Shut`......very weird. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.... read more

I'll be joining the bad reviews here, and hopefully bringing this place down from a TWO star, to the ONE it deserves! I have dined at AN three times now, and EVERY time, the service has been the same. Aqua Neuva has one of the best layouts and decor I have seen in a restaurant. It's cool, sharp and smacks of 'awesomeness' However. This is all it's really good for, and here's why. 1. The waiting staff. Never in my ten years of eating at almost every restaurant in London have I come across such shoddy, ignorant and rude service. Im not sure whether it's a language barrier, but every waiter I have come into contact with at this place fails to deliver, they are unpleasant with zero social skills. I came here today, ordered drinks....20 minutes later, I had to get up and ask the manager where they were. There seemed enough staff to cover everyone, but they are all walking around like they have just joined the company and have been thrown in at the deep end. Their knowledge of how to wait on tables is ridiculous, non attentive, and rude. They tell you what ISN'T available on the menu when they come to take the order, they take forever to keep drinks coming, and scoul at you when you suggest things be hurried up. 2. The Food. Please. Just because it looks weird, doesn't make it great. Sometimes simple is best, and this place fails badly. It's too inventive!! So much so that it just looks and tastes bad. £50 for two main courses and one side dish. Niiiiiice! Never, will I be going back. read more

Seriously swanky with several rooms, Aqua is a menagerie of interesting personalities. In the space of a few hours I met fashion designers, Saudi playboys, tourists, bankers and bevys of beautiful party girls. Plenty of options to tickle your every fancy from Spanish tapas to sushi to hard liquor to sparkling conversation. While the food and drinks are not particularly innovative or value-oriented, the design of the space is exceptional and the staff is accommodating. I particularly enjoyed watching the tapas chefs whip up the food in the fully open kitchen. (I have a weakness for adorably small pots.) PARTING THOUGHT: Somehow I wind up here every time I'm in London! read more

People over-dressed and trying very hard. Older gentlemen hitting on lasses half their age and throwing cash around....Perfect, it's like I'm back home in LA!!! Fantastic rooftop bar, with a great view of Regent, that is clearly why people come. However, I'm here to review the cuisine and after dinner I have to say overall it was pretty rubbish. Raw fishes were not fresh, sauces and seasonings did not complement the fish, with poor value for a below average Japanese Fusion meal. The only thing I could honestly recommend off the menu was the ribeye tapayaki, sliced for group sharing. Guys, I would recommend it if you are looking for a friend however. The kitties had their claws out. Be careful. read more

Very few rooftop places in London, Aqua Kyoto is definitely worth a visit. I usually come for drinks to Aqua Spirit, there are always people at the bar, even on a school night. Thursday, Friday, Saturday they are open till 3am which is a great alternative when you feel like staying out but don't feel like clubbing. Appletinis are my favourite here. They have bars outside in warm weather which is great! The actual Aqua Kyoto restaurant is good too, but nothing beats Nobu Berkeley. Aqua Nueva, the Spanish, I love! But I usually prefer the tapas bar to the restaurant. read more

Ended up here yesterday after the Night in White bash, for some post event drinks. Can't comment on the food as we didn't have any, but the drinks were really strong! Couldn't finish the Long Island Ice Tea, but probably more to do with time constraint and alcohol limit (needed to be up early for work the next day) than not wanting to, I expect a little more ice melt could have helped. The views are great, the music isn't too intrusive and the space is nice. I'd go again. Try to get in before midnight as although they were still open upstairs, they were stopping people from entering as we were leaving around that time. read more

This place is a bit over the top. It is a restaurant group with a Spanish restaurant as well. You walk into the ground floor which is very dark (the place is a bit tricky to find) and then you get greeted and take the elevator up to the 5th floor. This massive sliding door opens up and you walk into this massive bar area. There is the bar area, a massive sushi counter, tables and a large balcony. Luckily I was there on a Monday for an early dinner and the place was pretty empty. The food was good--fusion apps and I liked the sushi pieces But nothing that other place can't deliver. The service was so aggressive, I was hardly done or sometimes wasn't done before they wisked away the plates. I can imagine this is a bankers, gold-diggers and eccentrics kind of place on a Friday eve, so be forewarned. read more

You take the lift up to the 5th floor and doors open into a large showy, dark space and crowds of people. Way too crowded for my liking so unless you want to be packed in like sardines trying to shout above the requisite 'thump thump' 'club' muzak it's hardly a chill environment to relax in with your expensive cocktail. The best part was to fight through the crowd to escape the outdoor bar area (outdoor bar appeared closed for the winter) but you could still go out on the balcony and peer down onto the lights of Regent's St below. I've eaten at the Japanese fusion style restaurant before. Similar to the bar, it's OK but more style than substance, especially for the price. read more

Sushi? For brunch? With unlimited champagne?! Sign me up baby!! These guys had me at the concept. In fact, I think I got so excited I managed to overhype it for myself! A friend had booked it about 6 months in advance for her hubbie's 30th bday surprise, so I had far too much time to salivate over the menu online beforehand. I think she'd had a few issues with the booking given the largest table they'd give her was for 10 peeps and she was hoping for more (obv I made the cut though so it didn't bother me too much ;) We all rocked up even before they'd opened to make sure we got there before the bday boy (all being too scared of his wife to run the risk of ruining the surprise). As an unexpected bonus they offered to move our booking from the main restaurant to their private dining room. This *may* have had something to do with the fact that we had with us the cutest 6-month-old ever (fact), and they thought we might appreciate less bustle and extra space for the pram. They thought right! The restaurant is a lush blend of red, gold and black decor and low lighting that I guess is quite stereotypical but sexy. The 'private' dining room sits on one side, with a large circular table and coloured glass walls that mean you still feel part of (but more special than!) the main restaurant. It also meant we could see the bday boy's face as he arrived and saw us all waiting :) The (obvious) unlimited champagne option is now £60, whilst the house wine/beer middle ground was £50 and food-only for £39 (for the teetotallers/breast-feeders). Despite having landed at Heathrow that morning after a 3-flight journey home from Asia, I determinedly got my value for money on the champers! A good job, as I don't think this was true purely on the food front. Tasty, beautifully presented and plenty of it yes, but not worth the food-only price. Highlight was probably the massive sushi platters that arrived with a beautifully bright range of maki and sashimi that had baby Evie trying to dive in headfirst from her mum's lap. I felt the same way. I possibly overdosed at this stage and on the yakitori, as by the time the noodles appeared I was bursting (though still had room for mochi at the end obvs). Our waitress was a model of patience, despite our indecisiveness over who wanted the champers and our very slow eating speed given the distractions of the gorgeous baby getting passed around. She also ensured no one's glass was ever more than half-empty and even gave us a heads up when our 2hr unlimited bubbles time was almost up so we could squeeze in an extra round. What a star. Lessons learned: 1) don't hype up a menu 6mths in advance, 2) champagne is always the right choice, and 3) consider accessorising with a baby more often... read more

i love the restaurant in this place lovely decor great food and great service always a pleasure to come back to the restaurant!! give you 5 stars because the restaurant is that good!!! never mind the bar, maybe they have different managers.. at the bar theres only 1, sometimes you can wait up to 30 minutes for a drink when busy and the crowd can be a bit chavtastic' sorry just being honest.. some of the waitress that go around the tables give you attitude.. oh well been there enough times.. thats why i only like going to the restaurant. read more

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What a shame and what a disappointment. Came here for dinner before Steve Hackett at the Paladium. Very expensive but exquisute Japanese food served beautifully in lovely surroundings but..... not enjoyable as very noisy and people on next table roudy and appeared to be just drinking and not eating in what I thought was a restaurant? I nearly got up and said something but thought better of it. I think you need to sort out what you are trying to be - a bar with food (so please not £100 a head) or a classy restaurant with diners only. read more