London Hip restaurant
 

Hello,
we're coming to London in 2 weeks, and i would like some suggestions for a nice, trendy restaurant..
30something crowd, nice music and atmosphere and contemporary decor.
thanks!

In what price bracket?

Nobu in Berkeley St. is "hip' and "trendy" and has "contemporary decor" and you can't reserve for parties of less than six...so you just turn up! But then again, do you like Japanese(ish) food?

What cuisine?

wasnt there a thread a few weeks ago about an ice bar? An actual bar made entirely from ice...try searching for it.

The ice bar is off of Regent St. and you are only allowed to be in there for forty-five minutes, there's a restaurant attached, but it's known for the novelty of the ice bar.

I know this restaurant has been around for a while, but it was still pretty hip when we went last year, Hakkusan, has asian fare in a subterranean space.

We also had a nice meal at the Eastern Dining Room, don't know if it is hip at all, but it was good at the time.

Nobu Berkeley changed its reservation policy shortly before the New Year. They will now take reservations for parties smaller than six.

E&O in Notting Hill would work for you. Uber trendy (still) and great fusion food.

Asia de Cuba is another option. great for post theatre dining.

However, despite all this, I'd say go for either a traditional restaurant or a good "modern" one. Trendy just leaves voids, you expect a lot, and it's just a fad. Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's is good if you can get a table.

And a point to remember is that "trendy" wasn't born in London, minimalist interiors aren't a native product, that's much more Scandinavia and New York. So wanting something that's trendy and truly works in London is a little bit of an oxymoron of a concept. Rather like wanting a restaurant quality ready-meal from a supermarket, it's really not going to happen, you might come close to it, but you won't reach perfection.

Also, one should go to a restaurant for the food, not the decor. What's the point of something looking fantastic if the food's awful? I can think of oh so many examples of very well fitted out restaurants that serve food that just isn't there (too fussy, too rich, or the sort of thing a chef tastes a teaspoon of and doesn't think about having to eat the rest of it).

Conran does "trendy" and very good interiors, however, I'm not an huge fan of his menus.

You sound like you want "buzzy" places which you will soon find to be terribly tedious.

Look at www.toptable.co.uk. I live near London and have used it successfully.

Thanks for your replies!
Unfortunately we don't like japanese food!
m_kingdom i've been to london 2-3 times before so i'm not looking for something 'traditional' although i have to agree with you that many times food in 'trendy' places is not that good!
But we don't want to spend our night in London in some pub... that's why i make a research! :-)
I'll check the other restaurants you all suggested! Thanks!

The trendiest place in London is probably the Cow in Westbourne Grove - it's packed with celebs. It's run by Conran's son (poss grandson?) Tom Conran.

If you want footballers and boy band members you want Sugar Reef (or possibly Tiger Tiger). If you want Brit-pop people you want The Good Mixer in Camden. Yank popstars etc go to the Crown And Goose or Blakes in Camden (near the MTV building)

If you want actors and other luvvies - the Engineer in Primrose Hill is for you.

I would rather eat my own feet than be seen dead in any of them. But that's just my opinion.

David...for once I agree with you on that!

I hate "trendy" places. And it is interesting to note that people who are the actual trendsetters go to traditional (in some people's eyes) place...Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Pete Doherty all at Claridge's, etc. etc.

As for eating in pubs? I don't touch them "cristine" dear.

La Moss is a regular at the Westbourne in Westbourne Grove (which I will deign to enter). So is Doherty - although it looks like he may be off the scene for a while yet.....

How about the Cinnamon Club? Indian food. I really don't know if it would be considered trendy.

some quick suggestions--

amaya -- belgravia, "contemporary indian"

eight over eight -- chelsea, same owners as e&o, similar menu

firevault -- off of oxford street, light entirely by fireplaces, great booths with curtains for privacy

spoon -- at the sanderson hotel, has been described as a bit of miami in london

sketch -- the gallery downstairs is where you want to be though the upstairs is gorgeous (but more for a very special occasion--there was a marriage proposal near us when we were there)

harlem -- notting hill, great brunch, "soul food," the basement turns into a club at night

sophie's -- chelsea, fantastic steakhouse, buzzy bar, no reservations

"but more for a very special occasion--there was a marriage proposal near us when we were there"

How naff! That's the trouble with the types you get there, they think just going to a trendy place makes them trendy, it doesn't.

As for Spoon...pretentious, overpriced, awful. I never get why people simple like to pose when they're nobodies.

For the previous(ish) poster, the Cinnamon Club is superb, but thank god it's not trendy!

Only people who are "green" (as in naïve) think going to trendy places is trendy, those who know will go to places for fine food, fine drinks, and an ambience which isn't oh so over Hoxton.

Thanks again for the suggestions!
I'll check them out!
m_kingdom i'm not looking for trendy restaurants in order to 'become trendy' myself. I don't have such complexes!!
I'm looking for trendy, as a modern environment, nice music, and young people with good food and cocktails. I don't want to spend my evenings with 60something, and definitely not at touristic places.
Of course i don't want to go to snobbish places!

Sketch is mind-bogglingly expensive. I mean the sort of prices that make you want to cry like a girl

How high do the prices have to be to make you want to "cry like a boy?"

They have a main course for £95.00. That would do it for me.