JuJu Chelsea (Bar, Club)

A multi award winning bar, JuJu has been named ‘Best DJ Bar’ at the London Club and Bar Awards 2012 and has previously been awarded ‘Outstanding Mixology’ and ‘Best New Bar’

On first impressions, Juju is all ‘look-but-don’t-touch’. Everything about the exterior of this uber trendy Kings Road joint screams ‘you’re not invited’, from the stern leviathans who guard the entrance, flanked by a couple of tiki torches, to the stunners strategically seated at the outdoor tables, cordoned off to remind the likes of you and me of our place in the universe.

OK, so I’m still working through some issues from my school days but seriously- Juju looks like the sort of place you’d expect to find Russian oligarchs discussing world domination while rouge lipped escorts stroke the skins of freshly killed mink. Or the obligatory footballer burning a fifty pound note (recession schmession- this is Chelsea, after all).

Still, it’s unfair to judge on appearances and I was determined to give it a chance. Only open since January and already the winner of Best New Bar at this year’s London Bar Awards, Juju has to be doing something right.

Inside, I was pleasantly surprised by the relaxed attitude. Yes, an air of pretentiousness dominates but this to be expected from any champagne bar within close proximity to Sloane Square. Ibiza-style lounge tunes accompany the gentle buzz of civilised chat and the clinking of champagne glasses. The staff are friendly and attentive without being in-your-face eager to please, allowing you to enjoy your evening in peace.

The hostesses are striking and leave little to the imagination in their minute dresses, but I saw few people complain. The all black interior (and exterior) however, is a tad oppressive and comes across a bit garish, rather than the effortlessly chic look I suspect the establishment was going for. This dark and mysterious vibe extends to the toilets, where ‘mood lighting’ is taken to the extreme. The loos are so dimly lit, aim might be something of an issue for male punters.

As for the clientele, it’s a mixed bunch. Slickly suited after work drinkers, middle-aged Northern women on a girls’ night out and on weekends, a stylish crowd of twenty-somethings.

Now to the important stuff. On food and drink, Juju really delivers. The impressive drinks menu offers a great choice of truly delicious wine and cocktails. I’m a mojito gal and have been less than impressed by the inferior mixology attempts in London. Nothing can beat the first mojito I ever I sipped in La Paz with its perfect measures of lime, mint and sugar, whipped up by a gorgeous Bolivian for a dollar and a kiss. But that’s a story for another time. My point is, the mojito can be hard to nail and this place got it spot on.

My friend, herself an aficionado of the Spring Punch, declared hers hands down the best she’s ever tasted. Her second one however smacked of alcohol rather than fresh raspberry puree, so the bar staff might want to work on consistency there. Prices were thoroughly reasonable considering the postcode and sheer quality- around £8 for a cocktail and £9 for a champagne cocktail.

The food is posh pub grub at its best, not the greasy British offerings you get in most bars. It’s delicious, healthy Asian cuisine, simply prepared using the freshest of ingredients. The steamed soya beans in Himalayan salt and wild pepper leaf ground beef with nuco cham sauce are particularly good. Portions are generous, giving you elegant sufficiency without that horrible bloated feeling that invariably comes after too many pints of lager and pork scratchings. The chef has chosen dishes to really compliment the drinks, ranging £2.50 to £8.50 per dish. Ideal for sharing.

Juju is a great place to celebrate a successful meeting or have a quiet catch up with friends (the VIP room holds up to 30 people and is ideal for a professional gathering). Though I’m told it attracts a hipster crowd at the weekend with new bands and DJs, I see it more as a venue to kick off the night, before moving on somewhere livelier. Definitely worth a visit, if only for the mojitos.
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