Kumo Launches in Knightsbridge

Kumo means both ‘spider’, and ‘cloud’ in Japanese. This has something to do with an old Japanese story about a spider, a snake, the sun and some clouds. It’s rather a good yarn actually, but somewhat complicated if you’ve had more than one of Kumo’s heady cocktails.

At last night’s launch of Knightsbridge’s newest sushi haunt there were three distinctive cocktail choices with varying ingredients: vodka, fresh lemon juice, sugar and elderflower liqueur topped with aloe vera juice; Prosecco with a mix of pomegranate and guava liquer; and vanilla vodka, with pear juice and a dash of Acelora.

They were all interesting brews, and for the most part good; refreshing and not too strong on the alcohol. The rest of the menu, put together by cocktail impresario Douglas Ankrah, was equally decadent and diverse with a strong Japanese influence, as well as some old favourites.

The food was impressive too, with little delicious mouthfuls of salmon with ginger, avocado and crab sushi, wasabi chicken and some prawn bites. Consultant chef Nasa Laziri, formerly of Zuma (another Knightsbridge Japanese), has collaborated with resident Chef Yuka Aoyama, formerly of Mayfair’s Nobu, to deliver what looks like a perfect bar menu, and one that would be great for private parties.

The place was buzzing. The invite promised the ‘in’ crowd, and they were there, smouldering and fabulous amongst the classic, Japanese-influenced décor. The bar was something to behold though. As my date commented: “I’m not sure I’d like to look at it for too long – it kind of makes me giddy.” A leafy wood-frieze-like bar was backlit with a verging-on-neon yellow glow. With the lighting and low-lit seating it worked, but I have to agree with el date, it was quite intense.

The rest of the bar, which was much smaller than one might imagine, had a warm, exclusive feel with low seating, black tables and minimal design. I’m not sure that ‘trendy’ is a trendy word anymore – but if it is, then this place fitted the bill. It was cool in a slightly obvious ‘Knightsbridge’ sort of way. A great place for a first date, a classy girl’s night out or a private function.

I liked Kumo a lot, it didn’t overdo it, except for the slightly crazy bar. It wasn’t pretentious and it managed to make you feel exclusive and special. Sadly that’s now a rare thing in London.