On the fifth floor of 240 Regent Street, there’s a fusion of two different cuisines in Aqua Nueva and Aqua Kyoto. The interior is art-deco with a bronze bull at the heart of the hall joining the two venues. The smell of Rioja wine is faint but fitting in the Spanish restaurant that’s decorated with crystal-drop chandeliers. In the summer nights, there’s a seated balcony holding a view overlooking the centre of the capital. Nueva holds an atmosphere that feels more bustling than the quieter sophistication of the Japanese restaurant in the next room. The menu consists of tapas, lavishly presented on grand silver platters, with other choices of riche-antipasto. Mains are not found on a standard Spanish menú del día, but served with tender meats and fresh bread baked in different types, and replenished throughout the meal. Aqua-spirit drinks are served in classic cocktail glasses at the bar, just after the exits of Nueva and Kyoto. This is an evening that would cost around £60 per person and it’s become a favourable haunt on the London social-circuit.
