8/8 - The pop-up has now launched and we've updated the article with a gallery of pics.
Sadly we've never scraped together enough money for a trip to Japan to check out the Spring blossoms. On the bright side though the Hakkasan Group have done the next best thing and brought it to London. From 7th April to 19th May they'll be festooning Sake No Hana with cherry blossoms as part of a pop-up bar.
Sakura at Sake no Hana sounds like an absolute feast for the eyes. They're promising a "spectacular display of an abundance of pink cherry blossom enveloping the bar from floor to ceiling, entwining above and around guests". To add to the allure, Jo Malone blossom-scented candles will fill the room with their perfume. And while you're enjoying the heavenly flowers, you can also eat and drink in your surroundings with limited-edition cherry blossom sake cocktails, bento boxes and desserts.
Just look at the presentation they're planning - don't those blossom illustrated macarons (pictured) look just gorgeous? They'll be £1.60 each or £7 for a box of five. The Sakura Crystal Double-Layer Bento Box (right) will be served with a miso soup starter and features seven-spice chicken kuwayaki and spring salad with sesame dressing. The second sushi layer comprises salmon avocado, spicy tuna and California rolls, and chu-toro and salmon sashimi and the whole thing will cost £28.
For drinks you can try a range of cocktails including the Sakuratini Cocktail made with Maraschino cherry liqueur; sake, vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, lime, orange bitters (£10) or stay off the sauce with a Sakura Cherry Iced Tea - Marasca cherries, jasmine tea, lime (£5.50).
And if you really want to throw yourself into the whole thing, book a table for lunch on Saturday 26 April. At midday they'll hold “Kagami Biraki”, a Japanese ceremony which entails the lid of a sake barrel being broken open by a wooden mallet before the sake is served in traditional cups. This will be accompanied by Japanese Taiko drummers.
Sakura at Sake no Hana rums from 7 April - 19 May 2014 at 23 St. James’s Street, London SW1A 1HA. The bento box is only available at lunchtime but the cocktails and desserts are on offer at lunch and dinner.
