In 1996, Phil was 28 years old, with a wallet full of cash and an entourage of model girlfriends, who he enjoyed occasionally spraying with bottles of bubbly. Nowadays Phil likes to take his nephews out and tell them stories of his raucous evenings at the hottest party spot of the nineties: Buddha Bar. You’ll find him there on a Sunday now, for brunch, which has a much more international and family-oriented vibe than in his golden years.
With all the jetsetters having dried up, this hotel bar and restaurant had to reinvent itself to claw back custom. The decor is outdated but nonetheless impressive, with its endless decoration and imposing dining room overlooked by a giant golden Buddha. Vast family tables are set out for a bountiful banquet-style brunch. The service is simple and charming, and the food may not be incredible but there’s plenty of it: bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, roast beef, scrambled eggs, potatoes, charcuterie, sautéed noodles, grilled chicken, rice, prawns in coconut milk, fruit for dipping in the chocolate fountain, pancakes…the list goes on. At 4pm, Phil wanders home – certain that he will never lose his fondness of excess.
TRANSLATION: MEGAN CARNEGIE