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Hotel Xanadhu and Koobla restaurant and bar Ealing.

Has anyone tried the Xanandu Hotel with its Koobla restaurant and bar in Bond Street Ealing?  We've been past it several times and it doesn't seem to be busy or vibrant with customers and when we look into their lavish dining room, cocktail bar and coffee house it seems devoid of people and activity. Anybody tried the Xanadu?

Gerry Tan ● 4541d10 Comments

Yes I've used the bar a few times and it's very very nice but obviously not cheapThey've missed a trick with the eatery in my book; uber cool Japanese and Ealing don't really mix. A good old steak grille with prime cuts done with quality would've attracted more passing trade me thinksBut the bar is lovely but really does need a bit more layout planning and a few more people for atmosphere

Colin Goodman ● 4541d

Interesting, thanks Colin. I notice its an expensive hotel. Their bar serve Cichetti(similar to Spanish tapas, only Venetian) and their house plonk is £16 a bottle and a 140gm rib-eye steak burger is £18. That's way outa my price range is the Xanadhu Hotel.

Gerry Tan ● 4541d

I had a drink there with friends shortly after it opened & the wine was good. These are regular prices for bars in Ealing, comparable to The Grove for instance. The place was quiet, and with it being such a big room, that is a problem.They showed us around the rooms, which were boutique style but looked done on a budget to me.

Simon Bell ● 4541d

It's a nice bar but far too much space given over to eating. They're not doing very well according to staff I spoke to, but the owners who designed the layout, don't want to change it. From the outside it looks too dark and vast numbers of empty seats by the window isn't conducive to getting passing traffic.

Tom Brook ● 4539d

I've been to Koobla a few time for cocktails but never eaten there. I agree that there is too much space given over to eating and a seperate, cosier bar would entice more people. All the cocktails i've tried have been fantastic and the bar staff have always been really lovely.

Kelly Cornfield ● 4539d

Hi Gerry, I went to the Koobla bit for an Xmas meal in Dec (works outing type thing). The decor was smart and the food was a buffet-like arrangement with many dishes in an adjoining room decked out like a library from an Agatha Christie thriller. Food included roast chicken, beef, fish, new potatoes that was served from hot plates. About 4 different puddings. Some people are suspicious of too much choice but I enjoyed myself and we paid £20 a head (possibly a deal negotiated by someone and not a regular thing).

Rupa Huq ● 4535d

Glad you liked the Koobla Rupa - I've never been but it looks interesting though underused - I must try it sometime - I wish the hotel and bar/restaurant success.

Gerry Tan ● 4535d

Went a couple of times for drinks and food when it opened - both were good. Haven't been for some time since but would return (just not cheap, especially p once you factor in the babysitter!) Shame it's not doing better though; I would've thought Ealing could sustain somewhere at the higher end of the scale such as this.

Ian Burge ● 4534d

Strange isn't it that Ealing doesn't seem able to sustain high end restaurants in any number. Chiswick seems able to do so but Ealing, with its not too dissimilar demographics, struggles.

Sam Salisbury ● 4534d

I think Sam that Ealing folk are a notch down compared to our friends in Chiswick in the demographics scale, consequently more of them can easily find their ways through haute cuisine menus than we are able. I don't know really, but you're right, it is strange.

Gerry Tan ● 4534d