Mo*vida

8-9 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF.
W: www.movida-club.com
E: dan@movida-london.com
T: 020 7734 3630

Reassuringly expensive

Review

Where is it?

You can walk to Mo*vida in a few minutes from Oxford Circus by following the street signs for the London Palladium. Located in the dramatic arched vaults beneath this theatreland landmark, you'll spot the velvet rope and earpiece-wearing door team before you arrive.

What's it like?

Recently refurbed, I can't say there's been a dramatic improvement. Mo*vida has never boasted exceptional surroundings, and I don't think redecorating has done much to change that in spite of a lengthy period of not trading during 2008 to accommodate the works. If you can make it past the obnoxious door team and part with £20 for the privilege, be aware that drinks are very expensive (infamous in fact, with £5,000 minimum spend on some VIP tables) and the servers are cocky enough to ask "What tip are you giving me?" but there's more to Mo*vida than all that. The atmosphere is fun-loving and frothy, with every star from Hollywood to Hollyoaks popping in over this venue's long history. A great music selection gets people on their feet, and top name DJ's make regular stop-offs here. I saw Jade Jagger playing herself with the Jezebels outfit not so long ago. The champagne list is longer than most Paris restaurants, and it's packed to the rafters with young, good-looking Londoners (god only knows how they afford it).

Why does Johnny Ikon love it?

Lots of us who hang around London clubland a lot have sneered at Mo*vida over the years, and yet we all end up here and we all enjoy ourselves. It simply is a fixture of our social scene, and you'll bump into a lot of people every time you come in here and that's why I still return.

Johnny recommends somewhere to eat before

	Scott's 20 Mount Street, W1K 2HE. London's finest, most long-established fine seafood dining
	Zuma 5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL. A sophisticated twist on contemporary Japanese dining
	Cipriani 23-25 Davies Street, W1K 3DE. This place is more about glamour than the food!
	J. Sheekey 28-32 St. Martin's Court, WC2N 4AL. The West End's most famous fish restaurant