Opening late November 2013, Chakana is a new Latin-pacific late night lounge bar and dance club brought to you by a young international team of foreign future stars. London-born Andrew Dax who’s well-established in the Ibiza scene, Italian party co-ordinator Corrado Mozzillo, and Argentinian curator Augusto Rossillo have been brought together by entertainment entrepreneur Nick House. The dynamic team have pulled together their skills to create a truly unique concept like no other in London – Chakana.
Meaning the ‘tree of life’ Chakana is an ancient Incan temple filled with mystic, wonder, rare artefacts and endless treasures. Sacred to the snake serpent, ruler of the underworld, Chakana’s rites comprise ancient shamanistic traditions passed down through the ages, including the revelation of knowledge through dancing, drinking of potions and the gathering of fellow believers known as the initiates. Intricate carvings of the snake serpent, puma and condor sit alongside depictions of the Chakana cross itself and a display of skulls lit eerily from within as a celebration of ancestral spirits.
Entertainment is inspired by Tarantino’s cult classic 1996 movie ‘From Dusk till Dawn’, and beautiful beings dance to deep house against a back drop of rich golds, reds and oranges whilst imposing winding tree roots grow downwards and envelope the ceiling, threatening to whisk revellers away. Snakeskin banquettes sit next to deep couches and old stools salvaged from abandoned drums and around them sit heavy wooden tables, chests and packing trunks. Carvings in stone and wood, featuring animals from ancient rainforests, can be made out by the light of flickering candles that drip wax from giant candelabras onto the deep-set stone floors.
The theatrical drinks are centre of stage at Chakana and Isaac Morrison has created a menu featuring the super foods of the Andes. Chia seeds, maca root, Inca berries and coca leaves are mixed with piscos, rare tequilas and dark rums and sample cocktails include the Peruvian flake, by Mike Butt, which muddles Coca leaves infused Pisco, lime and demera sugar and is served in a startling jaguar head. The Amazonian Bliss is made with pisco shaken with overproof rum, pear liqueur, lemon juice and aloe vera syrup. For big celebrations guests can order a huge machu picchu statue and groups can share the tree of life shots, with glasses carefully balanced on branches.
In this temple of pleasure guests embrace the ancient rituals of a lost mythical era and unite with initiates who have been brought together by their capacity for belief, surrender and total dedication to Chakana.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chakanalondon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chakanalondon
Instagram: @ChakanaClub
