Restaurants

Dinners at this dark, glitzy Cuban theme-bar/ restaurant tend to involve a scrum of after-office boozers, curious tourists, and, from Thursday to Saturday, Floridita club members bagging the best tables. The rousing live music also makes conversation improbable. Wisest move is to accept the vibe, take a stool at the bar and dip into the tapas-style bar menu. Tasty cold bites include Brazilian cheesy bread, crispy pork skins and red snapper ceviche; there are equally appetising hot plates of suckling pig, crab croquettes and plantain fritter. These cost just £1.50 to £3 each. True, they’re more comfort food than haute cuisine, but they make great accompaniments to the icy beers and top-notch cocktails. Larger mains include decent burgers, mozzarella and aubergine quesadilla (with a nice basil kick) and a crisp salad tossed with oranges and palm hearts. If you’d prefer something closer to what you’d find at the original Floridita in Havana, opt for the lobster l’armoricaine on the pricey à la carte menu. Desserts are the most exotic part; fancy an Amazonian palm berry and banana sorbet? It’s delicious. Floridita doesn’t quite work, but it makes a good alternative to the pub and is always lively.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008