Latin Square Restaurant & Havana Bar (Farringdon, London) review on Fluid Eating

Latin Square Restaurant & Havana Bar Overview

Latin Square describes itself as a Restaurant and Havana Bar – so Cubans all round then? I was meeting a group of friends post work for a drink and gossip with no clear drinking or eating agenda; intention is everything.

I got to Latin Square around six thirty and was greeted by some blasting Latino beats; nothing outlandish in the catalogue, just the usual Ricky Martin and associated clones. This was no bad thing, as it was clear that I had arrived when the party was in full swing; spontaneous dancing was breaking out all over the bar area and during the course of the night even I with my refined dour disposition was dragged up to display my dancing talents (sadly I’m more Fred Flintstone than Astaire).

The bar section of Latin Square is a long room of exposed brickwork and Cuban themed prints top and tailed with seating areas; wooden tables at the entrance and cushioned benches for lounging at the back. The bar itself dominates one wall and although not serving anything draught, has a wide selection of bottled beers coming in at about £2.50 – very reasonable for the city - and several pages of cocktails ranging from the traditional to the adventurous. These are available in both glass - £4.50 – and pitcher form (for those whose livers know no fear).

The bar staff at Latin Square were excellent, even with the place rammed full of thirsty twenty and thirty somethings I never had to wait long to get my paws on my next drink.

Cocktails and beer naturally leads to the munchies (especially when the happy hour is between 5 and 8) and after a couple of hours our group were ready to gorge in the restaurant. There were a large variety of dishes available, we went for a chorizo heavy selection of tapas but there were main courses, desserts and a good choice of clearly marked vegetarian options. Service was fast, food delicious and portions large (given the state we were in, an important point). Prices were very reasonable; a tapas dish will put you back about the same as a bottle of beer.

As you can tell from the above, I really enjoyed my night in Farringdon Road’s Havana; nobody in our group even considered moving on. It says a lot for a bar’s atmosphere that when the music switched to a mix of eighties and nineties ‘classics’ mid-way through the evening, and the travesty that is ‘Agadoo’ was belted out, half the clientele immediately got up to go through the appropriate gyrations (and those in our group that followed suite, be assured, I am ashamed to know you). (Updated 04/07/2006)

Additional Info: Cocktails, Food, Disabled Access, DJ, Hire Available, Private Rooms, Cocktails Recommended, Food Recommended, Late License, Live Music, Children Allowed, Non-Smoking Area, Dancing License, Security

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