Floridita London - CLOSED

On this site in 1964 a little known group called the Rolling Stones played at what was then Marquee Club. Much later came Mezzo, part of the then Sir Terence Conran's huge gastro-empire. This relatively new venture, modelled on Havana's famous Floridita bar and housed in the basement already appears something of an established institution.

From the ground floor tapas bar wide stairs descend to a huge bunker decorated in 80s shades of red, black and white. There's a 13 metre long bar and a stage, from which Latin American live music is performed.

Even with live langosta (lobster) imported weekly from Cuba, the food here is hardly authentic, but having tried the food in Cuba that's surely a good thing. The cocktails are much better, with excellent classic Daiquiris and imaginative modern twists all made by a superb bar team. On the negative side the lack of barstools and Bacardi (it is a Daiquiri bar after all) plus the door charge (even when the place is practically empty) continue to frustrate this Daiquiri lover. But couple of cocktails and all is forgiven.