Fun and relaxed, Anexo tapas bar is perfect for an informal dinner with friends. With a sociable outdoor terrace, mythical decor and disco on the weekends – this Mediterranean bar is a taste of summer all year round.

The Venue
Anexo is spot on for starting a night on the town. Just a short walk from Farringdon and the heart of Clerkenwell, the location is both funky and practical. Immediately by the door there is round table, laden with cushions that would be great for a group. Lavished with swathes of cloth, Grecian columns, bunches of grapes and faux-fountains, the decor is very much inspired by Gaudi as well as Greek myths of decadence with a hint of forests and nature. A spiral, ivy-clad iron staircase leads upstairs to a second level for more secluded seating, a private bar and a dance floor for later into the night.

The Atmosphere
The clientele are mostly younger groups of friends. There are tables for couples as well as groups of eight or ten, so the restaurant is certainly set up for socialising. The atmosphere is light hearted and the service is efficient but informal. However, the restaurant does screen sports on seven TVs – so if that’s not your scene, make sure there’s not a big match on when you go. There’s also live music Thursdays, acoustic music every other Thursdays and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Food
A tapas menu showcases all the regular favourites (from £3.25 to £5.75), including: patatas bravas, Spanish tortilla, paella, chorizo in wine and croquettes, as well as specialities such as the spinach fritters, grilled calamari or tuna steak with pineapple salsa. The chorizo in wine is an enormous portion of smoky, rich chorizo sausage; each slice has the depth of red wine without being greasy as this dish often is. The grilled squid are also very good; chargrilled and crisp, the calamari is flavourful and perfectly cooked. The croquettes are slightly too big but deliciously gooey inside and served with an addictively lemony tomato salsa that complements the other dishes too. The patatas bravas are perhaps the only disappointing dish, too spicy without enough flavour or tomato sauce.

The restaurant also offers larger plates of salad (from £4.50), wraps and paninis (from £5.50) and fajitas (from £7.50). They also serve vegetable, meat or fish platters (from £8.50) which are great for sharing, served with salad and fries. Paella is available for a minimum of two people. The kitchen requires 25 minutes to prepare it but it’s worth the wait. The dish is slow cooked to bring out the flavour of the saffron rice, with seasonal vegetables, meat, fish, or a decadent mixture of all three (from £8.50).

If you have any space left for dessert, the list includes only two sponge cakes and two cheesecakes (all £3.75), plus cheese and a selection of ice cream. The Belgian Chocolate and Clotted Cheesecake is creamy without being too sickly but is a bit heavy after all the tapas. The Californian Carrot Cake with ice cream is a lighter option, with a springy texture and packed full of carrots.

The Drink
The six page drinks menu gives you a sense of the party atmosphere at Anexo. They have all the classic cocktails including fresh fruit daiquiris, Long Island Iced Tea, passion fruit martini and – of course – sangria (from £5.50). They also keep the bubbly flowing with Champagne cocktails by the jug (£24). The wine menu reflects the Mediterranean cuisine, with a Spanish house wine starting at £12.50 per bottle. The most expensive wine is £23, and prices start at £3.10 by the glass.

The Last Word
The decor is as vibrant and sociable as the food. Anexo is a mythic start for a night of Spanish styled dining, dancing and fiesta.

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