Informal, lively and even exciting, Camino Canary Wharf, the sister site to the hugely popular King’s Cross original, chimes just as much for its atmosphere and decor as its rich food selection and extensive wine menu.

The Venue
For your first visit to Camino you will need patience and perseverance: this new bar is hard to find. The effort is worth it though, since Camino is located just by the Thames, with good views towards the City. The inside of the venue is visually appealing too: split between bar and dining area, the space is decorated in impactful Iberian style. Wire cages displaying earthenware, wooden boxes and colourful tins of products from the homeland are set dramatically against deep red walls and floors, a wood medley, bricks and painted tiles. The table football adds the last touch of personality to the place, which is rustic with attitude.

The Atmosphere
During good weather, Camino is gifted with a sizeable patio but the fiesta atmosphere is easily transferred indoors when it rains. As usual in Canary Wharf, suits set the scene dropping in anytime after office hours and Camino is guaranteed to be a big hit for office functions. However, the bar is already a favourite for those living locally as the atmosphere is bubbly with regular DJ sets and the occasional live band aiding the desire to be succinctly different from other venues in the area.

The Food
The open plan kitchen displays the fresh Spanish fare you can order. Naturally, it is tapas, with a wide range of grilled (£5-£24) and cured (£5) meats, fish (£5.25-£7.50), cheese (£4.75), salads (£2.50-£5.75) and veggie dishes (£2.75-£5). The selection is overwhelming at first so take your time while nibbling on incredibly tasty olives and extraordinary smoky bread.

If you are still undecided, a few handy platters (£16.50-£19.50) come to your rescue with an amazing selection of jamon (ham) and thinly sliced artisanal cheese. The tortilla (potato omelette) is a great staple, but experimenting is advised: the black rice with squid ink and cuttlefish and the tart sautéed potatoes dressed in spicy sauce are delicacies you should save space for. The same goes for dessert (£3.25-£5.50): the molten hot chocolate pudding is incredibly soft and it comes served with a surprising (in a good way) ginger ice-cream.

The Drink
Camino’s wine list has twelve whites, twenty reds and plenty of specialty bottles (glasses at £3.75-£9.25, carafes £7-£12.25, bottles £14-£58), so you are spoilt for choice, especially if you want to experiment with Andalusian Jerez sherry, dessert wine and liqueurs (£3.75-£14.75). There is even a section of rare bottles (£38-£290). As a rule of thumb, the rioja is an ideal match for meats while the Pedro Ximenez sherry is perfect with desserts.

They also serve cocktails (£5.50-£7.75), pitchers (£16.50-23.25), draught and bottled beers (£3.30-£3.90) and traditional ciders (£2.90-£3.30). And if it wasn’t clear yet, absolutely everything hails from Spain, with a staggering regional variety.

The Last Word
A superb selection of drinks and tapas and a vibrant venue make Camino’s latest venture in Canary Wharf a great place to spend the night. If you need to let loose after a hard day's work, this is the place to do it.

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