Brixton Space’s extraordinary décor will have certainly have raised eyebrows in this otherwise grey outpost of Brixton, close to the entrance of Brockwell Park. But its fusion tapas menu is equally deserving of your attention.

The Venue
Lit by a collection of outsized bare lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, and painted with colours that have more of a dash of Austin Powers about them, the restaurant jumps out at you from the row of off-licences and grocers that it shares Brixton Water Lane with. The dining room is equally intimate, with room for about 15 or so at the most.

The Atmosphere
In the day time it caters to mums and kids in search of coffee and cakes; the generously jammy Victoria sponge and moist Spanish custards are both specialities. Come the evening, a more nocturnal crowd aged 20-40 begins to arrive. They’re definitely fostering a convivial, community atmosphere, so don’t be surprised if your conversation spreads to the next table. There’s a soundtrack of relaxed, funky music but it’s kept down relatively low, making room for some laughter and good natured banter between regulars.

The Food
Pick and choose your way through the tapas menu, starting with organic bread with Spanish olive oil (£2.50) and olives (£2.50) or gazpacho soup, before moving onto more exotic fare such as herb-marinated chicken skewers (£5.50), Thai coconut, ginger and lemon grass prawns with thick, sticky coconut rice (£6) or the deliciously un-gourmet Polish speciality, Kabanos sausages served cold with gherkins (£3.50). For vegetarians, it’s hard to choose between the gnocchi salad with pesto (£4.50), beetroot and goat’s cheese salad (£4.50) and the pumpkin, mozzarella cheese and seed salad (£5.25), but the substantial chunks of gnocchi arguably edge it. And if you feel like returning to earth, there’s always a well stocked cheese board (£7.50), easily enough for three to share, or something from that day’s cake collection with your coffee.

The Drink
A carefully selected wine list complements the selection of spirits - the staff recommend a shot of cherry brandy to get going with - and cocktails behind the bar. Start with the Waimea Sauvignon Blanc (£16 per bottle), sharper than you’d imagine but definitely very alive, before switching to fruitier reds like the Gran Sasso Sangoviese from Tuscany (£15 per bottle) or the Decenio Rioja Crianza (£17 per bottle). You can even celebrate a special occasion with posh champagnes like Nicolas Feuillatte Rose (£34 per bottle) and the Lanson Black Label NV Champagne (£39 per bottle).

The Last Word
A welcome blaze of colour and personality, Brixton Space has plans to convert its cellar into a cinema and it deserves to quickly become a cultural and gastronomic hub in this corner of Brixton.

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