Cafe Sol is a Mexican restaurant and bar in Clapham, serving a variety of Mexican food and cocktails.

The Venue
Cafe Sol is on the lower end of Clapham High Street, extremely easy to get to from both Clapham North and Clapham Common tube stations. From the outside, the venue has a real feel of being on holiday, painted in a sandstone orange with a matching awning. Inside the walls are a funky blast of coloured mosaics with one wall covered in black and white prints of various movie stars. There’s a TV but it’s situated high enough so that it’s not distracting. Latin beats are played into the restaurant and gradually get louder as the lights are dimmed as the evening progresses until, sometime after ten, the tables are cleared and Cafe Sol is transformed into a lively dance floor.

The Atmosphere
The staff are friendly and attentive; you’re greeted with enthusiasm and there’s no having to wait to catch a waiter’s eye when you’re ready to order. Staff are happy to explain anything on the menu and when it’s time to leave, you are bid farewell with the same warmth you were welcomed with. It can get quite busy, especially in the evenings, but the tables are spaced just far enough apart that you can have a private conversation yet still feel a part of the atmosphere. The long tables in the middle are ideal to cater for large parties, which the restaurant often has, adding to the friendly vibe.

The Food
The nachos are crunchy and the spicy topping warms your mouth, but be warned that as a starter its best to share between two, they are very generous with the portions, which is very welcome as so many Mexican restaurants seem to hold back with the guacamole and jalapenos. For a less filling starter, try the alligator, you’ll have plenty of room to spare afterwards and you can feign to be adventurous safe in the knowledge that it does in fact taste almost exactly like chicken.

The fajitas are very good. You’re given more than enough sauces and tortillas for the dish though they’re happy to provide more if you ask. The chicken and peppers are perfectly cooked, slightly blackened to add authenticity, but still moist and soft. It’s a fun dish and very hands on, however if you prefer something less messy there are plenty of other dishes to choose from, including salads for those counting calories.

The Drink
The drinks are the restaurant's only downfall. The cocktails menu boasts wonderful tequila-based cocktails but they’re unfortunately fairly bland and, in comparison to the food, not particularly cheap, either. Luckily the food and atmosphere make up for this tenfold and settling for a cold soft drink doesn’t seem so bad.

The Last Word
Cafe Sol is a friendly and inviting establishment. The food is well presented and filling and will set you back around £50 for two. It’s ideal for a fun evening out or just for a bite to eat before a night on the tiles.

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