Floridita is the go-to venue for all things Cuban, where you can dance, drink and eat all under one roof. It certainly packs in the crowds, but is this London Latin outpost trying to do too much?

The Venue
Located on the site of former Conran gastro palace Mezzo and evoking memories of Hemingway with its name, Floridita is a short walk from Piccadilly Circus or Tottenham Court Road tube stations on Wardour Street. It’s noisy and busy even from the outside, with bright neon signage and the usual crowd of Soho smokers. Once inside, the venue is divided into different areas for drinking and eating, and decorated in a cool, modern style with blacks, silvers and deep reds.

The Atmosphere
Floridita attracts a trendy crowd that tends to be slightly more sophisticated than the revellers at other nearby Soho venues. Typically late twenties to mid thirties, they’ve picked this place for good cocktails and unusual Buena Vista Social Club-esque music. What few of them will realise is that they’ll pay a £6 a head music charge to enjoy the live bands, which is frankly ridiculous and unwarranted in this kind of venue. The staff don’t help to justify this rip-off with their often snooty attitude, which is even more annoying given their frequently uninformed explanations of the menu and cocktail list. If you choose to come to Floridita then come with a fun crowd of friends who won’t balk at prices, because your night will be spoiled otherwise by the cover charges and unhelpful staff.

The Food
By trying to be all things Cuban to all men, the food at Floridita sometimes slips in standard and execution, so choose carefully if you want to enjoy good value food here. The cured ham appetiser is a case in point – don’t choose this! The most expensive option on the menu at around £13, the ham is quite dry and very salty, and the portion is along the lines of a small tapas plate, representing poor value. Better choices are made from the varied soup menu, the sweet corn and tiger prawn bisque is creamy and rich, and priced at around £8, which is typical of most other options on the starters menu.

There are some better value choices on the main course menu – although pricey at about £19, the suckling pig comes generously portioned and cooked to a crispy perfection. Crunchy on the outside, but moist and the very definition of succulent on the inside, you’ll be really glad you went for this. More disappointing is the red snapper with olives and tomatoes. Costing £17, the fish tastes overdone and chewy, while the sauce completely overpowers any fresh flavour it may once have had.

Desserts are the piece de resistance however – there’s a delicious lime cheesecake on offer, served with warm blueberries. The tart lime flavours are balanced well by the sweeter fruit compote, and it’s not too expensive at around £6.

One word of warning: the overwhelming din of the music runs in danger of spoiling the enjoyment of your food. As much as Cuban music needs to be loud and boisterous, there’s little chance of relaxed dinner conversation, and it may leave you and your guests feeling rather tense as you shout to be heard.

The Drink
Floridita pulls off its cocktails much more professionally than their food, with Daiquiris, Mojitos, and Cuba Libres by the bucketload. The best choice is the Mojito Criollo, made with Havana Club Blanco, mint, lime and sugar – it’s so sweet you may find it disappearing all too quickly. Cocktails are priced at a moderate £7.50 though, so you won’t object too much if you need to keep ordering more.

The Last Word
Floridita takes it all on with the brash confidence of South America, and it’s convincing a lot of people because it’s always packed. However, you’re better coming here to enjoy the great cocktails than the somewhat overpriced, mediocre food, and beware that discretionary music charge.

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