Forget all your problems and head down to Guanabara, a lively party venue with an irresistibly upbeat Brazilian atmosphere.

The Venue
The concrete walls of the New London Theatre are an unlikely location for this colourful and energetic venue and yet Guanabara can be found on the first floor. The sizzling Latin vibe is unleashed as soon as you pass the cold stairs and doors that lead upto the main space. The venue is large and focused around a central round dance floor with a stage and mirrored ceiling. Large wooden tables with simple matching benches are placed around the edges of the dance floor and on split levels. A dark, more sophisticated bar is the furthest point from the action but also the quietest area for a chat.

The Atmosphere
Guanabara is one of the most prominent Latin venues in London and it embodies the carnival atmosphere of Brazil. Most of the staff are, importantly, from the country, including the dancers who bring some Carioca carnival moves to the dance floor. The entertainment does not stop there: capoeira fighters impress with their incredible moves and hand balancing, live music is regularly showcased on the stage, and there are free salsa classes, too. Energetic, fun and unpretentious, the atmosphere is charged with the playfulness of Brazil: a truly uplifting experience for any gloomy night in London.

The Music
Expect an eclectic mix of Latin rhythms: the offering is diverse although it may not sound so to an untrained ear. Tuesdays see zumba classes taking over the dance floor with a mix of merenge, cumbia, salsa, samba and reggaeton, while Wednesdays are the time for samba lessons. On Fridays, a live band soothes with contemporary, danceable bossa nova - relaxed and playful, the sound is consistently good and you will find yourself singing while dancing as many songs are covers. Later on the dance floors gets hot and sweaty as DJs drop baile funk and party tunes.

The Food
The menu aims to showcase the diversity of Brazilian cuisine, as the urban cooking of Rio is remarkably different from that of the Amazon. Regardless of how knowledgeable you are on the subject, you are likely to find the food enjoyable although slightly less exotic than promised, with a couple of dishes looking particularly Anglicized. From the starters (£5-£6), the salt cod fish cakes are flavourful although a bit stodgy. The cassava chips with guava dip (£4.50), instead, are a great alternative to regular potato chips. Within the mains (£8-£24.50), the range on offer is indeed rather diverse, spanning traditional churrasco grilled meats, moqueca (a type of fish curry) and feijoada (bean stew). The moqueca capixaba (tiger fish with mixed seafood) is flavourful and rich and comes served with the exotic palm oil farofa, a toasted cassava flour that’s ideal for soaking up the flavour of the curry.

The Drink
Caipirinhas and moiitos (£6-£6.40) are the obvious choice of cocktails at Guanabara and they are indeed well executed and served with a variety of twists: from apple and vanilla mojito to lychee caipirinha. Other exotic favourites include Te-killa Mango (tequila, mango puree, vanilla sugar, orange juice and chilli) and several flavours of margarita. You can also order a traditional batida de coco (£7), served in a young coconut, or more conventional but not less exotic beers (£3.70). Pick from Brahma, Quilmes, Palma Louca and Corona. New world wine is also available.

The Last Word
Guanabara will get even shoe-gazers dancing; the Latin music and sun-kissed atmosphere are impossible to resist.

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