Okay, it’s not breaking any boundaries of cool, but this Shoreditch outpost of the Barrio chain, is certainly the most fun of the bunch and a handy stop on the High Street. Expect some sort of psychedelic Latino playground or a neon garden party and you won’t be disappointed. Think multi-coloured lights, pineapples, foliage and quirky things on the walls like wrestling masks and signs for fish punch. Nice.
If you’re feeling classy, head ‘Uptown’ to prop up the fancy marble bar, but if you want to get dirty on the dance floor then stop off ‘Downtown’ at the Favela. This is somewhere to get silly early-doors on Amigo Hour cocktails (£4.50 every day from 4pm to 8pm) and commandeer the happy-camper caravan with your crew for an ‘Alcoholiday’. Friday nights are super busy with your standard Shoreditch High Street crowd. Not for everyone, but perfect if you're on the pull.
Cocktails are on the sweet side, but they all come with a song suggestion – think Wham with Tropic Plunder – and ingredients that range from marzipan to fireworks. There’s a smoking backyard for nicotine hits and toilets that look like Brighton beach huts. Peckish? Pig out on the Mexican plates, which are all pretty good (especially the chicharrones).
This isn’t a date place, but if you happen to have one (like BarChick) hole up in the pagoda style booths and share the chocolate milkshake-style Rum Mocha Boca - it comes with a strong warning: ‘may result in scenes of a sexual nature.’ Fine by us.