We met at Barrio Central on Poland Street - a Brazilian/Spanish/Cuban cocktail bar with a casual, fun feel about it. It was only 6.15pm when we got there, but all the tables were already taken and people were spilling out onto the warm street...populaaar!
Barrio Central is decorated in an eclectic Spanishy fiesta way, crossed with a beachy picnic vibe:
Happy hour was 4 til 8pm and a delicious selection of cocktails were all £4. I tried the "Hawai'N'dry" - an initially insanely sharp, citrussy cocktail in a classic Martini glass, but the more I drank the sweeter it became and eventually it was so tasty I had to have another one instead of broadening my Barrio cocktail experience. On the happy hour list were also a Mohito, Caipirinha and others.
Summary: excellent value for money, great setting and completely varied music!
From Barrio we strolled back down Poland Street and along Beak Street to Soho Pizzeria...
...a compact, crisp little Italian on the corner with Upper John Street. It was packed, but with good timing and luck a table became available within minutes.
We were seated in the middle of the restaurant in the hub of the action, but could clearly hear and see a great live jazz band that had claimed a corner and were tooting out jazz tunes for all the diners. Pizzas on the menu were extremely reasonable, but if you varied from the "norm" and went for pasta or salad they looked a little pricier (no more than £10 a dish though).
I went for a classic Margherita (£5.95ish) and spattered it with chilli oil and a few of a friend's unwanted olives - I really was living on the edge! Totally delicious and totally affordable, even on a budget.
A great evening out in Soho at two brilliantly lively places with a nice stroll in between.
Ciao!
