Cubana

Takes forever to order drinks at this bar. Looks very dirty too. Didnt like the fact that the pint glasses were «cleaned» with a sponge from the sink. Disgusting.

We met friends at South Bank Centre for some hot cocoa with marshmallows (us girls) and beer (the boozy boys!). We hadn’t zeroed in on a restaurant and our friend P suggested going to Cubana. So we walked there and reached after I took a million photos of the wall graffiti en route.
In the dead of winter, Cubana brought in so much warmth! We struggled to get a table. But the boys worked their charm and got us seated.
Between the four of us, I think we tried everything on the cocktail list! I loved my caiprinhas. Food is good… but frankly, I wouldn’t give it much importance. The music and ambiance were my priority.
They open the dance floor after 10. Beautiful music and mood. The atmosphere takes over everything… all else will seem fantastic automatically.
Would love to go here again and again and again… anytime I am in the vicinity… actually, only if it’s evening.

Great little authentic Cuban place in the middle of one of London’s busiest areas. A gem for the authentic Mojitos and street style food. The live music adds to the ambiance and creates a uniqueness seldom found.

I really liked my experience at the Cubana. It’s a very colorful place, and you got to love the rifles on the wall (well, this is Cuba isn’t it).
From the outside, you can spot Cubana from afar considering the thought they put in their decoration. It’s lovely, it’s colorful, and it makes you want to come inside. I’ve been wanting to try it out for a while considering I live nearby and walk up to Waterloo station all the time but it’s often very busy.
Not surprising that it’s so busy when you see their happy hour offer on the cocktails (2 for one) and their dishes. I guess it’s classic Cuban food, not that I know anything about it, and it was good.
Service was helpful and fast.
And they had live music !

Good food, reasonably priced and an unexpected happy hour, overall an enjoyable and delicious weeknight dinner.
We made a reservation and we’re promptly shown to our table. There is a daily happy hour on from 4 – 7 pm with two for one drinks. The menu is not overly extensive but well thought out. There is a beef, chicken, pork, shrimp and veg option. I got the chicken and my friend the beef, both were really tasty. The desert list is also pretty slim. I tired the crème natilla, a bit unexpected but interesting.
Service was okay. We were given menus promptly and had to wave the waitress down to order but she was friendly and quick.
£50 for two, with drinks, main and dessert. I think I’ll be back.
I wish I worked closer… Apparently they do lunch boxes which are a steal!

I had a great time at Cubana. I went with a few friends on a Wednesday night and it was bustling! The prices are really great and I believe there was a happy hour that we totally abused (the margaritas were delicious and really hit the spot). We ordered some smaller plates to share and the one with chicken skewers, sweet potato and chorizo croquetas with plantains is beyond worth it! The mains came out and the pork is really tasty. We were too full for dessert, but all in all, had a good experience. The wait staff were nice but forgot one of my orders and I had to wait for it after my friends had already finished their meals. Make sure you get a reservation because it’s a bit chaotic in there — I couldn’t imagine getting a walk-​in table right away.

Horrendous experience. Waited for 20 mins and no one even bothered to come by our table to take orders. We decided to leave as there was no sign of anyone remotely interested in serving us (or at the least letting us know that there might be a slight delay). Not a word from the hostess either as she saw us leave. This restaurant clearly doesn’t care about service. Will definitely not be getting my business in the future.

Showed up tonight only to be greeted by a hostess who couldn’t care less. First words out of her mouth were «WE ARE COMPLETELY BOOKED!!». Then, 30 seconds later, miraculously, we were seated.
Things started to look up when we each decided on one of the 6 choices of entrée for dinner. Sadly, our decision was left solely to us as we were not served for another 18 – 20 minutes. We smiled patiently for the first 10, and then stared vehemently at any server passing by for the balance. We now know what the invisible man & woman must feel like.
We eventually left out of sheer frustration, realizing the futility of patience. Not a word from the unapologetic hostess. She’ll never have to worry about an occupied table on our account again!

From the first view of the outside of the restaurant you know that it’s a party sort of place. Known for its dance party in the evenings, it’s also a place to go for the happy hour buzz. Select cocktails are around £6 a glass or £17 a jug which is a good deal. They weren’t top notch but they tasted lovely.
We began with a starter platter. The sweet potato and chorizo croquettes were definitely the best of the trio. I had the slow roasted pork as my main. This was very good. The plantains were particularly done well.
We didn’t stay for the dancing but the vibe seems really fabulous. I’ll have to try it in the future.

Very good Cuban food. The Bistec (medium) is awesome. The chimichurri sauce is really good. Very popular with the young. Beware of long lines and a stretched staff.

Delicious food in an authentic, relaxed atmosphere. The chorizo tapas platter was amazing.
Good prices, especially during happy hour!

Quick review.
Food — OK, its reasonably priced and its a little yummy. Its not bad
Cocktails — there pina coladas are not great — its frustrating cos I really like a certain type — but these guys went for the icey version. I like the creamy real coconut milk version.
Happy hour is a good choice. They have outside seating and the staff have got a specific licence, so really hate you walking outside there designated zones — however they should consider what that means as they service too many people and there is nowhere else to go.
It high concept, good happy hour, nice food — i’d call it a bar with food —

Enjoyable food mains & yummy deserts well designed restaurant, nice selection of foods,
Bad points. environment was really loud so was difficult to talk to people on your table also only one bathroom

A very happy happy hour! They have great drink specials from 4 – 7, £6 for 2 mojitos, I believe. The food was tasty as well, but so slow. They told us it would be a 30 – 40 minute wait for food, but our food didn’t come for an hour and a half! If they didn’t have a great happy hour, I would have been angry! I’ll definitely be returning, but not on an empty stomach!

In the area for Alice’s Adventures Underground at Waterloo Vaults, we were looking for a quick drink to pass some time.
It being a sunny Friday in the early evening, Cubana was absolutely heaving outside! Needless to say, we couldn’t get a seat on the ‘terrace’ area, so headed inside to the bar and to scope out a seat. Unfortunately the majority of seating was reserved for eating, but someone directed us to a small drinking area behind the bar. This was not unlike sitting in someone’s living room, with a few leather couches and posters dotted around the walls.
We both had a margarita, quickly shaken up by the bartender, and at £6.50 for two (hello, happy hour!) this isn’t to be sniffed at — especially when considering usual London prices! The drinks were tasty, with a real sour kick, balanced out with the salt rim.
We had to leave due to heading to the theatre and, although considering popping back in on the way to the tube, it was even busier. Good to know about if you’re in the area, but wouldn’t make it a sole destination.

Nice place to go for drinks. They definitely know how to make good cocktails in Cubana. I had a fresh frozen smoothie of ripe guava blended with tropical fruit and juices, which tasted quite refreshing.
It gets busy in the evenings, we went on a Sunday evening and almost all the tables were taken. If you are planning to go for food, better book a table in advance.
I was pleased with lively music and colorful décor, portraits of Che, rifles and revolutionary flags hanging on the walls. The service was good too. Easy reach from Waterloo station, within 5 min walking.
There is a nice lounge terrace area outside, which would be good to sit at during the warmer evenings in the summer.

Happy Hour! Wonderful drinks! Great nibbles!
Walked by a zillion times, sometimes it looks busy, sometimes not. But lately more busy than not, a good sign!
So we popped in and had a great time, a nice crowd, helpful friendly service and it was just perfect, a great time.
Enjoy!

I love platanos and pulled pork — so this one is a winner. Vibrant vibe, great live music and very conveniently located both opposite The Old Vic and Waterloo Station. Prices are reasonable and they have an outstandingly good value Happy Hour. Only quip is the staff aren’t particularly friendly or accommodating but this is London after all!

We were looking forward to a fun night of dinner and live Latin American music. We got it, but it wasn’t quite what we were hoping for.
We made the latest possible dinner reservation, 9:30, hoping we would be well positioned to have a table to chill at once the live music started up. Unfortunately, we were only hurried through our meal faster, as they stack up all the tables and chairs to transition to club mode. That’s right, once it is club time, don’t expect to sit down for the rest of the night. There are not even any barstools, which is ridiculous when you consider people are dancing and might want to sit and rest a quick minute.
Anyway, the food. I had the ropa vieja, which was a little bland. My wife had the slow-​roasted pork and loved it. We ordered within minutes of sitting and had our food possibly less than 5, but not more than 10 minutes later. Service so fast it feels like the food has been sitting around all day waiting to be ordered. Uncomfortably fast. I didn’t feel as though my meal was cooked for me in response to my order. The server was friendly, but the speed of the service prohibited enjoyment of the restaurant. And that’s coming from an American, where you know we love our food fast! Perhaps my wife and I have grown to appreciate the European-​style restaurant experience during our two years living in England, but I think it was a bit impersonal even by American standards.
Then there was the «live music.» It was live in that there were people being paid to be there, but it was more like glorified karaōke. A woman in control of an iPad would select a song, and then her counterparts with bongos would beat along with the background music and sing. I was hoping for a Latin salsa band, but instead we got a chick with an iPad.
Still, the experience was a fun night out, so I can’t knock it too much, I’m just not sure we will go back.

It’s Monday and I survived. Celebratory cocktail time is completely in order! Meeting a friend by Waterloo she had never been here so what a great opportunity so close to the station.
We only had cocktails here, but if you came at 6ish when we did you could definitely score a table for food. And the menu looked pretty good at a glance. Fusion of the Latina vibe with some Cuban influence (apparently). I reserve the right to review this when I actually do eat here.
We knew we were onto a good thing when we turned up to happy hour (5pm — 7pm) and with free tables for bar drinkers only. We grabbed a cheeky table down some steps amidst the vibrant coloured walls and stocked up on cocktails before the deal ran out. Mojitos, not good. Strawberry daiquiri, much better. The problem is how can you really complain at 2 for £6?
However after the deals were over we treated ourselves to full price caipirinha (£6.50) and this was WELL worth the money! Now this is my favourite cocktail so if I approve it is worth approving ;) great texture in the muddled sugar and good flavour balance. Tempted to try food next time, make a light of it

Me gusta este sito y no porque el lugar en sí sea bonito o porque sirvan bien de comer (que desconozco porque aún no he podido ir a comer o cenar allí). Me gusta porque siempre hay muy buen ambiente, hay música en directo, se habla español y la fiesta dura hasta las tres de la mañana, que para ser Londres, está fenomenal.
Las dos veces que he estado ahí de copas con amigos, han sido noches de diversión garantizada y mucha de la culpa la ha tenido el lugar.
Me gusta el ambiente que hay, el ron que sirven y la simpatía de los camareros además del buen rollo que han demostrado los clientes.
La próxima vez si puedo probaré la comida.

Ce bar est vraiment une perle. Même les cubains le disent! La peinture murale de la belle danseuse de salsa annonce déjà la couleur. Le week-​end, les anglais forment des groupes à l’extérieur, clope au bec et verre à la main, tellement c’est fréquenté. A l’intérieur, on observe les murs aux couleurs vives, les photos du Che, le bar tout bleu, les tables en bois… On s’y croirait presque.
Les smoothies (à partir de £4) sont délicieux; j’avais l’impression de regoûter à la goyave telle que je l’avais découverte en Amérique latine. Au niveau des tapas, c’est bon également: empanadas (chaussons farcis), brochettes, judios y moros (riz blanc aux haricots noirs). J’ai testé le mi-​cuit de saumon au thon et au citron vert (£11) et c’était bien bon.

Ich war zwar bisher nur zweimal dort (weil ich nur zweimal in London war ;)) Aber ich würde jederzeit wieder hingehen — wunderbares essen, angenehmen Atmosphäre, zumindest tagsüber kann man dort super essen! Es gibt Tische die auf Plattformen stehen (Wendeltreppe inklusive) und der Service ist wirklich gut.
Für mich ein absolutes Must Go When in London! :)

Beau restaurant
Pour avoir été à Cuba je vous le dis, ce restaurant n’a rien de révolutionnaire ni de cubain malgré des photos du Che et de Castro. Des tapas hors de prix quasi 5 livres. Mais en point positif salsa avec un orchestre le week-​end.