Bar: Very well worn, but one of the most comfortable bars to sit at in London. Try to squeeze in the corner seats at the end of the bar. Very loud mariachi music or Gypsy Kings greatest hits comes as standard.
On offer: Predictable mexican/tex-mex fare: nachos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos etc. in the restaurant and guacamole with corn chips and jalapeno poppers at the bar. Cocktails, beer and of course, tequila.
What I had: More like what haven’t I had.
Verdict: Something of an institution. It’s been there since 1982 and still manages to keep a bit of that Mexican cantina atmosphere about it. Can get pretty rowdy on Thursday/Friday nights though and expect at least one annoyingly drunk tourist to lurch into you at some point. Still a great bar and the staff seem to know their stuff when it comes to tequila. Don’t go for the food, but do go for the very extensive selection of tequila and mezcal. You might even meet legendary Ron Cooper at the bar and spend the night being plied with his own brand mezcal until “your legs are taken away.”
5 Langley Street
Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JA
020 7379 7728
www.cafepacifico-laperla.com
