Guanabara

Smileysusan

great night out (midweek) 2nd July 2009

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Best night here is Thursday.Don't be fooled into thinking Fri and Sat nights are best as it does get very very busy and the dancefloor gets way too cramped for my liking!

Go midweek any night and they do free samba classes, and we even got free cocktails from people in the street giving out flyers! and it's free to get in! result!

Tip to eat - try their warm cheesebread soooo yummy!

sunshinebubble

Wasn't impressed... 13th June 2009

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It was very chaotic and extremely loud (not so much with music as we would have expected, but with a cacophony of irritating background noise). The bar staff were arrogant and you really have to watch your drinks. I turned my back and got my bottle of wine thrown away. Well, I say throw, but a friend actually saw the barman pour the remainder of the bottle into a silo of other dregs to be later served as a glass of house wine to someone else. Nice. When I asked the barman if he had seen my bottle, he shrugged and gave a kind of weird, sarcastic smile. Later on, three or four of us in our group had another round of drinks cleared away by our slower- than- average waitress and at that point, we just lost the will to continue the night any further. When drinks cost 7 quid a pop and keep getting thrown away, it gets really old after a while…

That aside, it’s probably a good place if you're the type of person who downs a drink and hits the dance floor immediately, but then, even the dance floor is small. Food was nice, but was expensive considering the sloppy service and noisy school canteen ambiance.

ben1982

Flawed latin flair 25th September 2008

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Live drums, samba, capoeira and table football are all good things, as are the happy hour caipirinhas - some of the best in london (and significantly cheaper). Set in a modern block reminiscent of a conference centre though makes the atmosphere a little sterile, preventing what could be a winning formula.

Rhydster

Brazilian vibe 22nd August 2008

1 found this helpful

Guanabara, named after a Brazilian river that's actually quite dirty, is fortunately more stylish.

The good: they regularly have a live Brazilian band and Brazilian dancers, which makes it more entertaining than a regular bar. Everyone is encouraged to dance on the invitingly situated central dancefloor, to range of Brazilian and latin beats, with a huge screen in the background showing most of Brazil's greatest stars.

It's free entry before 9pm, but try to get there even earlier to avoid a queue. The doormen are friendly and the staff inside take the Brazilian attitude to smile. Nicely decorated with many Brazilian dedications and a good number of lounge areas to relax around the dancefloor. They serve food as well.

The bad: cant think of any

lenalouise

salsa central 27th July 2008

2 found this helpful

I'd heard about this place from various people in the past and was intrigued as it sounded like fun. I met a date at covent garden with no plans on where to go. We were handed flyers for Guanabara with promises of a free drink so off we went.

We weren't impressed with our first impressions of the exterior but gave it a chance and wandered in. It felt like it used to be a cinema or a theatre so it was kinda weird in that way. When you get through the double doors to the main room, the atmosphere was such a big difference though! The music was blaring, there was a group of people dancing, having fun. It was great!

We made our way to the bar to claim our drinks. I ended up with a Mojito (one of my favs)so I was happy. It was kind of surreal walking into a bar like that sober when it's all in full flow but it's always nice to see people enjoying themselves, especially as it was people of all ages.

We didn't stay for very long, I think we were both secretly scared that we'd be spontaneously pulled onto the dancefloor! Tee hee. I didn't get a chance to sample the food but the menu looks interesting so maybe next time.

sls

Fabulous food, ambiance and drinks! 4th March 2008

2 found this helpful

I went to Guanabara while on vacation from New York and it rivals the bars/restaurants in Manhattan. The crowd was laid back, the music infectious, and the drinks will blow your mind! To top off the experience, the authentic Brazilian fare is a must. Would definitely return here on my next trip to the UK.

lululondres

Homesick first floor blues 25th December 2007

2 found this helpful

There's no place like this outside of Brasil London is bloody cold but the warmth of the English here helps where my layers do not.
The food is good I was told the chef when I asked was from the Copocabana Palace the music amazing the caipirinhas as good as Sao Paulo's Unique hotel.
It gets busy at the weekend my favourite night is Sunday with the duelling accordians twisting the forro dancers in very fast circles.
But why is there no dress code, guest list or VIP area so I get treated like everyone else even though back home they'd let me straight inside. Maybe that's why everyone is so friendly when I do get in.
I go back a lot because it feels like my second home.

tupinambah

29th July 2007

3 found this helpful

It is too busy and expensive drinks but it has a good selection (of drinks), music and decent food. It is also very central (next to Holborn and Covent Garden). It is a common meeting point for the expat community of Brazilians living in London

flashboy

27th July 2007

5 found this helpful

A nice funky place, especially if you get there earlier in the evening when it's less crowded and more relaxed. The happy hour cocktails are good value - they're tasty, although cocktail buffs might not appreciate the quality of the mixing, which is pretty crude. Downside is that it gets rammed very quickly, and that it's yet another place where they turn up the music far too early in the evening, cutting short any conversation you were having. But still, in the early evening it's a nice place for the post-work wind-down; later on, a very decent Latin American club.

qwghlm

27th July 2007

5 found this helpful

Gets very crowded these days but always great fun especially when live music is playing. Always good for cocktails and even the random Brazilian beers aren't half bad either. Weekends it can get a bit insane in terms of overcrowding, but on weekdays it's much more enjoyable.