Canela Cafe

This is an absolutely charming little Portuguese place tucked away off the Seven Dial in Covent Garden. I usually go before or after dinner for a caipirinha (opt for the traditional lime) or a little custard tart with fresh mint tea. I recommend all the teas here - when they say ginger tea they mean fresh ginger, and when they say cinnamon tea you get a little twig infused in a cool transparent mug. They also have a good wine and food menu including my favourite Portuguese cheese bread. The cakes are huge so you can share between two or three.

Note you have to eat if you want to sit down on a Saturday night, which is understandable considering its super location and limited space. There are only a handful of tables here and you are likely to share one on a busy day. This is not unpleasant though.

Everything is a little on the pricier side compared with the average cafe/bar but I don't mind paying extra for the charming atmosphere. The ceilings are very high here with a chandelier hanging from it, and a large mirror on one of the walls and a large wine cabinet on another. There are a couple of tables outside on the street for the sunnier months.
Comment on this reader review

Maki
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 02, 2008