If sister restaurant Como Garden, is a homage to the flora and flavours of Lake Como, right next door, Zuaya takes visitors into the jungles of Latin America. The tapas-style restaurant draws on influences from Brazil, Peru and Mexico and is designed to share. Having been bowled over by Como Garden, we wanted to check if the dishes at Zuaya were worth sharing, you know…just to be sure.

Walking in past the inviting outside patio, the interior of Zuaya is adorned with foliage hanging from the ceiling, quirky monkey lamps, feathered lampshades and a glossy bar. It feels like a cabaret in the amazon rainforest and we love it.

The menu is a collection of small to medium-sized fish, meat and vegetable tapas and a handful of sides. There are familiar options such as Fried Calamari, Empanadas and Croquetas, alongside more intriguing bites such as Seabass Ceviche with Wild Berries, Argentinian Sirloin with Chimichurri and Pork Belly Patacones with Coriander Aioli.

Our favourites included the delicate and sweet Tuna and Avocado Taco packed with flavour, and the deeply rich Lamb Taco, an eye-catching pink taco to maintain an element of cabaret in the menu. The Wagyu Beef Short Rib Bao was a sweet and sticky tastebud party encased in a fluffy pillow with a slight peppery kick. For something a bit fresher to accompany the rich flavours, we’d recommend the Quinoa Pomegranate Salad, the pomegranate takes centre stage in this sweet salad.

Our melty dessert had us melting in the middle as much as the pudding itself. The Chocolate Tart is like a delicious spongy volcano with a crunchy salted caramel hat, that when cracked, erupts is rich chocolatey lava down the sides, absolute heaven.

If you like the optionality of tapas and like to try a selection of different flavours, Zuaya brings something quite unique to the format and we genuinely loved every dish that emerged from the kitchen. So grab a friend or two and head down to Zuaya to share some flavour-packed Latin American Delights in an exotic indoor jungle.

Website: www.zuaya.co.uk

Written by Rick Hartley

Photography courtesy of Zuaya