Havana good time at Conran's

Sir Terence Conran's determined effort to bring a piece of Cuba to W1 doesn't stop at the much-trumpeted Floridita. A few doors down, there's now London's first branch of cigar bar La Casa Del Habano.

Cocking a snook at the lighting-up ban threatening our capital, this sophisticated bar is a shrine to the cigar, with a selection that outdoes the drinks menu. If you still can't find the perfect puff, a woman set up in the corner will hand-roll one to your specification.

Of course, such a venue inevitably attracts its fair share of overweight cigar snobs talking loudly about Isas, but the surroundings are pleasant enough to let you ignore this: the low lighting, dark wood, soft leather, cushion-strewn banquettes and black and orange colour scheme make this a calming spot.

The drinks help as well. Jorge, our Cuban barman, is keen to promote a new wave of Cuban cocktails and to move away from the clichè of the classic mojito. Certainly, if his mango and ginger daiquiri was anything to go by, he shouldn't have any problem flogging his new ideas. A pineapple and sage mojito, though, proved too herby to finish.

With a rather pitiful selection of tapas on offer - a small dish of roast salted almonds cost £3 - this is not a place in which you could while away a whole evening, however charming the waiting staff, but it's perfect as a restful pitstop - as long as you're not averse to cigar smoke.

100 Wardour Street W1. Tel: 020 7314 4001. Tube: Tottenham Court Road

La Casa del Habano
100 Wardour Street, W1