If you want to mix things up a bit for this year’s Christmas party, Zuaya might just be the place for you. This chic Latin American restaurant, tucked away just off Kensington High Street, is home to delicious and inventive tapas, exotic cocktails and its very own resident DJ. The interiors are pared-back yet vibrant, with plants dangling over the bar and cream-coloured furnishings. Thanks to the ambient sounds coming through the speakers and delicious aromas from the kitchen, you’ll be transported instantly out of London for your festive dinner or party.
Boasting spaces of various sizes, Zuaya is a versatile venue for Christmas parties. For an intimate festive meal, the private dining room can host up to 10 guests around a single table. This works extremely well with the menu here, which is meant to be shared. Travelling downstairs, meanwhile, you’ll find the basement. This is the perfect space for a smaller drinks reception or party, able to seat up to 55 guests or host up to 70 standing. There is also a small outside area under an awning, ideal for a bit of mingling before the main event. Finally, the restaurant can also be hired in its entirety. This allows an impressive 90 guests for a sit-down meal or up to 120 for a standing reception.
The food at Zuaya elegantly blends ideas from all over Latin America, including Brazil, Peru and Mexico. As such, you’ll find an interesting mixture of tapas, petiscos and nikkei dishes. Set menus are available, priced reasonably and with two or three options per course. Here, you might find a corn cake with burrata or croqueta of the day to start, perhaps followed by an Iberian pork and butternut squash dish, doused with salsa verde. Your dessert might then be a dulce de leche flan or passion fruit creme brulee.