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Bad first impressions always have the potential to over influence your opinion about something. It wouldn’t matter if Katie Price deflated her boobs by a couple more cup sizes, ditched the fake tan and became a UN goodwill ambassador, she’d still be tacky Jordan to most of us.
I feared that the rude doorman would have the same detrimental affect on my experience at Zebranos, Greek Street. He didn’t smile and he checked our bags as if we were entering an underground club in Brooklyn, NYC, not mainstream Soho, London. Greeting us as if we had just trodden a load of dog’s mess into his welcome matt, we hoped we'd fare better for the rest of the evening. In the bouncer's defence, it was an exceptionally cold night and standing with your face to the elements while merrymakers open and close the door more times than a fat kid asks for cake, can't be fun.
Luckily, our lukewarm reception was cancelled out by the demeanour of the bar staff, from the hostess and assistant manager who greeted us with typical professional smoothness to the friendly cloakroom attendants. My sister and I settled into a good catch up at our table moments after the waiting staff had taken our orders and recommended some cocktails. My sister went for the Deep Passion, while I went for a mojito. Unoriginal, I know, but my reckoning is if a bar can do a good mojito, then it can call itself a proper cocktail bar. My sister's came first and it was gorgeous: mixed with Vodka, passion fruit puree, raspberries, apple juice, passoa, lime juice and some other yummy bits. I was thinking I'd made a mistake when, like a slice of Havana on a tray, my mojito arrived, and it was equally delicious. Genc, Zebrano's general manager, explained that the bar's secret to perfect mojitos is to not crush up the mint.
Cheery Genc then went on to mention the cocktail classes they hold (only £39pp for an hour and half session with a two-course meal). If it means I can fill up a thermos of Deep Passion, then I'm there. Sis’s next cocktail was a less successful choice, an incredibly sweet lychee number, so I learnt from her mistake and copied her first order instead.
Time for some food and although Zebrano calls itself a 'bar restaurant club', don't be fooled by the length of the middle word, the onus is definitely on drinking and dancing. There is an a la carte and group parties might be tempted to order food but on a busy Friday night, we opted for some finger food instead. There was nothing wrong with the food that came out but there was nothing fantastic about it. I imagine the dim sum, chicken wings, kofta and wedges were simply nuked in a microwave then arranged on a sturdy white plate. But as mentioned already, this isn't Zebrano's main priority. Genc worked at popular nightclub, Funky Buddha, for five years and manager Sam comes from swanky Fitzrovian restaurant Hakkasan. He promises there's no hefty entrance fee, going up to a tenner max. "We are trying to bring that kind of vibe for a cheaper price to London," says Genc. Man, I love that name.
Red walls, pop art, and exposed brickwork aren't too try hard and Zebrano's three floors, fab cocktails and party-lite ambience mean it's a good choice for a fun, no fuss night out. Following in the high heeled footsteps of it's big sis Zebrano at Ganton Street, mini Zebrano has loud music, low lights, faux effect chandeliers, disco balls all screaming 'this is clubland' - just. Again, just as the food isn't Zebrano's main focus, the Soho venue would struggle to call itself a club, but its fun-hearted atmosphere has groups dancing even if they're not on the designated dance floor. Music is mainsteam and N Dubz and Taio Cruz (wow two zs in four words: impressive) aren’t to everyone's tastes.
This is the kind of place you'd come to with workmates: not too expensive and a compromise on varying music and going out tastes. Plus, its central location means it’s just as suitable for a couple of cheeky cocktails at the start of the night as it is for lairy dancing and Beyonce booty shaking at the end of a night.
Reviewed by Nathalie Bonney (Updated 31/01/2013)
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Zebrano Soho Address & Contact Details
Zebrano Soho Location Map & Nearby Venues
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Zebrano Soho Opening Hours
| Day |
Hours |
Day |
Hours |
| Monday |
12:00pm - 3:00am |
Tuesday |
12:00pm - 3:00am |
| Wednesday |
12:00pm - 3:00am |
Thursday |
12:00pm - 3:00am |
| Friday |
12:00pm - 3:00am |
Saturday |
12:00pm - 3:00am |
| Sunday |
12:00pm - 3:00am |
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