Cantaloupe London Review
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Cantaloupe was the first bar in the Shoreditch area when it opened in 1995. It is run by the people behind London’s Bunker, Alphabet, Vivo and The Fire Station. Despite its location, it isn’t overrun by Agyness Deyn haircuts, skinny jeans and Stabilo Boss highlighter pen make up. It is unintimidating and doesn’t try too hard.
With its deep red walls and low lighting, Cantaloupe is a great place to take a date. The music levels won’t have you shouting in their ear and the two-seater leather sofas mean you can move strategically closer if it’s all going well. Pretty orange lilies decorate the restaurant’s picnic benches balancing out the masculine metal ornaments and flat screen TVs. Arty-farty photo collages of South America cover selected walls reminding diners and drinkers of the inspiration behind the place.
The menu confirms Cantaloupe’s Latin American providence. Bar snacks in the form of Latin American street food and tapas are available for those not up to a big meal, while steaks, Moqueca (a Brazilian casserole) and Carbonada Criolla (an Argentinian casserole) all feature on the restaurant menu. After much debate - the chargrilled sea trout with new potatoes, chorizo, capers and wild mushrooms nearly had me - I started with beef empaniditas (two triangular beef pastry cases) before taking on a rather sizeable, perfectly rare and extremely tender sirloin steak, as was recommended by our very friendly waiter, who seemed to know his stuff. My mate Liz chose the veggie empaniditas before getting stuck into Piquillo peppers stuffed with rice, mushrooms and Manchego cheese, proving that those not tempted by the meat and fish on the menu are still looked after.
We noted a helpfully signposted wine list containing numerous bottles from Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Our meal was accompanied by a sturdy bottle of Malbec, which stood up to the strong flavours of my steak. As well as a wide selection of beers (including Warsteiner, Amstel and Budvar) and spirits (all premium), a range of cocktails is also available. Liz raved about her Mojito which ‘had a kick and wasn’t too sweet’ while my Passion Fruit Collins tasted healthy enough to constitute one of my five a day.
Neither of us really needed a pudding but after a half-hour break (and some encouragement from our waiter), the menu got the better of us. Liz chose dark Peruvian chocolate mousse and pistachio ice cream, which was such a good combo that she said she’d like to have it at her wedding breakfast (she hasn’t found the groom yet). My cheesecake was a perfect size and came with a generous teaspoon of dulce de leche leaving me sleepily content.
Cantaloupe ticks a lot of boxes. It’s perfect for post-work beers, dates, birthday bashes and cocktails with friends – it even has a quiz night on Tuesdays. Don’t forget its food though as you’d be hard pushed to find a better, authentic and reasonably priced Latin American menu this side of the Atlantic.
Lucy Edge (22 07 2008)
Cantaloupe London Description
Being the very first Shoreditch bar, not only is Cantaloupe a big part of the area’s history, but also continues to be a popular spot throughout the week. The spacious and intricate layout of Cantaloupe provides a place for a delicious sit down meal at the restaurant as well as a place to relax as you sink into one of the many relaxing lounge couches. The smells of Cantaloupe’s delicious tapas and street food from the Mediterranean and Latin America encourages guests to satisfy their hunger at the restaurant, while the variety of drinks and lively bar guarantees a sure night of fun.
Cantaloupe’s bar design is the perfect setting for an after work drink or a night out with friends. The dim lighting allows the other senses to take in the atmosphere and to unwind, but don’t get too relaxed, because it is still bound to be an exciting time! The rustic wooden tables and bar gives the Cantaloupe design a vintage feel matching the bar’s history and its continuous popularity throughout the years. Nevertheless, Cantaloupe’s collection of music and people bring a new twist to the old classic style bar.
Cantaloupe Bar Hours:
Mon–Fri: 11am-Midnight
Sat: Noon-Midnight
Sun: Noon-11:30pm
Cantaloupe Restaurant Hours:
Mon–Fri: Noon-3pm & 6pm-11pm
Sat: 7pm-11pm
Sun: Sunday Brunch Only from Noon to 4pm
Check out the other Best Bars & Pubs in Shoreditch.
Customer Reviews for Cantaloupe
The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Cantaloupe.
“I like the variety of Cantaloupe. I like the big tables. I like the sound track. I like the creative thinking regarding the decor. I like the sexy people. I like that it's in Shoreditch. I like that all the cool people who work in Liverpool Street like it too. A decent range in drinks too.”
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Leigh, Tooting (7 months 8 days ago)
“speechless i dream of the steak, da foods second to none... Cantaloupe staff are cool happy people... look forward to eating there again.”
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Londoner, London (1 years 1 months 1 days ago)
“Been coming to this Shoreditch bar for years and when it first opened it was certainly one of the coolest bars in London. But alone with the whole area of Shoreditch, that edge has gone slightly, not to stay it's gone down hill, just it's not the same! Not sure how to put it but if you've been a regular to Shoreditch over the years you know what i mean....”
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ditch, London (1 years 1 months 17 days ago)
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