Latin food, music and tropical cocktails in an exotic environment. Yes, believe it or not, you can get all of these in Leicester - in Las Iguanas.

The Venue
This Leicester outpost is a particularly nice outlet of the national chain. It's smaller than average but this helps it look busier and gives it more soul.

Different furniture is mixed together and it works surprisingly well. Straw chairs, dark armchairs made of bent bamboo, modern couches in woven fabric, stripy wood and tall chairs of different shapes and colours - it's all been thrown together to create a mish-mash that somehow works.

Private booths in front of the bar are joined together by a bent bench which stretches out like a ribbon. Orange light panels and retro arched standing lamps with fishbowl shades create a subdued lighting effect that makes Las Iguanas feel warm and cosy.

Dark wood covers the ceiling while mosaics and tiles of different sizes cover the floor. At the back, towards the dining area, there's a skylight and in parts the room looks like an exotic greenhouse thanks to a number of leafy plants.

With its warm decor, foreign foliage and the aroma of Latin food drifting from the kitchen, Las Iguanas brings a bit of sunshine to the Midlands.

The People
At lunch Las Iguanas is popular with people of all ages but it's dominated by twenty and and thirtysometings in the evenings. Some are well-heeled girls and guys wearing a special outfit for the night, but most are just dressed casually.

Many are couples but there are several groups of friends as well. The music is, predictably, Latin. The selection is very varied, though, and easy to enjoy.

The Food
There's a separate menu for lunch and dinner. Until 6.30pm everyday you can eat cheaply for £6.90 or £7.90 for two courses (add a glass of wine or a beer bottle for only £1.50), choosing from a selection of mains and a couple of starters.

During the same hours, you can pick from the tapas selection (£4.20 to £5.50 each, £12.60 for three or £21 for five). Pato Taquito is a chargrilled tortilla filled with shredded duck and caramelized onion with sweet chilli jam, while Bolinhos is a Brazilian-style fish, with potato and parsley fritters and hot chilli salsa. New Seviche, seared yellowfin tuna, salmon and crayfish in a fresh mango, ginger and citrus marinade, is also a flavour worth trying.

For dinner, you have a choice of main courses priced from £8.50 to £13.50. These include a selection of gourmet fajitas, enchilada, chilli con carne and chimichanga, which is crisp tortilla parcel served with salsa, guacamole and either meat or vegetables.

They also serve the Brazilian Moqueca, a coconut curry rich in exotic ingredients like sweet plantain and coconut farofa (£8.50 to £10.50) and Xinxim, lime chicken in creamy crayfish and peanut sauce. Fish dishes go for £10.50 to £13.50, and regional specialities are £8.90 to £18.50 and include the Puerto can Paella and the Cordero Asado, roast lamb rump. For something lighter, pick from the salads priced at £6.90 to £8.50 or the sides for £2.70.

The Drink
Las Iguanas is just as well-known as a bar as it is a restaurant. Cocktails are one of the main attractions and they're all inspired by Latin America but there are plenty of different flavours to choose from. The menu is quite a paradise for Mojito lovers.

You can choose from the Mojito Especial topped with Cava, the Berry Mojito with fresh blackberries and blueberries or the Spiced Mojito with spiced rum (all £5.50 to £5.90).

The selection of Caipirinhas is just as good. They serve a pomegranate version with pomegranate seeds and a tropical mix with fresh pineapple and Malibu. Within the classics (£4.20 to £5.90) you can pick Sangria, passion fruit Margarita, Pisco Sour and many others.

To make the deal cheaper, drop by during the happy hours (noon to 7.30pm) and lots of them are two for one.

The beer selection is also a paradise for those with Spanish tastes. They stock Cusquena, Brahma, Corona, Negra Modelo and San Miguel (£3 to £3.30). The wine list is just as interesting (£13 to £17.50 a bottle, £3.10 to £3.80 for a small glass, £4.40 to £5.40 for a large one). All the bottles are imported from Argentina, Chile, Spain and the less common Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico.

The Last Word
Las Iguanas is central, exotic and fulfils different eating and drinking needs in a perfectly designed location. You can't go wrong here.

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