Alma De Cuba is a spectacularly visual bar and restaurant in Liverpool city centre. With gospel choirs, a jam-packed diary of events and stunning decor this is the place to go if you are looking for the wow factor.

The Venue
Alma De Cuba is a city centre bar which you may well walk past without realising it is there. It is situated in an old church, St Peter’s, which dates back to the late 1700s and the white stone exterior remains as it was with the exception of the terraced outdoor/smoking area which has been built to the right.

When you enter the bar you're immediately bowled over by the beautiful interior. Although the church has been converted, the original structure also remains intact. With stone walls, tall pillars, high ceilings, religious paintings, stained-glass windows, Latin phrases on the walls and, most spectacularly, the altar still intact, the religious clientele may find it strange to be ordering alcohol in such a place.

The groundfloor houses the bar area with the restaurant upstairs. The bar itself is quite dark with what seems like hundred of candles everywhere – on tables, on stands on the altar and in chandeliers. Not only is this effective in bringing light to a building with no windows downstairs, it also enhances the religious feeling of the bar.

The large bar is directly in front of you when you walk in and splits the bar area into two. There are lots of different seating areas downstairs; bar stools at the bar, booths to the left (intimate ones for two or bigger ones for larger groups) and large tables with benches on the other side of the bar.

There are also seats on the altar itself with comfy couches and seating providing a view across the whole bar. The altar also houses the entertainment during the week, from the gospel singers on a Sunday to the live bands on a Wednesday and Thursday.

The restaurant is reached via a winding stone staircase and presents another spectacular view as it overlooks the downstairs making it easy to dine and enjoy the entertainment. There's a feeling of richness and warmth with wooden tables, comfortable leather chairs, and a rich red colour scheme. There are also small lamps on the tables giving extra light to help diners read their menus.

Alma De Cuba has either live music during the week or a DJ at the weekend, has a distinct Latin feel and it is not unusual to see the patrons salsa dancing the night away.

A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon is at the Sunday service gospel brunch. The brunch is served from noon to 6pm with a Gospel Choir performing from 1pm to 5.30pm. This is definitely something to be seen and heard. Three gospel singers and musicians perform amazing soulful songs which are perfect for this venue. They do a number of sets which are interspersed with similar music from the DJ.

The People
Alma De Cuba draws a varied crowd depending on when you go. Weekend nights see people who are dressed to impress for a night of dancing and drinking. Ages range from early to mid twenties upwards. Different events attract those looking for entertainment to those looking to chill out and listen to some good music. The dress code is more relaxed during the day and of a week night.

This is also a great place to go on a date, especially if you are looking to impress someone on a first date. With a feeling of intimacy created surprisingly well in such a big venue you can hide away in one of the booths or mingle at the bar.

When you enter the bar you're greeted by the staff who are very welcoming. They know the drink and food menus well and are willing to make suggestions and offer alternatives. Their uniform is smart and all black.

The Food
Alma De Cuba has four different food menus which are served at different times during the day and week. There is a lunch menu, an a la carte menu, a tapas menu and the gospel brunch. Lunch is served from noon to 6pm and is reasonably priced with sandwiches starting from £6.50, salads from £7.95 and delicious sticky ribs and burgers ranging from £7.95 to £11.95.

Tapas is also served from noon until late, and offers a good choice of breads, potatoes, fish and meat dishes and vegetarian choices including olives, the spicy wasabi peas and tasty smoked paprika and sea salt roasted almonds. Prices vary from £1.95 to £4.25.

A la carte dining starts at 5pm and finishes at different times ranging from 10.30pm up to 11pm depending on the day. This menu leaves you spoilt for choice. Salads and main courses range in price from £7.95 for a papaya, watermelon and goats cheese salad to £22.95 for chargrilled 8oz 21-day British fillet steak.

Vegetarian meals are also plentiful and include massaman Thai vegetable and paneer curry and crushed chickpea and roast vegetable fritters. Dessert lovers will also be impressed with dishes such as warm cinnamon donuts and the amazing crushed sticky meringue with fresh lemon curd and crumbled chocolate brownie.

The gospel brunch offer full English breakfast at £8.95 or a Spanish omelette at £6.95. Saute potato, chorizo and confit onion omelette is delicious and filling and gives you the opportunity to sample some Spanish cuisine. The traditional Sunday Roast is also a good choice at £9.95 for chicken or £12.95 for beef.

The Drink
Much thought has obviously gone into this with drinks sections given titles such as ‘The Soul of Bubbles’ ‘The Soul of Rum’ and ‘The Soul of the Rest of the World’. There is also a section entitled ‘The 10 Commandments’ which gives instructions to customers such as ‘Thou shalt not be surprised or upset at the cost of a double vodka Red Bull…a cocktail is much better for the soul anyway…’ and ‘Love Thy Neighbour. He may be loaded.’ It is touches like this that make this bar so special.

The drinks list (when you eventually get to it) is impressive with an explanation of how they made their choices. Traditional cocktails (priced between £5 and £6) sit alongside Alma De Cuba specials such as Captain Danny’s Punchbowl which has five spirits mixed with juice and fruit and serves four to six people at a cost of £30.

Champagne (Alma De Bubbles) varies from £6.50 for a glass of the house Bouche Pere Et Fils to £280 for a bottle of Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque. Wine, beer and spirits are priced at levels you would expect to pay at a classy city centre bar starting at approximately £3.50 for a glass and bottles of wine starting at around £15 and spirits by the bottle starting from £80.

Hot drinks and soft drinks are also available with original choices such as the Sleepy Head (hot milk, honey and nutmeg) and the Bounty(hot milk, coconut cream and chocolate).

And the drinks also come with a guide, so a Tomato and Rocket Martini (fresh cherry tomoatoes, fresh rocket leaves, vodka, sugar syrup and cracked black pepper) is recommended as an aperitif or La Bonita Fin (Cherry marnier, Limoncello and Martini Rosso) as a digestif.

The Last Word
Alma De Cuba is a wonderful drinking and dining experience. A bar and restaurant like no other, it will take one visit to be impressed by the magnificent venue and many more to enjoy the different drinks, food and entertainment on offer. It is definitely a place that leaves you wanting to return for more.

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