A rum with a view: Havana Club teams up with Jason Atherton
City Social’s multi-sensory desserts come with an espresso, a tot of rum - and a whiff of Havana in the evening
Where do you go when you’re hungry and tired and in need of a stiff refreshment?
The sophisticated answer is City Social, on the 24th floor of London’s Tower 42, where a new dessert combines the kick of a cocktail with the sweet embrace of afternoon tea.
Cuban Delights, as it’s known, is the result of a partnership between restaurateur Jason Atherton, rum-maker Havana Club 7 and perfumer Cecile Zarokian. The latter’s contribution is a card impregnated with Cuban Nights, a scent intended to evoke the easy glamour of Havana.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The desserts themselves arrive in a trio, described as bite-sized, but in practice each furnishing more than one forkful. The rum baba (four bites) is an obvious choice, delightfully executed, while the Turkish delight-like ‘pate de fruits’ (one big bite or two dainty ones) and buttery coconut financier (three bites) are more adventurous.
The recommendation is that you drink the rum as an accompaniment to the puddings, sipping espresso after each one to clear the palette. But regardless of the procedure, you’ll descend from City Social on a triple-high of alcohol, sugar and caffeine.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
6 homes for entertainingFeature Featuring a heated greenhouse in Pennsylvania and a glamorous oasis in California
-
Obesity drugs: Will Trump’s plan lower costs?Feature Even $149 a month, the advertised price for a starting dose of a still-in-development GLP-1 pill on TrumpRx, will be too big a burden for the many Americans ‘struggling to afford groceries’
-
The ‘Kavanaugh stop’Feature Activists say a Supreme Court ruling has given federal agents a green light to racially profile Latinos
-
Critics’ choice: Watering holes for gourmandsFeature An endless selection of Mexican spirits, a Dublin-inspired bar, and an upscale Baltimore pub
-
The Peninsula: London’s first billion-pound hotelThe Week Recommends As the capital’s super-luxury hotel scene continues to expand, the respected brand is still setting the standard
-
London’s best breakfasts and brunchesThe Week Recommends However you like your eggs in the morning, these memorable restaurants have you covered
-
Critics’ choice: Seafood in the spotlightFeature An experimental chef, a newspaper-worthy newcomer, and a dining titan’s fresh spin-off
-
The Mini-Mayfair package at Mandarin OrientalThe Week Recommends Keep the kids entertained with a family-friendly stay at one of London’s swankiest hotels
-
Southern barbecue: This year’s top threeFeature A weekend-only restaurant, a 90-year-old pitmaster, and more
-
Critics’ choice: Celebrating rare Asian cuisinesFeature The 2025 Restaurant of the Year, a Hmong culinary tribute, and an Uyghur feast
-
Critics’ choice: Three small yet magical Korean restaurantsFeature A chef creates magic from scallops, a restaurant’s no-waste ethos, and more