Located just outside of Bethnal Green tube station is Chiringuito, a trendy rooftop bar. Chiringuito, which loosely translates to beach bar in Spanish has been opened since August 2018. It serves up everything from coffee to evening cocktails. The cuisine is inspired by Latino traditions and cuisines, so you can expect delicious food! Opened by Alex Dehayen, a local Bethnal Green resident for 14 years, this unique spot was once a public toilet! We spoke to some of the team of Chiringuito to find out some more!

Q: How did the owner, Alex Dehayen, come across the space? 

A: The owner lived around the corner and walked past the derelict toilet nearly every day for years. After much back and forth with the council, he persuaded them to let him lease it and turn it into something amazing that the whole community could enjoy.

Q: Can you give a little bit of background on the space? How hard was it to transform a toilet into the venue it is today? 

A: It took a lot of hard work! The place was an empty shell and everything had to be renovated. From putting in the windows, floor, kitchen, to creating the Roof Terrace, rewiring and plumbing. It took a lot longer than thought as well but everyone was so pleased with the finished result.

Q: Please speak about the design aspects of the venue? What are some unique touches? 

A: We have a peseta topped bar that was custom made, plus a beautiful mural covering one wall painted by an artist from Las Vegas.  

Q: Can you give an overview of the food and cocktail philosophy? 

A: We are Latino inspired so our menu is tapas, tacos and the likes. We are very proud of our cocktail offering which included classics and amazing creations from our bar team. We use local suppliers for our beers, ciders and bring in as much Spanish and Mexican influence into our spirit offering as possible.