It’s a long way from Bahrain to Bogotá, but the Gulf Hotel’s game attempt at infusing the Kingdom with a bit of Latino lustre bridges the great divide in surprisingly convincing fashion. Much of the credit for this has to go to the Colombian house band. Veterans of the Middle East bar scene will be well aware of the surplus of taste-free talent masquerading as entertainment, but the combo here are a refreshing alternative to the ever-popular, cheesy coverbands found elsewhere.

With the band knocking out a succession of sultry Latin grooves, it’s no surprise that the clientele appears to be dominated by couples and the low lighting and understated colonial feel of the decor enhance the amorous atmosphere even further. There are some drawbacks – drinks are expensive and aficionados of South American staples such as Mojitos and Caprinhas will likely balk at the unavailability of crushed ice – but these fail to detract from an overall experience that ticks most of the right boxes in such exuberant fashion.