No belly dancers here, just an intimate bar

This oddly-named bar is in Collingham Gardens, the boutique hotel in Karen.

Admittedly, depending on where you are coming from, you might find it too far off, driving all the way to Maasai West Road at night. Unless you are actually staying at the hotel, you might want to check it out on a Friday evening or an afternoon on the weekend.

As the name suggests, the place is all green garden. You will see numerous rabbits darting around on the green lawns. The hotel consists of five villas, with about 10 lounges in total. What folk do is hire out the lounges for small drink-ups.

The décor has a Victorian-feel, with a fireplace, large oil paintings and cushy rugs. I even saw a telephone that was over 20 years older than me. And it actually rang. These lounges are free of charge; all you have to do is call ahead and reserve.

But you can always sit at the Cuban Belly Bar. I don’t know why they call the bar that after giving the establishment an English name like Collingham. But what’s in a name?

The bar is set in the last very last villa at the end of the property. It opens into a swimming pool, where the last time I was there, a birthday party was in full swing. It’s a small bar.

The main bar has a few high seats, nice and intimate. Music is soft. The barman – Eric – is a phenomenal guy; quick on his feet and very engaging.

You could sit in the lounge area right outside the bar. It’s got a more laid-back feel, with deep-cushioned seats. There is more sitting area outside, near the pool and when it gets really cold; they will light up burners to keep your bones warm.

This bar isn’t for everyone. It’s very laid back and private. At any given time, there will only be a handful of people around, small groups out to have a quiet time.

It’s probably the best place to meet a business client if you want to thaw the ice or fix a problem because there are very few distractions and it’s serious enough to say what you would like to say without verbalising it. That you are a serious guy who wants to talk about serious stuff in a less serious environment.

The bar will most likely meet your drinks taste, which is to say you will find the well-known whiskies and brandies. If you want something more fancy, you might not find it.

Go for the peace on a Saturday afternoon. Maybe even for a birthday party. As long as you keep it down.