The Palm Royale

Adam Paurini and Ryan Simpson (Jungle Boy and Boston Sub) spent several months gutting the inside of 438 Church Street and kitting it out in a Cuban theme prior to opening The Palm Royale in early 2017.

The pair wanted to channel the vibrancy, history and colour of Cuban culture. There are palm trees, stuffed parrots and flamingos, but it feels contemporary – not crude – with bronze mirrors and architectural flourishes like the wood-panelled ceiling.

Dave Denton, who worked with Paurini and Simpson at Jungle Boy for three years, is in charge of the heavily rum-focused drinks menu, which features cocktails called The Cuban Missile Crisis, Suffering Bastard and El Presidente. But it’s not all rum.

There are some 350 bottles of spirits behind the bar. Beer Cuba, and Red Stripe from Jamaica, are on tap, as are Negronis and coconut Cuba Libres.

There’s an outdoor area designed in the style of a typical Cuban garden, which also doubles as a smoking room so you can suck down a genuine Cuban (or Dominican Republican) cigar between drinks.