Café Caribe

Welcome to Café Caribe, where the dress code is minimal, the musical exotica is optimal, and the vibe is positively tropical. Humorous and melodious in equal measure, the calypso narratives of the immortal Lord Kitchener made him the genre's most celebrated singer/songwriter — here, we get a big buzz from his "Bee's Melody." The Skatalites' "Guns of Navarone," kicking off our collection, is a lush moment of ska perfection, Africando Stern's "Yay Boy" offers a crisp fusion of urban salsa with both Cuban son and the African roots that started it all, and Cuban/Canadian Latin jazz star Alex Cuba rides waves of super-smooth, sexy brass through "Caballo." Get your Zouk on, in Next Steps.

Fancy a little more spice with your main course? Well, here's where our Café really starts to unveil its limitless supply of exciting flavours. With its unstoppable groove and kaleidoscopic array of musical influences, "Lanbi la brilé" showcases the powerful sound of Kassav' — leading practitioners of the zouk genre, which originated in the French West Indies and has a strong following in Quebec. The extended version of "Guantanamera" by Venezuela's Billo's Caracas Boys underscores the pervasive influence of Cuban music throughout the Americas, while Bahamian guitarist Joseph Spence adds an unexpected folkish flavour to proceedings with "Bimini Gal." Colombia's Joe Arroyo brings his heat, in Deep Cuts.

The Caribbean has spread its musical influence far and wide, spreading sonic heat and irresistible rhythm the world over. Joe Arroyo's Colombian hit "Te Quiero Mas" echoes the singer's infatuation with the Caribbean formats like soca and compas, and showcases the man's incredible energy and passion. We also recommend you check out the honeyed voice of former Kassav' member Jocelyne Béroard on "Vini Séré (Madousinay)," before sampling the talents of Cuban close harmony outfit Los Zafiros ("Bossa Cubana"), one of the most endearing vocal groups to come out of Latin America and an indispensable addition to our Café's menu.

Calypso, soca, and ska. Zouk, compas, and chutney. The islands and coasts of the Caribbean have generated some amazingly infectious music throughout the decades — and few other regions in the world come close in terms of sheer eclecticism, thanks to an incredible synthesis of native, African, Indian and European influences. At Café Caribe, we explore the musical connections that unite places like Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago with the sones and merengues from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. If you are unfamiliar with the works of Kassav', Lord Kitchener, Malavoi, or the Skatalites, get ready for the ride of a lifetime. The music on this list is sweet, soulful and sexy — and the doors of our Café are open 24/7.