Sizzling Sunday Salsa

As the temperatures soar along the Costa, the best way to spend a day off is at one of the many beach bars dotted along the coast. If you want to try something different with some sexy salsa thrown in, the Rancho Cubano, beachside close to Pinomar, Marbella, is one of the top places to go on a Sunday. We went to celebrate a friend´s birthday last Sunday, and had a great time - well, we had a great time apart from the dire food on offer. The mojitos are fabulous, and at €5 a throw, are well priced for this part of the coast. To get in the mood, the drinks were flowing, and the platters of fresh fruit kept us all refreshed well into the evening (in fact the platters of fresh fruit would probably be your safest bet where the food is concerned), or eat before you go. The roast chicken was as hard as a table top, the chips were greasy and the mixed salad, well - do you really want to know? Put it this way, if you are not averse to slug type creatures, by all means order it. There enough said about the food. But being a birthday party our priorities were very much the music and mojitos, and both were superb. The live band play from around 5pm and once everyone has finished eating, the tables are cleared for dancing. There is something strangely sensual about tanned bodies in beachwear salsa dancing while the waves lap the shore behind the restaurant. The music was loud and the dancing was great fun. Even for those of us who are not natural dancers, you can´t resist joining in. Lasting for several hours, there is something distinctly sexy about sipping mojitos on the beach with a salsa band playing nearby. To get there (best to park on the approach road down to the beach and walk), from Calahonda, direction Marbella, exit the road at the English International College, and take first turn right through a very old and antequated tunnel - pip your horn a few times before entering. When you drive up the slope turn first right and first left. Then right down to the beach and the Ranchon Cubano is about 200 metres to the left of this.