Little did I know as I waited countless times at Laburnum Street bus stop in Kingsland Road that behind the yellow-rimmed door complete with telephone booth lies a hip subterranean cocktail bar, dishing up tapas till the early hours.

Hackney Gazette: La CabinaLa Cabina (Image: Archant)

As you’d expect “out East”, the dark, narrow basement of La Cabina is kitted out with an eclectic mix of clutter which could have been picked up from a scrap yard.

The stripped-back brick walls – interspersed with grungy wallpaper, leather chairs built into the chimney, silver-embossed ceiling and stained glass window room divider – all combine to give an overall uber trendy vibe.

The eclectic menu is dotted with British and European favourites, giving a distinctive twist on traditional tapas.

We worked up an appetite with the succulent homemade marinated manzanilla olives and marcona almonds, before tucking into the delicious 15-hour slow-cooked pork belly with crackling served with home made chip wedges and apple sauce.

Hackney Gazette: The scotch eggs at La CabinaThe scotch eggs at La Cabina (Image: Archant)

Grilled mackerel with sherry garlic and almond dressing on a beetroot apple and lettuce salad is just as good.

Braving the offal, I gave one of their most popular dishes a go, the Scotch eggs made with quail eggs and haggis, and was pleasantly surprised.

The only drawback is that veggies don’t have a huge choice, but it’s something they are apparently working on. My friend enjoyed the Guinness-infused Welsh rarebit, and the super-friendly and helpful staff whipped him up a mushroom dish off-menu.

Churros and chocolate for dessert should not be missed.

With its delectable cocktails and a revolving line-up of resident DJs playing till 5am at the weekend, La Cabina brings the enviable late-night culinary philosophy of Sevilla to Haggerston, offering a unique tapas experience without the time constraints usually associated with the London food scene.