{"id":1638,"date":"2016-10-28T11:25:13","date_gmt":"2016-10-28T10:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/?p=1638"},"modified":"2016-10-28T11:25:47","modified_gmt":"2016-10-28T10:25:47","slug":"after-work-in-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/2016\/10\/28\/after-work-in-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"After work in Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"There\u2019s

There\u2019s nothing better than heading out for a post-work cocktail. At Barbara Ann you can do just that.<\/p><\/div>\n

Leaving work and unwinding<\/strong>, or \u2013 and this essentially amounts to the same thing \u2013 enjoying a nice cocktail, beer, wine or vermouth along with something tasty to eat is what the \u2018after work experience\u2019 is all about. Make a note of these addresses<\/strong>\u00a0and end the day with a well-deserved treat.<\/p>\n

\"The

The best rock and pop play in the background at Barbara Ann, located in the Las Salesas neighbourhood.<\/p><\/div>\n

You\u2019ll love Barbara Ann<\/strong> for the background music, with the best rock and roll and pop<\/strong>\u00a0of all time (and that\u2019s not just a catchy slogan for a radio ad); for its decoration and different atmospheres; for its tasty and outstanding food<\/strong> (the oxtail\u00a0bao buns, the tacos, the\u00a0pizzetas\u00a0and the salmon\u00a0sashimi\u00a0with wasabi\u00a0ice cream and seaweed\u00a0wakame are delicious); and, above all, for the fabulous cocktails<\/strong>\u00a0made by Bryan Norman<\/strong>. This new establishment in the Las Salesas<\/strong> neighbourhood<\/strong>, located at number 8 Calle Santa Teresa, invites you to enjoy the evening as well as the night (it\u2019s open until three in the morning). Its name is the title of a classic Beach Boys\u2019 song<\/strong> that\u2019s cheery, catchy and makes you want to get up and dance<\/strong>, which is something that happens from midnight on when the lights are dimmed and the classiest, most entertaining side of Barbara Ann shows its face, with a neon background that begs: Let\u2019s dance!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"


Barbara Ann\u2019s fabulous cocktails are signature drinks: they\u2019re designed by Bryan Norman.<\/p><\/div>\n

The secret to the place\u2019s magic<\/strong> lies in its decoration. Divided into two floors and zones, it boasts a spacious bar with tall chairs<\/strong>\u00a0for a quick and relaxed bite to eat, an area with low tables and a long velvet Chesterfield <\/strong>over which hang photos of rock and pop icons like David Bowie, and another bar where the cocktail team puts on a unique show. Let yourself be guided by Bryan\u2019s recommendations and try the Queen<\/strong>, the house cocktail; the Tiki, his favourite, which in one fell swoop will transport you to the southern seas; or one of his new creations \u2026 they\u2019re all amazing.<\/p>\n

\"El

El Padrino at the Only You Boutique Hotel is a gastrobar that has a tavern feel about it.<\/p><\/div>\n

At the\u00a0Only You Boutique Hotel Madrid<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Barquillo, 21)\u00a0you\u2019ll be able to choose the atmosphere and style that most appeals for your after work experience. The place couldn\u2019t be more visually appealing. It\u2019s located in a former 19th-century mansion<\/strong> and its interior design, created by L\u00e1zaro Rosa Viol\u00e1n, features thousands of little details and different styles. One of the most original is\u00a0El Padrino<\/strong>,\u00a0at one time a neighbourhood bookshop called Padrino which occupied the ground floor of the building. The shopfront, the sign and some book-lined shelves have been preserved.<\/p>\n

\"El

El Padrino is a very special place: it\u2019s located in a former bookshop.<\/p><\/div>\n

Now it\u2019s a gastrobar<\/strong> that\u2019s strongly reminiscent of a tavern, with the finest Iberian pork products, wines, cheeses, craft beers and preserves.\u00a0It offers a selection of light food on Tuesdays in true Italian style \u2013 Dolce Martedi <\/em><\/strong>(from 7pm to 10pm) \u2013 with a mini-buffet featuring Bologna mortadella, grissini breadsticks, truffle omelette, Milano salami, several vermouths and\u00a0Aperol Spritz<\/strong>: one part Aperol, two parts cava and an orange wedge on the rocks. If you prefer a nice mixed drink in a laid-back setting, at the British-style Cocktail Bar<\/strong> or the colonial Mediterranean-style Lounge<\/strong>\u00a0you\u2019ll find just what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"You

You likely need no directions to Puerta de Alcal\u00e1, an establishment that recently opened its doors.<\/p><\/div>\n

Puerta de Alcal\u00e1<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>opened its doors just a few weeks ago and it\u2019s quite literally right in front of one of Madrid\u2019s most emblematic monuments. Views of Puerta de Alcal\u00e1 gate, El Retiro Park<\/strong>\u00a0and the constant bustle of Madrid can be enjoyed from the terrace<\/strong>\u00a0(with parasols and heaters to make the most of any weather), which boasts an enviable location. It\u2019s open from breakfast to dinner, and every drink comes with a tapa<\/strong>\u00a0that\u2019s chosen to suit that particular moment: Galician shrimp or anchovies in summer; tapas made from stews in the winter. It has a dining room that can hold 50 diners as well as a private room downstairs, and next to the main bar there\u2019s another tapas bar that has a strawberry tree <\/strong>in the middle of it. The kitchen is helmed by Rafael Vaquero, and for the after work experience you can try some\u00a0very intriguing nibbles<\/strong> such as the octopus pizza, the oxtail croquettes or the carpaccio,\u00a0and burgers made from meat from La Finca cattle farm, with a side of Galician potatoes and Padr\u00f3n or Gernika peppers.<\/p>\n

\"Alberto

Alberto Rodr\u00edguez is behind the cocktails at Puerta de Alcal\u00e1 (Photo: Dani Cuevas. Plan Madrid).<\/p><\/div>\n

In the evening the bar is the most popular spot for after work drinks, with a carefully selected wine list<\/strong> that offers some real gems by the glass, as well as champagne, but the best thing to do is to describe your tastes to Alberto Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong> and let him surprise you with one of his cocktail creations (\u20ac10, \u20ac12 and \u20ac15): the Cosmopolitan Alcal\u00e1, with a hint of violet<\/strong>; the Pasi\u00f3n de Alcal\u00e1, with vodka and passion fruit adorned with edible flower petals; and the Green Velvet, a long shot of gin with a healthy twist in the form of fruits like kiwi, green apple and cucumber. There\u2019s a nice selection of bourbon and rum, and if you want to try something different and 100% Madrid in origin, ask for Monti gin, which is\u00a0Made in\u00a0Madrid<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"The

The cocktails of yesterday and today. Hermosos y Malditos has found the perfect home in the Totem Hotel lobby.<\/p><\/div>\n

Another recent arrival to Barrio de Salamanca is\u00a0Hermosos y Malditos<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(the Beautiful and the Damned), which breathes life into the lobby of the Totem Hotel <\/strong>(Hermosilla, 23). \u201cBeautiful\u201d is an apt description of the restaurant area, while \u201cdamned\u201d is a term that could jokingly be applied to the cocktail bar <\/strong>and the incredibly comfortable armchairs where guests can sit back and enjoy a nice mixed drink along with various snack food options. Behind this accursed bar is Fran Camino,<\/strong>\u00a0who has let his imagination run wild to put together a menu overflowing with signature cocktails that join the most classic of drinks \u2013Manhattan, Cosmopolitan, Gimlet \u2013 and all priced at \u20ac10. When evening falls the place takes on an atmosphere that begs customers to make the most of the night, with a lineup of DJs<\/strong>\u00a0featuring the best names on today\u2019s scene.<\/p>\n

\"A

A bite to eat and a great ambience is what awaits you at Tablafina in the NH Madrid Nacional.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you like cheese<\/strong> \u2013 if you\u2019re a true cheese lover \u2013 then this is the after work option for you.\u00a0<\/strong>Tablafina<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is located in the NH Madrid Nacional Hotel,\u00a0a stone\u2019s throw from Atocha station on Paseo del Prado. Inside you\u2019ll find one of the finest selections of cheese in Madrid, created by the brilliant\u00a0David Valverde,<\/strong> head waiter and cheese expert at the Santceloni<\/a>\u00a0restaurant (with two Michelin stars) and consultant for the chain\u2019s other hotels.<\/p>\n

\"Without

Without a doubt, cheese is the star attraction at Tablafina.<\/p><\/div>\n

A good plan would be to sample a platter featuring seven different varieties (some of which have been purchased at auctions) along with some very special wines or beers, handpicked by Santceloni sommelier David Robledo. You\u2019ll see some excellent sausages<\/strong> hanging behind the bar and you\u2019ll also find the finest preserves<\/strong>. As for the establishment\u2019s snack food options and tapas creations, I recommend you try the original calamari sandwich<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"And

And finally, a classic that always hits the spot: cocktails at the Dry Martini Bar in the Gran Meli\u00e1 F\u00e9nix Hotel<\/p><\/div>\n

Another enticing plan is to meet up and discover the new cocktails designed by master barman Javier de las Muelas<\/strong>\u00a0at the\u00a0Dry Martini Bar<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0Gran Meli\u00e1 F\u00e9nix Hotel\u00a0(Hermosilla, 2), next to Plaza de Col\u00f3n. You can choose from four different settings: the Coffee Corner, the Bar, the Cuatro Estaciones lounge and the Terrace. The Bar\u2019s 10-metre-long bar is nothing short of impressive. It serves the most classic of cocktails (you have to try the authentic De las Muelas Dry Martini; an electronic scoreboard keeps track of how many are served) as well as the\u00a0very latest creations<\/strong>. For the\u00a0autumn<\/strong> they\u2019ve just launched a series of five mixed drinks inspired by seasonal aromas like pumpkin, chestnuts, honey, truffles, berries and edible flowers. Two also come in a non-alcoholic version: Oto\u00f1al and Rainy Days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Leaving work and unwinding, or \u2013 and this essentially amounts to the same thing \u2013 enjoying a nice cocktail, beer, wine or vermouth along with something tasty to eat is what the \u2018after work experience\u2019 is all about. Make a note of these addresses\u00a0and end the day with a well-deserved treat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":1653,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[238,45,239],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1638"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1638"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1656,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1638\/revisions\/1656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}