Would you travel over 5,000 miles for a cocktail? Depends on who you are. For the throngs that flock to renowned bar Salmon Guru in Madrid, I’m sure there are quite a few. I definitely wouldn’t, but I just so happened to be in Madrid last month and there was no way I was going to miss giving it a try. The verdict? Grab your passport. It’s worth the flight alone.
When a bar or restaurant is bestowed a favorable spot on one of those media-friendly “Best of” lists you tend to wonder if they’re really all that great or if they’re just someone’s subjective (and, for all you know, paid for or previously pitched) selections. When I heard that Salmon Guru was deemed one of “The World’s 50 Best Bars” I walked in skeptical. How special could this unassuming-from-the-outside place be? And I left convinced. I was served the best cocktail I had ever had.
Tucked away down the tiny Calle de Echegaray (a side street not too far from the charming Plaza de Santa Ana) sits Salmon Guru. If you were just passing by in the daytime, its gold, glowing signage and dark metal shutters would seem almost more apt for a tacky jeweler than a tasteful cocktail lounge. But when those gates are open (from 5pm on daily, except Mondays), you are lured in by shimmering, back-lit bottles of booze—the real jewels of the evening—and glimpses of shadowy patrons behind zebra patterned curtains.
Inside you’re surrounded by an eclectic mix of neon, jewel tones, animal print, and whimsy. Beyond the impressive concoctions that their mixologists shake up, the glassware alone is worth checking out, and they also serve a small selection of tapas if you’re peckish. After thumbing through their amusingly illustrated cocktail menu (aka Prescripciones), choose your poison and prepare for delight when you see it arrive in a vessel shaped like a snail, a clenched fist, or even a raging bull.
I couldn’t resist ordering a “Little Hellboy”—pineapple-marinated rum, lemongrass, orange, strawberry, lemon juice, and simple syrup—served up in a hand-blown, glass bull with a flambéed piece of pineapple speared to its tail. Absolute. Cocktail. Perfection. Not too sweet, not too sour, perfectly balanced and nuanced. (Oh…and almost best of all, this potent nectar only cost €11. Take note all you, overrated and overpriced “best of” cocktail bars!)
Next time you’re in Madrid, get thirsty, go early, and treat yourself. Cheers!