Sara In-Madrid

The Strongest Drinks in Dallas

In uptown Dallas, you normally can't avoid the throngs of overdressed girls being hit on by investment bankers. That's why the Loon is such a breath of fresh air (although when it's packed it might be more of a gasp of air) The bar is known for some of the stiffest drinks in town. THere are -- shocking! --seats, and people wearing jeans without desinger labels. Meet down-to-earth people, have actual conversations, and eat one of their famous burgers. Hey- at least you won't mind getting some on your t-shirt.

Sara In-Madrid lo descubrió en marzo de 2008

etiquetas: bars , drinks , food , hamburgers , nightlife

Mexican Food

First of all, this is the first Mexican place I’ve been to that gives you free chips and salsa right off the bat. (There might be more, but I haven’t found them.) Points in my book right away. La Taqueriá de Birrä has two locations; we went to the one in the secluded Plaza de la Comendadoras. It’s got a great terrace, lots of space and not too much noise.
The menu is huge; for starters there are four kinds of quesadillas and quesos alone. We’re not complaining, though. It’s nice to have a big selection.
We had a margarita to start, which was hand-shaken at our table (My friend is an ex-bartender, she assures me it was properly done.) It was really strong but had a smooth, sharp taste. There are also six different Mexican beers on the menu, if tequila isn’t your thing.
To start, we chose the quesadillas with flor de calabaza; I couldn’t actually taste the flor de calabaza because of all the melted cheese that oozed out. (Again, not complaining. I love cheese.)
We picked the tamales with pico de gallo and the enchiladas Rancheras with mole. (Entreés between €8-10). The tamales were perfect, and the presentation is cool; there are four, and each have a different little sauce on them which is then smothered by amazing pico de gallo. The chicken enchiladas with mole sauce were also really good – the mole was sweet but not spicy – but were covered in cheese, which even for me was a bit overwhelming.
For dessert, we wanted the fried platanos, but they were out. Good thing, though, because we might not have gotten to try the Georgina cake, the house specialty. It was amazing; a homemade light, fluffy cake layered with creamy lemon and drizzled with raspberry sauce. Amazing. We also had the crepes de cajeta, which were swimming in dulce de leche and very rich.
The portion sizes were perfect, and the place is lively and fun. It would be a great place to have a birthday or get-together (just not with all your Spanish friends if you don’t want to shell out for everyone’s dinner!)

etiquetas: food , malasaña , margaritas , mexican , nightlife , restaurants

The coolest hotel ever

The newest trend in Madrid is luxury hotels with groovy rooftop bars for beautiful-people. Book a night for a couple, a friend or your other half, and pretend you’re a high-roller for the evening. Each floor was designed by a different designer or architect, and you can take a virtual tour online before deciding which room you want to book. The top floor is a wraparound bar with some of the best views of the city you can find. So order some room service, watch cable and bask in the general decadence of your surroundings.

etiquetas: expensive , hotels , luxury , modern , nightlife

Supersonic is the place to go if you’re in search of the best indie, Britpop, new wave, and 80s music that Madrid has to offer. With old copies of Melody Maker on the walls, and all of your favourite guitar-based hits on the decks, it’s just like being in a British basement circa 1995. They’ve hosted many great bands including The Charlatans, Kaiser Chiefs, Mando Diao, The Sounds, and more. Great live shows, themed nights and a loud student vibe make it a small oasis to pass your nights in a blur.

etiquetas: argüelles , copas , dance , music , nightlife

The Best Mexican in Madrid

Now, I don’t want to brag, but I do know good Mexican food – I’m a Texan, after all. And El Alebrije is good Mexican food. You know the sensation (rarely found in Spanish cuisine) where your tongue and lips are numb and on fire at the same time? Well, El Alebrije delivers awesome dishes with as much spice as you can handle, plus mariachis on weekends. Stick with a margarita, because the 64-drink cocktail menu might induce decision-making panic. (Especially with names such as Perro Salteado and Vaca Voleando).

etiquetas: food , malasaña , margaritas , mexican , nightlife , restaurants

Babú, drinks and more

Here’s a novel idea: a bartender who serves you drinks based on your mood. Well, that’s the basic plan, anyway. And if that fails, there’s a cocktail list of more than 35 different drinks. Plus, with all those ingredients on hand, they can create a special drink just for you. Babú just opened its doors last month, and with all the cool details in the décor – a brilliant red bar, blue accents, black-and-white photographs and groovy lamps designed by Phillipe Starck – it’s the perfect place to impress a date. Plus, it won’t hurt your pocket; copas are just €5 and cocktails are €7.

etiquetas: clubs , copas , drinks , nightlife

This Club Rocks

Costello is great on Thursdays, try the upstairs lounge part for a chiller atmosphere and pretty people watching. Drinks aren't too expensive, and the music is good without being too loud. Downstairs, however, is another story. You feel a bit trapped in the dark, cavelike club, but get a few drinks in you and you'll be fine. The music is great: Britpop that gets even the shyest dancing. Check the website for live shows, it's a great place to see up-and-coming indie bands.

etiquetas: clubs , copas , music , nightlife , sol

The 'Berg might be the greatest bar in Columbia, which is full of fun spots for university students. It's full of tradition, and many MU alum think back fondly of memories of nights spent here (if they can remember...)
After it burned down in 2004, the rebuilt bar is better than ever. It's got a great terrace, cheap drinks, and the best Bloody Marys in town, not to mention a great brunch for football Saturdays.

Sara In-Madrid lo descubrió en marzo de 2008

etiquetas: bars , college , drinks , nightlife

Sunday Night Hotspot

If you're one of those who can't stop partying until you straggle into work on Monday morning with your club clothes still on, then try People for a Sunday evening fix. There's amazing house and electro music by Oscar de Rivera, Txetxu and Tony Mendéz in a cave setting, plus the place is jammed with people getting their groove on. It really gets going on Sunday evening, and is full early, meaning you can get to bed before the sun comes up!

Sara In-Madrid lo descubrió en febrero de 2008

etiquetas: clubs , nightlife , party

Step into La Negra Tomasa, and for a second, you’ll forget you’re in Madrid. The live Cuban music, waitresses garbed in traditional outfits and the unmistakable smell of delicious Cuban cuisine makes for an atmosphere much like any Havana restaurant. The food is great, the mojitos flow and the music doesn’t stop until 5.30am, so get your get your appetite ready and don’t forget those salsa moves you learned from Dirty Dancing.

etiquetas: cuban , food , international , nightlife , restaurants