Sounds good!! I made a note!! Thank you.
Sadly, it closed this February.
I love these “time warp”, old fashioned, century-old bars, and it’s so sad to see them close because of a lack of interest or just inability in the children or other family members to keep them going.
A “time warp” from 1922, a very simple taberna in Santiago de Compostela, that I first visited, I think, in 1993, is “O Gato Negro” at the end of Rúa da Raína, the one with the green door.
O Gato Negro is the oldest tasca or taberna in the center, still going strong. When my late husband, a madrileño, and I visited way, way back then, the owner invited us to his home the next day!
It´s now run by the fifth generation.
It´s just one of those very traditional places that are slowly disappearing, sadly. It now has a Repsol solete, the distinction Repsol gives to these simple, no frills but solid eateries or bars that fly under the radar.
erica1,
This could be another long thread topic: “Steeped in history, “time warp”, century old bars in Spain”, like Madrid’s Casa Alberto, Casa Labra, Bodega La Ardosa, Taberna de Antonio Sánchez, Sevilla’s Hijos de Morales and El Rinconcillo, Cádiz’s Casa Manteca, etc.
Maribel that’s perfect!
I’ve placed O GATO NEGRO on my list; I’ll stop by during the day.
I think you’ve seen this, about 55 Pasos in La Coruna, and with mention of O PAZO:
IBAI made the 2025 “Europe Casual” list, but no comments about it on the site. I just noticed that the 2025 list is out so will take a good look soon…
Yes, I just read the 2025 list.
I´ve been to the newly reinvented Ibai, as my friend of more than 20 years, Gabriella Ranelli, the founder-owner of Tenedor Tours, has organized several dinners there for her clients and took us to meet the new owner, Paulo Airaudo of the 2-Michelin starred Amelia.
Paulo presented at SS Gastronomika this year. When taking over Ibai, he changed only the lightening and the dinnerware. The rest remains the same (especially the look), except for the upstairs bar, which is now open during the day, Monday through Friday, for pintxos, and the person in charge of the bar came from Antonio Bar.
We had an excellent all Basque cheese tray there recently.
Downstairs, still open for lunch only, Mon-Fri, is a tasting menu only. No a la carte.
I think you might remember that guy lunch there remains one of the best meals of my life…the whole package: The welcome from (Isabel??), the new friends who joined us, and above all–the food!!! Prime ingredients, prepared simply but impeccably. And from what you write, this is one of those rare restaurants that won’t disappoint on a second visit. (Sometimes you CAN go home again, or at least I hope so in this case!)
Oh man, what a shame. The owner was in the hospital when we went. We met his daughter, a marine biologist who was taking care of the place while dad recovered. She gave us great suggestions for hikes (Pontedume) and where to get some type of shark dish. When we walked in there the 2nd night, the bar tender had our drinks ready. They had am amazing lomo suspended from the ceiling (like when you’re camping) that was from a small producer in the mountains of Leon. Ethereal. Lovely people, lovely place.
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erica1,
Yes, I do remember that lunch of 4 and back then, having to call the AmEx desk multiple times for reservations at Ibai! When we arrived for our lunch, I gave Isabel my name and she just responded, “Ay, los dos de American Express”.
Fortunately Ibai has been resurrected with the blessing of Alicio and Isabel, but unfortunately both are no longer involved in the day-to-day at all.
Paulo has kept the no frills look downstairs but has opted for two tasting menus only with the main course being fish, and prices have increased.
The menus cost 190 and 210 with several off menu items for an additional price (txuleta…). The wine list has become more extensive, curated by former sommelier of Rekondo, Martin Flea.
But now one can reserve online. Paulo and his Italian chef did receive a Michelin star this year for their efforts.
We had the cheese course upstairs at the bar, now expertly manned by Atxen.
@morekasha,
It’s such a shame when these wonderful traditional bars are forced to close.
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Just wanted to say thanks for all of the tips, our two best meals were 55 Passos which was really fun with great wine and 5 Puertas. Lots of other great stuff including tortilla at O Cabo and lots of razor clams, cockles, clams, hams cheeses and zamburinas at various bars all over the place. Would have loved to try the Navarran bar in Pontevedra that looked like it was amazing.
