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LOCAL BARS

 

Santhay

Well we waited long enough and are not disappointed. The pool bar and restaurant has finally re-opened. Open for breakfast until 8 p.m. or later on most days, it offers a wide range of Spanish cuisine made with local farm produce and you are also welcome just to have a drink. 

Torre Corner

Right at the entrance to the Torre the Torre Corner bar is a convenient alternative to the Pool Bar. There is always a very friendly reception, it is comfortable, always well-presentedand attached to a convenience shop with all the necessities. They offer an internet service on two terminals and Wi-Fi  forthose who want to use their laptops either in the bar or in the Torre lobby. A wide variety of sport is shown on the large screen televisions including football, golf and horse racing, but if you are wanting to watch a particular sporting event, check well in advance.  Do not assume that even a big UK sporting event will take priority over the golf or horseracing.They have access to a vast selection of channels on the internet and will make every effort to accommodate you if you are looking for a particular sporting event which is not shown on Spanish TV. 

The Den

When you leave the front of the Torre and turn right down the hill.  If you take the first right the road leads to some steps which lead down to the Avenida de Miguel which comes out onto the terrace parade of shops overlooking the roundabout and onto the road right by the bus stop.  Immediately on your left at the West side of the Terrace is a bar called “The Den”.  The Den is a real drinkers’ bar.  It is not too expensive but sometimes the language is such that we would rather take mum elsewhere.  Most Sky Sports football, golf and horseracing is shown, but this really depends on what John, the owner, wants to watch so you may be disappointed if you do not check in advance. 

Cocos

As you make your way right from the bottom of the steps you will see Cocos on the corner of the next road. A pleasant littlebar which is very friendly and makes newcomers very welcome. Next to it was always my favourite bar. It is now a Restaurant/ Bar called Mammalina. (See Local Restaurants) The pool table, dartboard and Antonio have all disappeared in favour of extra seating but there seemed to be no objection to us popping in for a couple of drinks whilst on a bit of a bar crawl. The food is excellent too. 

La Fuenta

Never a disappointment and the only place left to truly practice your Spanish. Frequented by local Spanish residents and a very friendly atmosphere to boot.

Port of Call

Just going down the hill towards San Pedro and past the chicken bar, Los Naranjos, you will find on the right hand side a bar called “Port of Call” which is run by a Japanese lady, Yoshiko.  It is a real drinker's experience and a good fun place where you can relax at the bar and simply chat or play a wide selection of games including backgammon, chess, shut the box and connect 4 etc. Nobody ever forgets their first visit to Yoshiko's.

The Bar with no name

I must ask them what they call it. I strolled in there by chance one day when waiting to meet friends and visit los Farolillos. As you walk down the hill towards San Pedro, take a left turn by the tobacco shop and at the bottom on the right hand side a few metres past Los Farolillos is a great bar frequented by Spanish Locals residents. It is definitely worth a visit. Perhaps pop in for a couple before Los Farolillios. In fact there are a couple of small bars on that road and recently a new Indian bar/restaurant where we stopped in for a drink but have not tried the food yet. 

Horseshoe Pub

This is very good stopping point when either walking down the hill from the Torre or back again, whether on a trip to the Port or the beach. At the roundabout at the bottom of the hill just before the main coast road turn left towards the back of the Casino and the Horseshoe Bar is on the left.  Lots of English and Swedish clientele and a friendly atmosphere.They used to show English Football and other Sky Sportsevents but for some reason stopped doing so. If the situation has changed please let us know. 

Park Lane Sport Bar

Just a little way past the Horseshoe pub and close to the Casino is a relatively new bar which plays practically all the big sporting events including the English Premier League Football matches. Not as expensive as similar sports bars at the rear of the Port. It also has a large television on the terrace.

 

Burdels

Be careful of brothels (Unless you want to go of course).  It’s just that some just look like ordinary bars and simply avoiding red lights is not enough it seems. If you go in one by mistake, even if you go in with your wife or girlfriend they may not tell you it is a brothel until you have ordered a drink that has costs you ten times as much as it should do.

 

Puerto Banus

No specific recommendations are made in respect of Bars in the Port. Most of the drinks seem to be of similar prices (about double what you would expect to pay near the Torre or in San Pedro) As you go into the Port the bars along the main front.  Sinatra’s Bar, Salduba etc are more expensive still. In the second avenue behind the Port there are a number of Pub style or “Irish” style bars and a Linekers Bar etc. where a lot of people hang out in the early evenings.  They have English Premiership football at the weekends etc. and pints of beer are about €6 to €8 and spirits and mixers €10 to €15.  We tend to pop into our favourite, Patrick's 19th, for a drink when visiting the Port during the day or early evening.  It is towards the East of the middle of the front line. More recently Mumbai is welcoming for a drink whilst visiting the port. Café Banus is a terrace café that serves throughout the day and turns into a nightclub style bar in the evenings. La Botellita is an interesting drinking experience and worth a visit and it is close to Café Banus. Have a look at our Puerto Banus section for a lot more of the Port including the nightlife.