In business since 1960, this place is one of our surviving classics, filled with that heavy, dark Spanish style of the mid-twentieth century. Think conquistadors and bullfighters, flamenco dancers with high and lacy combs in their hair. Think blood-red tablecloths, brick walls, and dark wood furnishings.
The bartenders wear red jackets and black bow ties. They speak Spanish.
Your best bet is to sit at the bar, order a drink, and enjoy your complementary tapas. With every drink, you get a new plate. I got delicious meatballs, potatoes, sausages, and more potatoes. You can live off this strategy very nicely for a night. For heartier fare, the chicken and rice will fill you up.
On the early side, the place is quiet, but soon the gangs of hipsters come in--a surprising sight--they must come from the dorms on the block, the New School around the corner. They crowd around the bar and get loud. This is clearly their regular spot, and if they're helping to keep Spain alive, good on them. But go early to avoid the jostling.
My pal scott loves to go there and sit at the bar and eat the free tapas. He says the owner owns the building which explains why it's still there.
ReplyDeleteChildhood memories flood in! How could I have stayed away so long?
ReplyDeleteThey must own the building? How can a place that doesn't cater to the new forces be surviving?
Spain was also the site of the Edith Halpert "Our GallerY and if you look closely, you can see some of the original details like scroll work
ReplyDeleteThat was the go-to spot after class when I was at the New School (in the early 90's). You could live on sangria and free chorizo as a student.
ReplyDeleteAnd we were all native NYers back then. Not exactly hipster central.