Bar
Pastís is located in the centre of Barcelona, next to the
Ramblas and is one of the well known and visited bars of the city.
French music, bohemian atmosphere and rustic decoration are their
main signs of identity.
The bar was established in 1947. The founders idea was to create
a bar as close as possible to the ones that are found in the old
port of Marseille or at Paris' Latin Quarter. The walls are adorned
with paintings by the founder, and reflect his very own interpretation
of existencialism. Music was then mostly French, with a touch of
Jazz, flamenco or Tango, in accordance with the bohemian style of
the times. This has been preserved until today, and the music evokes
these good old times with the help of French rhythms.
The first owner died and his wife carried on his "works".
She's left her own trace and personality, with, for instance, the
omnipresent voice of Edith Piaf, virtually singing there every day
of the year, until her retirement in 1980, when she closed down
the Bar Pastís and sold its premises.
In 1980, the present owner bought the Bar Pastís and reopened
it, intent on keeping the founder's original idea alive. It's then
been kept just as it was before, except for the new live music sessions.
The
typical drink is the authentic French "Pastis", a liquor
made of anise and liquorice, prepared with 1 part of liquor for
3 parts of water.
The bar is small but public's affluence is always massive, mainly
on the weekends. Since 1992 the bar offers live music, tangos
on Tuesdays at 11:30 pm o'clock and a variety of French music
on Sundays at the same hour. A TV set connects with different
channels or programs about France. This is one of the very few
places in Barcelona that have maintained a French flavour.
The Bar has won itself, in its more than 50 years of existence,
to be considered one of the places with most personality and charisma
in Barcelona, as may testify its heterogeneous and faithful customers.
Bar Pastís is located at Santa Mónica Street number
4 and is open up from 7:30 pm till 2:30-3:00 am.
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