Bar Clandestino That's what our neighbour, Marina, told us was opposite the day we moved in. As you can see from the photos it looks pretty innocuous. We walked past it a few days ago and there seemed to be some music coming from inside but nothing more than you might get from a normal Argentine front room.

Marina said you have to ring the bell to get in... seems very dodgy. But up[at the top corner there is a sign that says, in opticianly small letters, that it's a bar, restaurant and whiskeria (nothing to do with cat food though, despite the spelling).

So last night, it was around eleven and we decided to check out our local. Liz pressed the buzzer and I looked at the sign again, there weren't even any lights to indicate the commercial nature of the place.

Not sure what to expect, we were surprised when the door opened to reveal a long dark stylish bar. There were people at most tables but it wasn't busy, the stereo was playing nice flameco and samba, the lighting was low, augmented by candles in glasses. We found a couple of high seats and had a look at the cocktail menu. It was a pretty hip place. At the bar next to us there was a waif and her boyfriend (they had food, and cake: I suspect she won't eat again until June). It was all relaxed and easygoing. On the wall behind the bar they suggested drinks, one set you could have was the tour de ecosia, Caol ila, glenlivet, balantine single malt and chivas regal. I settled on a Martini (with hhhhjin? asked the barman... of course).

The place started filling up towards one and there were a few Americans in a big group who all seemed to say the same thing we were thinking... 'you'd never know this place is here.' But the music went downhill, Abba remixes and gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight. The waif seemed to enjoy it but the man who we thought was her boyfriend left and the older man on the other side of her was revealed as the true object of her affections...

So we left and took the long walk home, okay it's not directly opposite but it takes less than ten seconds to walk there. Next, we'll try the happy hour, 8pm until 10pm, when it'll probably be empty.

  ¶ 1:32 PM