El Patio de la Favorita

I love, love, love this bar! I found it on Unilocal during my time working in Gijón and I’m so glad that I did, because I had such a wonderful experience. I asked the bartender to make a drink suggested by another reviewer (a mango caipirinha), and since the menu changed, he didn’t have it, but he created a very similar concoction, which was refreshing and delicious. And oh, by the way, they do not skimp on the alcohol — the cocktails are deceptively strong. Also, it’s right on the water, so you can sit at a table overlooking the beach — it’s really something. It’s generally hard to find quality bars with an ocean view — most of them are expensive and overrated, but not this one. I will absolutely come back here during my next visit to Gijón. :)

El amor, más que ciego, es caprichoso, así que no me importa admitir que yo me enamoré de El Patio de la Favorita por sus jirafas. Así de claro. Por esas jirafas de plástico traslúcido de colores con las que se agitan los cócteles y que hacía años que no veía; esas jirafas que denotan un mimo y un cuidado por todo, de lo más evidente a lo mínimo, que resume perfectamente el espíritu del local.
El Patio es un sitio donde vayas con quien vayas, el café se acaba transformando por arte de magia en la primera copa, y la primera en una sucesión de ellas entre risas y charlas. Es un lugar que invita a acomodarse, a quedarse, a embobarse mirando hacia el paseo y la playa o descubriendo alguno nuevo entre los nombres de todos los artistas cuyos carteles (pulcramente enmarcados, ¿eh? que ya he dicho que este es un sitio que mima todo al detalle) decoran las paredes.
Puedes ir en pareja, en grupo, incluso a tener una reunión de trabajo no demasiado formal; puedes tomarte una caña bien tirada, una infusión, una buena copa, y en muchas ocasiones disfrutar de música en directo. Y mientras, yo estaré esperando a que abandones tu mesa con despiste y seguiré atesorando a hurtadillas más ejemplares para mi colección privada de jirafas.

Great cocktails (the mango caipirinha…), great location with view on the sea, great music, and great staff. What else?! All kind of people, single, families, couples, friends, young, not so, oldies, beautiful ambiance and seriously, the staff super friendly. Perfect spot in city centre. Love it.
Oh, I forgot: sometimes live bands playing!

We really liked this spot. It’s practically on the water, it has a cool vibe and the bartenders were really nice. It was of course helpful that we went to an afternoon event (yeah for afternoon drinking) where we knew we’d like the music and where we’d have something in common with most of the cats there, which was nice because we were able to meet a bunch of people to hang out with for the rest of the weekend. I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as we did.