Bar Mauna Loa - Madrid - Spain, Madrid, Spain (bar) - Locating Tiki

M midnite Member 37? 47' N, 122? 26' W Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 1230	M midnite Posted posted on Fri, Sep 1, 2006 12:40 PM Madrid's Mauna Loa is still going strong and should be a part of any Tiki-phile's visit to Madrid. The little place on Plaza St Ana is a must see for anyone, in my book. Great location, there's much to see and do in the surrounding area, and it's fun-filled drinking time in their tiny cave-like rooms. Mauna Loa is easy to find, just on the corner of the plaza by the big old white hotel, Victoria? Simply find the bamboo and green awning, you're there! Step into the tiny doorway vestibule and to your right is the smallish upstairs bar. Live birds will welcome you to the dark, yet inviting space. Lots of glowing lights and glass, it's cool even if the outside temp is not 36 degrees! Mauna Loa is a tropical paradise downstairs, you'll find many small nooks with tables, several seating areas, lots of flora and tropical fish. It can be cramped, but I do like the overall vibe. You'll get to know your neighbors, even if you don't wanna. Hey, it's Espana, go with it! Order one, or more, of the named drinks on the menu, they will likely come in one of many authentic Spanish Tiki mugs. The drinks range from OK to the awful. I had the "Scorpion", which was fine, especially when one compares it to some of the other offerings. The "Diablo Apassianado" was also acceptable, if a bit sweet. The "Noches de Caribe" was liquid candy. The waiter said it was "dulce" and he was not shitting me. Too much dulce for this palate, it's a frothy sickly sweet libation. The same could be said for "Paradiso of Tahiti". My guess is the Spaniards, or their bartenders, prefer very sweet drinks. I do not. That's a problem. Customers at Mauna Loa are given several bar bits on which to snack: chips, nuts, olives and a neato ham sandwich on white bread. Ya say what ya want of the cocktails, but that's a pretty cool sandwich! While the drinks are not the best, maybe even sub par to my taste, they are mixed with ample liquor. One is not gyped on the juice, so to speak. The volcano drinks seem to be very popular with locals. I believe they can be ordered for 1-8 people! Aht's a big volcano...and it is. Drinks are roughly 6Euros per. No charge for the snacks, at least the first round. One ham on white is enough for this hombre. We liked the Mauna Loa, if not for the drinks for the overall experience. It can get crowded and loud, be forewarned if you prefer that quieter environs of say a Trader Vic's. Again, it's Espana, go with it. The atmosphere is what I look for in a Tiki bar: dark, cramped, a little over the top, but great nonetheless. It's not a cocktail destination, they could be much better in my book, but I'd go back again and again to Mauna Loa. It's Espana...Go! Tell them El Midnite-o sent you. They will give you a dirty look and mumble about el ladrón híbrido de la taza. Take it as a compliment, it's Espana! Your traveling amigo, midnite

Madrid's Mauna Loa is still going strong and should be a part of any Tiki-phile's visit to Madrid. The little place on Plaza St Ana is a must see for anyone, in my book. Great location, there's much to see and do in the surrounding area, and it's fun-filled drinking time in their tiny cave-like rooms. Mauna Loa is easy to find, just on the corner of the plaza by the big old white hotel, Victoria? Simply find the bamboo and green awning, you're there!

Step into the tiny doorway vestibule and to your right is the smallish upstairs bar. Live birds will welcome you to the dark, yet inviting space. Lots of glowing lights and glass, it's cool even if the outside temp is not 36 degrees!

Mauna Loa is a tropical paradise downstairs, you'll find many small nooks with tables, several seating areas, lots of flora and tropical fish. It can be cramped, but I do like the overall vibe. You'll get to know your neighbors, even if you don't wanna. Hey, it's Espana, go with it!

Order one, or more, of the named drinks on the menu, they will likely come in one of many authentic Spanish Tiki mugs. The drinks range from OK to the awful. I had the "Scorpion", which was fine, especially when one compares it to some of the other offerings. The "Diablo Apassianado" was also acceptable, if a bit sweet. The "Noches de Caribe" was liquid candy. The waiter said it was "dulce" and he was not shitting me. Too much dulce for this palate, it's a frothy sickly sweet libation. The same could be said for "Paradiso of Tahiti". My guess is the Spaniards, or their bartenders, prefer very sweet drinks. I do not. That's a problem.

Customers at Mauna Loa are given several bar bits on which to snack: chips, nuts, olives and a neato ham sandwich on white bread. Ya say what ya want of the cocktails, but that's a pretty cool sandwich! While the drinks are not the best, maybe even sub par to my taste, they are mixed with ample liquor. One is not gyped on the juice, so to speak.

The volcano drinks seem to be very popular with locals. I believe they can be ordered for 1-8 people! Aht's a big volcano...and it is. Drinks are roughly 6Euros per. No charge for the snacks, at least the first round. One ham on white is enough for this hombre.

We liked the Mauna Loa, if not for the drinks for the overall experience. It can get crowded and loud, be forewarned if you prefer that quieter environs of say a Trader Vic's. Again, it's Espana, go with it. The atmosphere is what I look for in a Tiki bar: dark, cramped, a little over the top, but great nonetheless. It's not a cocktail destination, they could be much better in my book, but I'd go back again and again to Mauna Loa.

It's Espana...Go! Tell them El Midnite-o sent you. They will give you a dirty look and mumble about el ladrón híbrido de la taza. Take it as a compliment, it's Espana!

Your traveling amigo,
midnite

Post #251970 by midnite on Fri, Sep 1, 2006 12:40 PM