Bluesman Cocktail Bar — Bar Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"First impression? As you make your way down the hidden flight of stairs from the imposing lobby of El Palace Barcelona , it's not so much like stepping onto a different floor of the hotel as right into a time warp. With its sultry red walls and velvet-clad armchairs, waiters in black suits balancing trays of Old Fashioneds and Manhattans and live jazz band jamming on the stage, the only proof that we are, in fact, not in the 1920s is (thankfully) the absence of a thick cloud of cigarette smoke in the air. How’s the crowd? Survey 100 Barcelonians and I'd wager 99 of them don't know Bluesman exists. Those who do keep it to themselves. The crowd is a mix of hotel guests from El Palace, in-the-know jazz aficionados and the occasional celebrity looking for a discreet spot to have a drink. How are the drinks? The staff at this joint really know their booze. It's the kind spot where the words "a Negroni, please" will be met with "classic, sbagliato, spritz or Mezcal?". There are signature cocktails too, but with classics this good, why bother? If there’s food, is it worth ordering something to eat? Bar snacks of nuts and potato chips are served with every drink and you can also order plates of Iberian ham or a cheese platter if you wish - but most people just come here for the drinks and the live music. Did the staff do you right? The team are attentive and knowledgable. Simply tell them your poison and relax. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? Bluesman is the kind of spot where you never know what might happen or who you might spot. Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood is not only a regular guest at the hotel—so much so that one of the suites is named after him—he has even been known to take to the stage here to jam with the band (or so the legend goes). While you may not catch a glimpse of the rock legend himself, you can still admire the artwork that he donated to the General Manager of the hotel as a token of his appreciation." - Isabelle Kliger