Lynne Y.
Yelp
Hubby and I came here because a bartender at another restaurant told us that Presidente Bar was voted #14 on the World's 50 Best Bars list 2018. We arrived on the earlier side (for BA standards)--around 8:30pm, so the hostess was nice enough to give us her 'reserved' table for two by the bar. Upon ordering, I asked our waiter to recommend one of the bar's signature cocktails--something tasty that would have earned the bar's #14 slot (I didn't have any preferences, so it was entirely up to him to decide what drink would best represent making it on the Worlds 50 Best Bars list). He chose a cocktail called Monkey Tai, which came in a large tiki-style cup with a sliver of dried pineapple garnish, mint and a paper straw. Honestly, I was disappointed and kind of shocked at the presentation. Kitschy? Yes. Sexy? Absolutely not! Was I at a chic upscale bar in the city or at a beach shack in Waikiki? The cocktail itself was yummy, though! A nice balance of flavors, not overly sweet and good portions of alcohol. Hubby ordered a margarita, which fortunately, didn't come with bells and whistles...just a classic frosted glass with one large ice cube and one side of the rim salted. The cocktail, again, was tasty!
For the second round, we again asked the waiter to choose. This time we tried to give some context: "In every country we visit, we do our homework and go to the city/town's best cocktail bar (and we travel a lot). This time, give us something sexy. Doesn't have to be flashy, just something that represents Presidente." (Still too vague?)
I can't remember what the drink was called, but the huge silver metal pineapple cup it came in was unforgettable. LOL! The waiter proceeded to remove the top of the pineapple and set it upside down on the table, then placed the bottom part of the pineapple on top of it, creating the perfect holder for the cup. (I guess everyone's idea of sexy is different...)
This drink was interesting. Had a spice/kick to it that I couldn't quite pinpoint, but it was definitely layered and unique. No complaints.
Food was on point. Ordered octopus and empanadas. Delicious!
I would definitely come here again, but maybe do the cocktail ordering a little differently (although I truly appreciate our waiter's help!). I know the bar has far more artisanal options (minus the kitschy cups). And, the atmosphere here IS sexy--definitely for the trendy and/or upscale set. I highly recommend making a reservation. The place fills up fast and I saw some people get turned away because they didn't have one.
Cheers!