Salsa in Medellín

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Words by Julián Esteban Torres López

When asked about where the best place for salsa in the city of Medellín is located, Lázaro and I always debate.

He doesn’t have a favourite but he is partial to El Tíbiri and Son Cubano, both located near Estación Metro Estadio on Carrera 70 (known to locals as “La Setenta”).  Lázaro likes La Setenta because having both options right up the street from one another is ideal for him.  When he gets the itch to dance, dance, dance, he’s willing to fork out the cash to stay at The Wandering Paisa Backpacker’s Hostel for a few days.  He justifies the extra expense because, as he says, he doesn’t like to spend too much time on transport and would rather spend the extra moments drinking and dancing.  However, between you and me, he has this lingering fear of being taken advantage of by cab drivers when he gets too drunk.

I have to admit, I do enjoy a good night out on La Setenta.  El Tibiri, aside from being extremely hot because it’s in a basement, has a local dancer who performs with marionettes which is quite entertaining;  it’s not only a great dance performance but also quite comical.  Unlike Lázaro, however, I’m more of an old-school soul.  Because of this I think I am more drawn to Sabor Antillano in Envigado, located about a block from Parque Envigado.

Most people don’t know about Sabor Antillano, but it’s one of those classic bars that have stayed true to the salsa tradition.  I like it because it’s not on the main tourist map and you get to really breathe the life of the history of salsa not only through the music played, but also because of the paraphernalia on the walls.

Nevertheless, there is one spot in the city where both Lázaro and I cannot get enough salsa, and that is El Eslabón Prendido.  Though the place is slowly getting over-run by tourists, we just haven’t been able to find a better place in Medellín for live salsa.  So, when asked for the best place for salsa in the city, this is the one we would recommend.  We just love good live music.  Just be aware, live salsa is only played here on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  And, as a word of advice, if you are an Atlético Nacional supporter, do not wear the jersey.  The owner is a hard-core Deportivo Independiente Medellín fanatic.

Below you can get a little taste of El Eslabón Prendido via photos and a short film I made for you all.  Enjoy!

Latin Americanist, political scientist, academic, entrepreneur, journalist, and storyteller Julián Esteban Torres López entertains and educates us with his LCO column titled The Secret Life of a Colombian Pseudonym.  It is here where he and his pseudonym, Lázaro Rojas, team up to tell fictionally factual and factually fictional stories about Colombia and being Colombian in an age when telling the difference between reality and delusion is frighteningly labyrinthine.  Stay tuned. More about Julián here and here. (Photo of Julián byLindsay Naito)

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