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The best bar in Madrid is Lithuanian

2022-03-26T08:34:50.368Z


A couple from the Baltic run a small cocktail bar in Lavapiés called Savas. It has become an unpredictable phenomenon of critics and audiences. The secret? Neighborhood atmosphere and allergy all the common places associated with this type of premises.


Three euros and 50 cents.

That figure marks the most critical moment for Gintas and Dovi.

“It was a Friday.

We entered the bank account and we only had 3.50 euros.

We needed a bottle of wine, but with that budget we had to make do with a bag of chips.”

This Lithuanian couple are the owners of Savas, a cocktail bar in the Lavapiés neighborhood without leather, velvet, smoke and noise.

In fact, the place bears more similarities to an autopsy room than to a scene from an episode of

Mad Men.

“We both come from classic restaurants, so we wanted a quiet place where people could have a cocktail without rushing”, they comment.

And that they did in July 2019, 9 months before the state of alarm was decreed and 17 before their bank account was zero.

But the origin of Savas dates back to 2008 and has a happy ending.

That year Gintautas Arlauskas (Gintas) and Dovile Krauzante (Dovi) landed in Madrid from Lithuania, rented a flat on Calle de Mallorca, in Lavapiés, and began working in the hospitality sector.

For years they were part of the most celebrated restaurants in the capital such as Sudestada or Punto MX, they became familiar with local concepts such as a "jotabé with cola" or a "wailabel with ice" and while they understood the business they thought about how to open their own.

His plan: a sober place with the best cocktails in the neighborhood.

The result: the best cocktail bar in Madrid.

The prize was awarded several months ago by the Gastronomic Academy of Madrid in the Bars and Drinks category.

"It is a very special recognition because the jury is the bartenders themselves," explains Gintas.

Savas is located in the heart of Lavapiés and its clients are even more eclectic than the neighborhood, if that is possible.

“Look, this Monday, at midnight, there were five men in suits.

On the other side of the glass, dumpsters full of trash, neighbors walking their dogs, and police sirens.

I love that contrast,” says Dovi.

Word of mouth among professionals in the trade and positive reviews on social networks and specialized magazines have made Savas a fashionable place, but at the same time this cocktail bar is a reflection of the neighborhood in miniature.

“We have very loyal customers.

After the confinement, it was curious to witness the couples who had broken up during the pandemic, the neighbors who had become pregnant and came to show us their babies and promise us that they would come back for a cocktail as soon as they could,

Gintas shakes the cocktail shaker while Dovi leans on the bar of her bar, Savas, in Madrid.Victoria Iglesias

On the left side of the bar is the letter printed on the wall.

It is a short selection of 12 cocktails to not think about, but the real magic is off the menu.

Specifically, in the head of Gintas.

"I like to improvise.

If someone likes spicy and a touch of acid, then here I go.

Of course, if there are five people at a table, it is appreciated that at least two repeat,'' he jokes.

He automatically looks at Dovi, his wife and responsible for making customers feel comfortable.

"The ideal scenario is a table of six people with the same cocktail and six different rounds," says Gintas, whose head does not stop.

Among other ideas, he ponders how to bring flavors from Lithuania to Savas, and that includes honey and cucumber.

"The childhood of any Lithuanian child includes those two ingredients."

Gintas promises 0% hangover if you drink in moderation and 100% flavor.

“It's a compliment when someone comes back the next day just to tell you that they woke up without a headache.

We serve good alcohol and sensible amounts.

We don't want customers to get drunk, we want them to enjoy themselves."

The headache has also been removed from them after recovering post-pandemic normality: they are already thinking about how to grow and there are enough euros in their account to buy a good bottle of wine.

Source: elparis

All news articles on 2022-03-26

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