At Bazurto Social Club in Cartagena, Colombia’s once down and out Getsemani quarter, a new scene is emerging in the Caribbean enclave. There’s not the cookie cutter cruise ship emerald shops and Hard Rock Cafes, but rather the atmosphere is fueled by the faded stone walls, graffiti, loud music, and strong drink. In this day glow painted bar, owned by Jorge Escandón of La Cevicheria fame, that particular strong drink would be the Machaca’o, a newly invented cocktail that is aiming to become Cartagena’s official. A sort of coastal Colombian take on the Mojito, the Machaca’o combines white rum, muddled mint, simple syrup, pieces pink grapefruit, white grapefruit, lime, and Tahitian lemon, and club soda. Sit on one of the crab claw backed bar stools under the twinkling Christmas lights and listen to the house band, the Bazurto All Stars, and you can’t go wrong.
Bazurto Social Club
Cra 9, 30-42
Getsemani
Cartagena, Colombia
575-664-3124
www.bazurtosocialclub.com
Writer and photographer Nicholas Gill is the editor/publisher of New World Review. He lives in Lima, Peru and Brooklyn, New York. His work has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CondeNast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Afar, and Penthouse. Visit his personal website (nicholas-gill.com) for more information.
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