Estay

Bar de pintxos

c. Hermosilla, 46 (91-578-0470)

Typical product of the nineties, when the San Sebastian pintxo scene became fashionable in Madrid (just like what had happened before with Mexican restaurants and Irish pubs, to name two conspicuous examples).

As it is placed in a rancio area par excellence, you cannot expect to find Madrid moderns here. Public tends to be inclined to wear tommy hilfiger's purple polos, during the nights. At lunchtime there are plenty of viejos y viejas and plenty of carritos de bebé.

Waiters are (have always been, actually) very bordes (in the darkest tradition of the borde branch of madrid's waiters -there are other, much nicer branches). And food, supposedly inspired in the creative bars that fill Donosti, is clearly poorer than there, and clearly more expensive.

In the summer we can also see several guiris.

In summary, it used to be a trendy place when they opened, but it does not seem to be so anymore. And it is increasingly getting a rancio flavor. So beware.