An Honest Review of Salon Malaga

Medellin’s nightlife is a jungle of musical genres that can be overwhelming for the old-fashioned, who might enjoy other genres such as tango and bolero.

Salon Malaga is an old-timey bar perfect for tango and bolero lovers. When setting foot in here, you’ll be able to travel back in time and feel like you are in one of those old days bohemian movies.

Are you curious about what you can find there? Then let me share an honest personal review about Salon Malaga with you.  Let’s get into it!

A Brief History of Salon Malaga

This bastion of the musical tradition of yesteryear was born in 1957 and founded by Gustavo Arteaga. Its main objective was to cultivate popular music as an art. Art is enjoyed to the fullest regardless of age or social status.

Recently, this place has grown in popularity. A big reason for that is because many famous artists and music figures of yesteryear have graced the halls of the Salon.

One of the charms of Salon Malaga is the collection of photographs on permanent display. You can look at photos of Medellín in the first 50 years of the twentieth century. There have been glamorous artists who performed there.

The Gold Record was awarded to Salon Malaga by CBS in 1968, in a competition in which it ranked first. Today, it’s a historical and cultural heritage of Medellin, where you can learn much more about history.

If that isn’t impressive enough, Gustavo Arteaga is one of the most important collectors of yesteryear music. He has a collection of 78 revolutions records with real musical jewels that are difficult to find anywhere else.

How to Get There

Public transportation is the best way to get there. This Salon is just a few steps from the San Antonio metro station (Route A). If you prefer to take the bus, you can take one of these:

• 133D
• C6E2
• M36
• T4 016

It is not simple to drive there since parking your car can be a bit tricky. The area in front of the venue is more pedestrian friendly and used for the EnCicla bike system. So if you skipped leg day, this one is in your favor.

Getting there by taking a rideshare app or taxi is also a good option.

IG: @salon.malaga

Website:https://salonmalaga.com/

Address: Carrera 51 N° 45-80 San Antonio Metro Station

Events at Salon Malaga

Throughout the week, you can attend various events and activities. Expect to be treated to exquisite dance shows, meetings, and much more.

On their website, you can find the schedule of their events that are available every week. If you want to catch an event with top-rated artists, you should check their Instagram page.

Now let’s see the events you can attend!

Tango Shows

Enjoy the best live performers every Saturday from 5:30 p.m. Tango is a frequent art in the Salon and is always accompanied by live music. Tango shows are the most popular events, so you better make your reservations for the shows beforehand.

Tango is one of Arteaga’s favorite genres, so this place is one of the dance floors where the annual Medellín International Tango Festival takes place.

Events like this are also a meeting place for true connoisseurs of tango.  Guests take hours talking about the subject, drinking wine, and sharing vinyl gems from their collections.

Musical Meetings

The second Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm is dedicated to live ancient music. These nights are a perfect cultural space to share ideas, meet new people, and practice some Spanish language.

If you didn’t know anything about the Colombian music of yesteryear, musical meetings are the perfect spot to learn about it. Some of the genres you can enjoy are:

• Bambuco
• Opera
• Zarzuela
• Bolero
• Criolla
• Porro
• Waltz

Bolero Thursdays

One of the most popular events at Salon Malaga, and for which you have to make reservations in advance, are the Bolero Thursdays. This event is a relaxing opportunity to take a sip of your favorite beverage while enjoying live musicians performing beautiful old-world songs.

This bohemian music event attracts locals, foreigners, and audiences of all ages. The atmosphere created around this event is very casual and elegant. Even if you don’t understand Spanish, the bolero is a music genre that doesn’t need words to express emotions and feelings.

Viejoteca

Every Sunday from 2:00 pm, the dance floor is open to anyone who wants to practice a few moves or admire the perfect dance moves of authentic old music lovers.

Making a Reservation

You only need to book a table on Saturdays, the most popular day of the Salon. On the other days, entry to Salon Malaga is free, and you’ll easily be able to find a place to sit.

To make a reservation, guests must send a bank transfer, a photo of the receipt to Whatsapp, the number of people, the reservation name, and an ETA.

A phone number is located on the website if you have any questions.

Spend an Evening at Salon Malaga

Without a doubt, Salon Malaga is one of the Medellin must-visits that you cannot miss. If you want to relive the memory of the old Medellin and discover a little more of its musical heritage, spend an evening at this yesteryear music sanctuary.

So, what do you say? Are you thinking of practicing your dance floor moves at Salon Malaga? Let us know in the comments!

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