We came to Maquila because most people said they had the only other craft beer in town besides Hops…read more& Dreams, but we found more than just beer. We also found beer. Such good beer. The long and short of it:
1. Beer. Maquila specializes in some of the only craft beer in Seville (see Hops & Dreams for further options) and they've got plenty of it. They seemed to center around the sweeter beers, hefes and saisons, but they seemed to change regularly so this might have just been at the time we were there. Still I got an IPA and a porter and couldn't have been happier. Then I had another IPA and was happier.
2. Food. Maquila also offered a pretty diverse menu if you're there for dinner. The mussels really stood out. Tossed in Chinese 5 spice they were succulent and delicious, so much so that my vegetarian fiance devoured most of the plate (seafood was partially back on the menu). Pair that with some tasty croquettes and chicken wings over noodles (why the hell not) and we had an odd and tasty pre-dinner.
3. Atmosphere. Maquila feels like a local bar in a really friendly city. It feels that way because that's pretty much what it is, but the room was bright and warm, the staff was friendly, there ample room and bar seating and it didn't seem overly loud even though it was full. A nice place to grab a drink.
4. Price. Converting to the Euro was the wrong way to go currency wise at this time (for some reason they wouldn't take Moroccan Dirham), but 3 appetizers and 4 beers came out to just over $40 USD. I would have taken that even had everything not been as good as it was. And it was.
5. Location. On the edge of the Hercules de Alameda, there are plenty of other bars and restaurants in the area if you're feeling like a more substantial dinner or a glass of wine/cocktail.
There was pretty much nothing wrong with Maquila, as solid a spot as you'll find in Seville if you're looking for a good beer. Given the lack of it around the city, it becomes a must visit when you get tired of the same 3 drinks. We'll be back on our next trip for muscles and beer round 2.
Overall Grade: A