Okay, we have to admit, we gave it an extra star simply because we spent the night listening to…read moreleprechaun music in Spain. Not that we like leprechaun music but, in Spain? An ersatz Irish pub well out of the tourist lanes Cerveceria Triskel evidently sits well with the locals....music be damned. This neighborhood hangout does a robust business in take-out food. Not something you see everyday. The clientele looks like a cross representation of the local population with the well dressed mixing well with the not so much. There is a generous supply of complimentary tapas to go along with your drink but the light that shines the brightest here are the burgers. We started out with the idea of a simple hamburger but like most simple things our simple burger got out of hand pretty fast. We don't know how we did it but our burger ended up with: A hamburger patty Two layers of goat cheese Tomato Lettuce Onion Lomo Egg And a sesame seed bun All for 7 euros. And the best part was it was delicious. Cervecería Triskel is a blue collar eats place and we will be sure to wear our best blue collar when we return...which we will.

This swanky spot is located the the Hotel Gran España. They offer class cocktails, intimate…read moreseating, late night service, and will even help you out with bottles to go after the stores are closed. A nice winding down here is highly recommended.

Bars. They seem to…read morebe a Northern European/American thing. The Mediterranean nations have the word, but not the place: their socialization centers are tables at cafés and restaurants, where you hang out with people you knew before you arrived. They appear not to appreciate the benefits of a drinking establishment you can patronize specifically to meet strangers. They know that nice hotels are supposed to HAVE bars, though. That's why in the basement of Oviedo's Gran Hotel is a gorgeous, elegant, wood-paneled bar with comfy chairs perfect for lounging in, and hi-top stools perfect for chatting in: they know they're SUPPOSED to have them. Maybe they saw it in a movie, or something. The problem is, nobody here knows how to use it. Or if they do, they choose not to. That's why I'm sitting here alone drinking an Armagnac, admiring the beautiful, empty room, sad that none of the (Oviedons? Oviedites?) the people of Oviedo know what a fabulous watering hole in their midst. This place would be shoulder-to-shoulder in NY, SF, Chicago, Boston, LA, name it. The bartender is excellent; he comes out to check on me every three minutes or so, before disappearing into the back to resume his conversation with his unseen coworker (the chef, perhaps? An unneeded waiter?). But this place is a ghost town. It is a great shame, because a lot of work and money obviously went into making this a first rate bar. So if you're in town, and desire an awesome cocktail lounge, come to the Black Bar (a name, one assumes, taken from its black granite bar top). Bring all your friends - you'll have the place to yourselves.