Retro style, these days, is usually done with an irritating amount of kitsch, maybe a lava lamp…read more There are pleasant exceptions, however: Smoll Bar, nestled in a little treelined Avinyó artery, abandons kitsch in favor of class, lava in favor of lampshades (lots), proving that retro can be aesthetically satisfying rather than simply amusing. It's in the curvature of the cut crystal ashtrays and the vinyl swivel chairs; it's in the dim, sanguine lighting; it's in the taketheedgeoff whir of the table fans (most of the decor is for sale, by the by). And God, the drinks. You may feel as though you're lounging in the sitting room of a stylish friend, but let's not forget that this is a bar, and its alcoholic concoctions are outstanding in both creativity and execution. Ask for a follable, a secret blend that tastes like the lovemaking session of a top shelf mojito and a frozen margarita. Then ask for another. Watch as the summer sweat seems to vanish from your brow, as the ladies seem to let their hair down.
(Note: I haven't been here since 2009)
