It is a well-known fact that Spain is famous for its food (tapas and Mediterranean diet), dances and music, among other things. I do not know if you notice that all these things are related in some way with having fun and enjoying life. The main places where you can find all of the previous things I mentioned, are bars. These businesses shape our culture, they are an indispensable part of our daily basis life and they work as a link between people. We should not be surprised, as Spain is considered the country with the highest density of bars per inhabitants in the world. There is one bar for each 175 people. At them, we can socialise and feel that we do not need much to have a great quality of life. Music, friends, some drinks and maybe a table football are enough.
Problem statement
There are lots of learners coming every year to study in Burgos. Some of them are Erasmus students, or they come with other type of scholarships. There are Asian international students all around the city.
They come to study and learn the Spanish culture. Burgos is one of the best places to practice the language and learn the history of the Spanish Iberian peninsula. It is an ancient city in which you can feel the passage of time.
As I have mentioned, part of the culture is based on the bars. That is why there is no better way for sightseeing the city and meeting new people than doing it by discovering the best pubs and bars. The Asian students will have the opportunity of immerging themselves in the Spanish culture. If you are open minded, sooner or later you will meet some locals while drinking.
As there are lots of bars in Burgos, sometimes is difficult for students to choose one. Some bars in the old town are expensive and they have low-quality food. Generally, in the city centre you pay more for less quantity and quality. That is why I created this map. In all the spots of the map, you will find reasonable prices and I will recommend what to order in each of the places.
Using the map, the Asian student will find some places that are mostly known by the locals. They will completely feel as a Spaniard.
From Bar to Bar map
In the next map, I would like to recommend you some of the best bars in Burgos as well as suggest an indisputable route to experience all of them. I also encourage you not to only order beers but some of our most traditional spirits like; Orujo or Tizona del Cid liquor. I strongly recommend you eat some tapas before drinking them. Both are perfect drinks to help you to digest food.
By walking from bar to bar without stopping in them it would be a 1-hour walk. But, as the idea is to spend 10-20 minutes at each of them, you would spend from 3 to 4 hours total.
As I made this map for students, I chose cheap, friendly and young atmosphere bars and pubs. Although I also chose some traditional bars.
There are symbols like the skull and the cathedral in the map. The skull symbolizes the Museum of Human Evolution.
The first and second bars are in “Gamonal”. The working-class neighbourhood in the city. The bars that are in there, are the cheapest of the whole route. Two minutes walking from the first bar there is a church called Santa María la Real y Antigua (in the map is indicated with a cross). It is the most antique, unique and well preserve church in the neighbour.
From the third to the seventh bar you will need to go with the flow. You must literally do that, as you will follow the river Río Vena. I have chosen all this bars beside the river, as it would be easier for the students to find them. Once you arrive the bar number eight, you will be amazed by the marvellous Old Town.
As you can see in the map, each of the bars have a different number. On the next page, after the map, you can read a brief description of the places. I also added some recommendations of what to drink or eat in the different places. As I personally went to all the bars, I recommended you what to order on them. I hope to have succeeded in the choices.
Author: Pedro Javier Díaz
1. Bar Moral (Moral Bar): the perfect place where to start the route. It has a wide variety of tapas (small pieces of bread with some food on it). One of the most traditional tapa is “Cojonudo”. Quail egg, Spanish chorizo and red pepper in a toast. |
6. Invernalia (Winterfell): a bar made for Game of Thrones lovers. If you are a fan of the TV series and you want to feel as a real character, this is surely your place. You must order their cheap but unique Calimocho (mixture of red wine and Coca Cola). |
2. La jaula del grillo (cricket cage): what is the best option to break the ice? …boardgames, you can be sure about it. This place is one of the few bars in Burgos with this type of entertainment. |
7. El Bochinche: enjoy patatas bravas (fried potatoes with spicy sauce) in here, while drinking a dark beer. If you are tired of alcoholic drinks, you can always order a mosto (traditional Spanish grape juice). |
3. La cazuela de la abuela (Grandmather’s pot): as you can guess by the name…this is a good place to eat and drink tasty and cheap. They also elaborate their own drinks. |
8. Taberna Los Enchilaos (Los Enchilaos tavern): its location could not be better. It is in a park in the centre of the city Parque de Mero el Jardinero. It is Mexican. The decoration in there is marvellous and their micheladas (beer with salt, spicy sauce and lime juice) are the best. |
4. Cerbecería Bar La Oficina (Brewery Bar The Office): what to do on a Friday afternoon after work? going to The Office. A place where to try a wide variety of beers. |
9. Jarra'N'Heavy (Jar'N'Heavy): it is a Pub/Bar located in the most nightlife square of Burgos. Calle (street) Huerto del Rey ( Las llanas). It is the ideal place for all the rock lovers. The main entertainment is the table football. |
5. Montrove 2: It is located near one of the faculties of the University of Burgos. Always full of students and young people. One of the only places in Burgos were to find KELLER Beer. It is produced in San Sebastian (Basque Country). |
10. La Espadería: two minutes’ walk from here, you will find the Burgos treasure. La Catedral de Burgos (The Cathedral of Burgos). The perfect place to finish, as there are pubs and bars all around and this place has free karaoke on Fridays. Everyone knows that finishing a night in a karaoke means that you rule the world. |