Eslabon Prendido has become Medellin’s hotspot for gringos with a
preference for real Colombian old-school salsa. However, the downtown
bar is now so crowded with tall and blond non-Colombians that it’s
time to look further. The perfect alternative for the Eslabon’s awesome
music can be found one block away from Parque Envigado.
Mind you, the Tuesdays in Eslabon are a shame to miss out on. The ever changing house band shows like no other how Colombian salsa is the best. The open and free atmosphere of those live-music nights can’t be found anywhere else in the city.
But if you get tired of being bumped against by yet another gringo failing to dance salsa correctly you may consider taking the taxi to Envigado and check out Sabor Antillano, a small bar where the owner — steadily enjoying his rum and coke — has the finest collection of 1960s boogaloo and 1970s salsa records.
The bar is located just two blocks down the main square of Envigado and is virtually undiscovered — even by the locals.
Sabor Antillano does belong to the small circle of bars that keeps the old salsa tradition alive. Posters of Fania All Stars, Hector Lavoe, Jesus and Marlboro are covering the dark walls and while sitting at one of the tables, you are taken on a musical trip into LatAm history.
The music collection of the bar covers the complete birth and heyday of Boogaloo in the 1960s and the birth and heyday of salsa that followed in the 1970s.
But aside offering the best of boogaloo and salsa, Sabor Antillano offers a place where you can enjoy the music without being overrun by gringos.
Sabor Antillano
Calle 38 sur # 43AG
