Bar Elvis is closed

[alexwalker]

Sign says that «cerrado por descanso de Emanuel» So that’s history. It’s in Reliegos on the meseta.

 

[donalomahony]

Interesting bar. I suspect it will reopen once he has returned from his "rest".

 

[trecile]

Interesting bar. I suspect it will reopen once he has returned from his "rest".

It was closed the day that I was in Reliegos in 2017.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I stayed in Reliegos in October last year. The bar was closed because of siesta scheduling, but the door was open and I wandered in. The owner was cleaning and puttering around. We chatted for a bit before I headed to one of the little mercados to grab a few snacks before dinner time. Later, I was walking around the village after 8 pm, and the Elvis was closed.

 

[KinkyOne]

It's a special bar. So is its owner

 

[Mugatu]

Such an eclectic place, hopping by for a speedy return! If you know... you know

 

[MaryLynn]

When I walked through Reliegos mid-afternoon toward the end of November, it was closed. Very disappointed. It was a magical place when I was there last spring. Hope everything is o.k.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

It was closed the day I passed through Reliegos in 2015....

Come to think of it, I've never broken bread with anyone who actually found it open!

 

[mark connolly]

Elvis has left the Camino!

 

[Darby67]

It was open when I wandered through Reliegos at the end of January 2018. Sadly I was freshly fed and hydrated and didn't pop in, sounds like I may have missed out on an experience.

 

[KinkyOne]

It was closed the day I passed through Reliegos in 2015....

Come to think of it, I've never broken bread with anyone who actually found it open!

You didn't meet me then
Twice I walked through Reliegos it was opened and I can't remember free jamon y queso tapas so huge than at Elvis.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

You didn't meet me then
Twice I walked through Reliegos it was opened and I can't remember free jamon y queso tapas so huge than at Elvis.

Should we ever meet, the first vino tinto will be my treat!

 

[Albertagirl]

I walked to Reliegos in 2016, accompanied on the last part of my walk by a young man named James, I believe he was an Australian, who was walking the camino bare footed. He was eager to renew his acquaintance with the owner of the bar, and I think that he spent the whole night there, drinking and socializing, and never made it to a bed. It was certainly a unique location because of its owner, but very far out of my comfort zone, so part of the adventure of travelling in foreign parts.

 

[KinkyOne]

I walked to Reliegos in 2016, accompanied on the last part of my walk by a young man named James, I believe he was an Australian, who was walking the camino bare footed. He was eager to renew his acquaintance with the owner of the bar, and I think that he spent the whole night there, drinking and socializing, and never made it to a bed. It was certainly a unique location because of its owner, but very far out of my comfort zone, so part of the adventure of travelling in foreign parts.

After a night at Elvis you just shouldn't plan to walk to Leon the next day. It can be very tough on some senses
Mansilla de las Mulas would be quite OK though.

 

[Hurry Krishna]

It's a special bar. So is its owner

I know Bar Elvis is sort of sacred site. But I had the bad fortune of drinking coffee there in 2014. I memorable event - but definitely not a good one. If it has close, it won’t be missed for its coffee.

 

[Mike Savage]

When I stopped in the late afternoon September 2015 he was sleeping on a bench. He got up and we shared a few laughs. Later that evening the place was jam packed full of people in full party mode.

 

[AndyK]

Cannot remember how the coffee was, but I stopped by in May 2016 and had lunch there. Quite a unique place. Fascinating walls inside. My office's walls are totally boring compared to that bar, too much white space ...

 

[KinkyOne]

Cannot remember how the coffee was, but I stopped by in May 2016 and had lunch there. Quite a unique place. Fascinating walls inside. My office's walls are totally boring compared to that bar, too much white space ...

I guess it's time to start partying in your office and decorating those white walls

 

[AndyK]

I guess it's time to start partying in your office and decorating those white walls

Hm, I think it took a couple of years until those walls looked like they do now ... Guess I better go and stock up my supplies of coloring pens and vino tinto ... Ready to party when you are!

 

[ELHS220]

It was open both times I passed through in June 2015/2017.

 

[jennysa]

I first saw it in The Way and then stopped there on 2 consecutive years. It had changed from the bright blue colour to some indescript shade that I didn't recognise it but I think that the whole character of the bar had changed with it.

 

[Caminogoat]

Sign says that «cerrado por descanso de Emanuel» So that’s history. It’s in Reliegos on the meseta.

Elvis left the house?

 

[alexwalker]

Elvis left the house?

Yea.

 

[lt56ny]

That is a drag. I haven't been there since 2014. I was hoping that it would be open when I did my winter camino this November. People wrote some very funny and cool things on those walls.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I hope does come back he is a very special man



Notice the cigarette. I walked into the bar. He was wearing this mask. He threw me a cigarette (I never even spoke), then threw me out. He was spraying the bar for flies. He lit his cigarette straight afterwards, I thought he was gonna blow the place up! Then he came outside carrying a baby bird, passed me a whole bottle of wine (I still had not spoke) and started to feed it steak. Yep, I am back at Bar Elvis. Bless his cotton socks.



Hope he is fine and comes back soon!

Davey

 

[JennyH94]

Elvis has left the Camino!

That HAS TO BE the quote of the week, Mark! 'Love it!

 

[Devon Mike]

I have been in Reliegos several times and the bar has always been open.

 

[Hurry Krishna]

Elvis has left the Camino!

Strictly speaking we only know that Elvis has left the cafe. He might still be alive and well on the Camino????

 

[KinkyOne]

This is how it looked in 2014:

 

[mark connolly]

More photos.

 

[susanawee]

Bar Elvis was most Definitely open when I was in Religeos in April last year with The Camino Skies Documentary team. We all, at various times during the afternoon and the evening, popped our heads in to say hello and to satisfy our curiosity about this almost 'legendary bar'.

 

[MaryJ]

Was open this past June as well! Epic experience!

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Current status? Anybody know?

 

[Robo]

I hope does come back he is a very special man

View attachment 56709

Notice the cigarette. I walked into the bar. He was wearing this mask. He threw me a cigarette (I never even spoke), then threw me out. He was spraying the bar for flies. He lit his cigarette straight afterwards, I thought he was gonna blow the place up! Then he came outside carrying a baby bird, passed me a whole bottle of wine (I still had not spoke) and started to feed it steak. Yep, I am back at Bar Elvis. Bless his cotton socks.

View attachment 56711

Hope he is fine and comes back soon!

Davey

It's El Ramon!!!

 

[Vacajoe]

I had an epic day and evening there in April 2018...or so I was told the next morning when I woke up.

 

[Deleted member 73892]

I thought I saw him working in a chip shop...

 

[Kathar1na]

Current status? Anybody know?

I can’t answer your question but I wonder whether the thread title isn’t misleading, and neither the bar nor “Elvis” are history yet. I’ve seen posts on Facebook where people were in the bar in May this year after the date of the original post in this thread, including photos of the legendary owner/barkeeper. His proper name is Eusignio, btw, not Emanuel, and it’s shortened to Sinín.

Should I admit that we didn’t even enter the famous bar but spent a pleasant stop in the place next door? Probably stupid of me but I often feel no desire to visit the places and people that have become Camino celebrities and I just wish I had not heard or read about them so often beforehand ... are there any other weirdos like me?

 

[Kathar1na]

And to shed some light on the meaning of descansar in this context. There are many articles about the world famous bar and its owner, and according to one interview in 2010: Desde 2004 sólo he cerrado una vez para descansar”, comenta con orgullo - "Since 2004 I've closed the bar only once in order to take time off/rest/etc.", he said proudly. That record is apparently now broken by at least one other descanso, no doubt well deserved. ☺

 

[Thomas V]

In 2016 we had a break just before the Bar Elvis. We wished we had stopped there but continued on. In 2017 we watched “The Way” (again) before our second Camino and noticed a quick flash of the bar in the movie. We definitely stopped in this time on our way to Mulas. The owner was great, friendly and even had a video of “The Way” playing in the corner of the bar. I hope the owner is on a holiday and will reopen soon. Bar Elvis is great for a break on the Meseta!

 

[A Kerryman]

I can’t answer your question but I wonder whether the thread title isn’t misleading, and neither the bar nor “Elvis” are history yet. I’ve seen posts on Facebook where people were in the bar in May this year after the date of the original post in this thread, including photos of the legendary owner/barkeeper. His proper name is Eusignio, btw, not Emanuel, and it’s shortened to Sinín.

Should I admit that we didn’t even enter the famous bar but spent a pleasant stop in the place next door? Probably stupid of me but I often feel no desire to visit the places and people that have become Camino celebrities and I just wish I had not heard or read about them so often beforehand ... are there any other weirdos like me?

Current status? Anybody know?

I can’t answer your question but I wonder whether the thread title isn’t misleading, and neither the bar nor “Elvis” are history yet. I’ve seen posts on Facebook where people were in the bar in May this year after the date of the original post in this thread, including photos of the legendary owner/barkeeper. His proper name is Eusignio, btw, not Emanuel, and it’s shortened to Sinín.

Should I admit that we didn’t even enter the famous bar but spent a pleasant stop in the place next door? Probably stupid of me but I often feel no desire to visit the places and people that have become Camino celebrities and I just wish I had not heard or read about them so often beforehand ... are there any other weirdos like me?
[

 

[A Kerryman]

It was definitely open at the end of May when I called in . He seemed in great form but would not allow a UK pilgrim take his photo. That was the morning of May 25 at 10.30 or so.

 

[Geodoc]

Just passed through a week or so ago and it was open. Even got to scrawl above the door (under the big words,)

 

[Calisteve]

I hope does come back he is a very special man

View attachment 56709

Notice the cigarette. I walked into the bar. He was wearing this mask. He threw me a cigarette (I never even spoke), then threw me out. He was spraying the bar for flies. He lit his cigarette straight afterwards, I thought he was gonna blow the place up! Then he came outside carrying a baby bird, passed me a whole bottle of wine (I still had not spoke) and started to feed it steak. Yep, I am back at Bar Elvis. Bless his cotton socks.

View attachment 56711

Hope he is fine and comes back soon!

Davey

Had a similar experience when I passed through with my 14 year old son Max in 2017. He showed us the bird and Max still has the video he took. Max then decorated the outside wall as there wasn't a spare inch on the inside. Definitely one of a kind.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Passed by midday Mon Sept 30, 2019. Found it closed yet again. (Sign said something like "Open at 5:45 PM.")

Entire Camino ruined!

 

[Davey Boyd]

Passed by midday Mon Sept 30, 2019. Found it closed yet again. (Sign said something like "Open at 5:45 PM.")

Entire Camino ruined!

View attachment 65584

I would of stayed there until it opened! And closed again.

 

[Kathar1na]

Entire Camino ruined!

Great to get these feedbacks and updates, though ... I'm sure that you and everyone else will be relieved to know that the owner is apparently alive and well as Anton Pombo did a very recent article on him on the Gronze site: https://www.gronze.com/articulos/entrevistamos-sinin-dueno-peculiar-bar-elvis-reliegos-18791

 

[susanawee]

Passed by midday Mon Sept 30, 2019. Found it closed yet again. (Sign said something like "Open at 5:45 PM.")
Oh dear, of dear. Perhaps he has just had enough for the time being and, like the rest of us, needs some time to himself during the day.
Entire Camino ruined!

View attachment 65584

 

[Davey Boyd]

I did come across another Bar Elvis on the Camino:



This one is on the VDLP at La Beneza on the Granja to Astorga section.

Nice enough, too sane for me though!

Davey

 

[MacMac]

Sounds like he sporadically decides when to open and when not.

I was there recently (May 24th, 2019) and it was open. The crazy barkeeper as usual was singing at the top of his voice.

Previously I was there on Oct 4th, 2016, and spent 3 hours in the bar. I was staying in the Albergue just down the road (Pedro‘s Albergue), so getting to bed wasn’t too far a crawl.

 

[AndrewDavOz]

It was open the night I was in Religeos, about 20th September 2019.

I found it disappointing. Allowing customers to scrawl sillly things on the walls in marker pens may be open-minded, but it doesn’t make for a coherent story or even one where you will feel comfortable. Some authors don’t think too hard before scrawling gibberish.

It’s not as good as the myth. In my opinion, that is...

 

[Robo]

It was open the night I was in Religeos, about 20th September 2019.

I found it disappointing. Allowing customers to scrawl sillly things on the walls in marker pens may be open-minded, but it doesn’t make for a coherent story or even one where you will feel comfortable. Some authors don’t think too hard before scrawling gibberish.

It’s not as good as the myth. In my opinion, that is...

stopped there once for drink and to use the bathroom.

felt like a needed a shower afterwards

 

[Davey Boyd]

stopped there once for drink and to use the bathroom.

felt like a needed a shower afterwards

To me it is the best bar on the Camino. And best bar on any Camino I have walked! I have had some great nights in there, especially after 10pm when the pilgrims are in bed and the locals come out!

But I am glad we are all different!

Davey