Cowboy Bar

[Anniesantiago]

I did a search, but could not find anything.
Somebody told me that the Cowboy Bar had closed. Does anybody know? Has anyone walked by there recently?

 

[LesR]

Google Maps lists the Cowboy Bar as PERMANENTLY CLOSED - this might or might not be an authorative statement on its status...

Cowboy Bar Camino de Santiago El Ganso · C. Eras, 21A, 24718 El Ganso, León, Spain

★★★★☆ · Bar

www.google.com

 

[Theatregal]

It was closed (looked completely shuttered up) when I walked by beginning of October.

 

[ELHS220]

I did a search, but could not find anything.
Somebody told me that the Cowboy Bar had closed. Does anybody know? Has anyone walked by there recently?

It was shuttered this past June.

 

[Robo]

I was there early May. The cafe next door said it had closed.

 

[Saint Mike II]

That is unfortunate as I have fond memories of this bar going back to 2015 and 2017. Hopefully someone else will take over.

 

[dougfitz]

That is unfortunate as I have fond memories of this bar going back to 2015 and 2017.

Likewise.

 

[henrythedog]

I’m fairly certain it’s been closed for several years.

 

[davejsy]

Yes definitely closed when we stayed at the awesome Tee-pee place near there mid-October.

 

[Harland2019]

I’m fairly certain it’s been closed for several years.

It was open in May 2022 when I popped in for a drink and a rest.

 

[Anhalter]

I remember from last year that there was talk (and maybe already google maps) about it being permanently closed. I was quite surprised to find it open when i walked by and stopped for a coffee. This was around late May/ early June.
I understand that the reports of it being permanently closed are a lot more frequent than of it being open. So maybe (or likely) this is the case. My theory last year was, that the owner just opens when he feels like it. Like the Elvis bar in Reliegos or Manjarin (to some point). But usually a rarely open establishment becomes a never open establishment at some point. So i wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

[MickMac]

I did a search, but could not find anything.
Somebody told me that the Cowboy Bar had closed. Does anybody know? Has anyone walked by there recently?

Is that the bar that tried to charge for taking photo of outside ?

 

[stevepjq]

It was all shuttered up in April 2022 when I walked by.

 

[Harland2019]

Is that the bar that tried to charge for taking photo of outside ?

Yes that would be the one! It has a sign somewhere showing no photos - can't think why.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Is that the bar that tried to charge for taking photo of outside ?

Yeah, and photos were forbidden indoors in 2017 when I last stopped. The owner said he was getting all fed-up and cranky with people stopping for photos and not even saying hello, or buying anything -- or demanding things he didn't have.
I met this guy on my first Camino in 2001, when he was a barrel of fun.
Burnout is real.

 

[IngridF]

Yeah, and photos were forbidden indoors in 2017 when I last stopped. The owner said he was getting all fed-up and cranky with people stopping for photos and not even saying hello, or buying anything -- or demanding things he didn't have.
I met this guy on my first Camino in 2001, when he was a barrel of fun.
Burnout is real.

He was a hoot in 2012, very friendly.

 

[daveg6777]

It was open in May 2022 when I popped in for a drink and a rest.

Yes, it has not been closed for years....it was open for me in May of 2022

 

[Reggitano52]

I’m fairly certain it’s been closed for several years.

I was there in June, 2022 and it was open. Fond memories. Too bad it has shut down--it was one of the hilites of the Camino.

 

[lmartier]

I did a search, but could not find anything.
Somebody told me that the Cowboy Bar had closed. Does anybody know? Has anyone walked by there recently?

I walked by in October and it was closed. There was a nice spot open right next door.

 

[Petsu]

Yeah, and photos were forbidden indoors in 2017 when I last stopped. The owner said he was getting all fed-up and cranky with people stopping for photos and not even saying hello, or buying anything -- or demanding things he didn't have.
I met this guy on my first Camino in 2001, when he was a barrel of fun.
Burnout is real.

It was a nice place to stop, when I passed it in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2007. Maybe the first time I just stopped tomtake a quick look outside . I have no recollection of any 'no photos' rule, but I was rather lazy taking pictures, and of cource the amounts of pilgrims have gone up since those years. The chage was notable allredy in 2007.

 

[Robyn Scott]

It was a nice place to stop, when I passed it in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2007. Maybe the first time I just stopped tomtake a quick look outside . I have no recollection of any 'no photos' rule, but I was rather lazy taking pictures, and of cource the amounts of pilgrims have gone up since those years. The chage was notable allredy in 2007.

I have a photo of myself having a drink inside the Cowboy Bar taken in May 2017.

 

[henrythedog]

I must be mistaken - and unlucky - I’ve walked past the Cowboy Bar at least seven times since 2014 and never found it open.

 

[Harland2019]

Photo from May 2022 including a photo of the inside (despite no photos - sorry) but I was a customer! I did think at the time if I pass this way again I would go to the one next door.

 

[alexwalker]

I must be mistaken - and unlucky - I’ve walked past the Cowboy Bar at least seven times since 2014 and never found it open.

I've been there once - all other times, in the bar next door bc nice outdoor area.

 

[trecile]

I found the Cowboy Bar to be a nice dry respite on a very rainy day in September 2016.

I've never been lucky enough to be in Reliegos when Bar Elvis was open.

 

[davejsy]

So, I have to ask, having seen the photos what the allure was/is of the cowboy bar? Would love to hear some stories.

The bar next door is pleasant enough, but of average standard, although we only stopped for a drink as we had to sit outside in the rain as no dogs allowed inside which I don't begrudge.

The new Tee pee place though has a wonderful bar and inside (and outside) area, and the people running it are wonderful and enthusiastic people. I think they were closing for the winter though and we were some of the last guests.

 

[henrythedog]

So, I have to ask, having seen the photos what the allure was/is of the cowboy bar? Would love to hear some stories.

The bar next door is pleasant enough, but of average standard, although we only stopped for a drink as we had to sit outside in the rain as no dogs allowed inside which I don't begrudge.

The new Tee pee place though has a wonderful bar and inside (and outside) area, and the people running it are wonderful and enthusiastic people. I think they were closing for the winter though and we were some of the last guests.

Although I was never lucky enough to find the Cowboy Bar open thus far, feedback suggests that not everything which looks a bit whacky is actually worth patronising.

‘Lucky’ might not be the right word.

My criteria start with: ‘is it reliably open?’, everything else is a bonus.

 

[Tincatinker]

So, I have to ask, having seen the photos what the allure was/is of the cowboy bar?

The owner / staff? The quality of the Sidra? It's oh so photogenic blog-ability? Who knows.

I remember a friendly bar where the food and drink were reasonably priced. I remember that the decor was a little eccentric but no more than in a thousand other bars scattered across Iberia. This was the rather charming entrance to the Hotel in Ubrique

Like the "Elvis", like the Calle Laurel in Logrono, like La Taberna in Castrojerez. Everybody has heard the hype. Everybody goes there. They make a perfect nuisance of themselves and next day they're gone. Sometimes leaving one more pissed-off local in their wake. Eventually leaving someone who set up a business to service Pilgrims having fantasies about servicing Pilgrims

 

[rappahannock_rev]

First place I ever saw sidra poured from on high! Made a great impression on me back in 2012.

Visited again 2015 and 2017. Place was closed when I last passed by it, in May 2021 --- a very considerable disappointment.

 

[habanerocat]

Pity it's closed.

I knew nothing about it when I stopped in 2013.
Two lads walk in with open shotguns.
They were just out shooting pheasant.

 

[malingerer]

Pity it's closed.

I knew nothing about it when I stopped in 2013.
Two lads walk in with open shotguns.
They were just out shooting pheasant.

I remember it from 2004 on first Camino. Friendly and just yards away from albergue which was part of a schoolroom. Times have changed since then.

Buen Camino

Samarkand.

 

[lt56ny]

He was a hoot in 2012, very friendly.

When I was there in 2012 he made sure all of us had a high old time while we had lunch.

 

[henrythedog]

Pity it's closed.

I knew nothing about it when I stopped in 2013.
Two lads walk in with open shotguns.
They were just out shooting pheasant.

That’s pretty much any pub in Cumbria on a Saturday at this time of year. On the positive side, none of them ever get robbed.