Has Cafe del mar lost its charm?

M

muppet

New Member
Is it me or has Cafe del mar pretty much lost the charm? I know some could argue it has been lost ever since Padilla, or Bruno, left. Their attitude seem to be that they don't have to do anything but people still come there. Which is true, but I can't help to notice there's always plenty more people at Mambo's.

I was there the past two weeks. Every time pretty much the same, Valentino huedo playing his tiring set and that was it (Hardly any flow and the music selection is rather odd, at least for the chill set, and he looks always bored). No other Djs, no special events. Topped by rather unfriendly staff.Hardly smiling, and one even requested me to order something more expensive...

I guess CDM is more for the older and family oriented people thesedays then. Or then it is just me...
 
The first time I went was about 20 years ago. It was never very busy. The crowd was mostly laid back types playing backgammon, smoking puff and drinking coffee or San Miguels. Oh and there was usually a few ravers around looking to score and a few stray dogs hanging around some times.
I preferred it like that but obviously they were not making the kind of profit they can now.
The last time I went was in '07 and I really didn't like it but I'm just some old fart who has no business going where the young people go. :oops:
 
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Did it ever have any charm to start with?

The interior decor plus the smell from the toilets wasnt exactly a major draw for me........

I was always a Mambo fan anyway
 
McRackin said:
:confused:
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When me and my friend just tried to order two cokes, the waiter asked us to order alcohol drinks instead. I guess they need to make more money but comon. That's not nice because even their coke is overpriced. My friend fell for it because he can't dissapoint anyone. I instead don't like waiter questioning my choice so I sticked with it. I asked also no ice but there it was. Probably from tap water too.
 
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we sat outside on the rocks outside savannah 2 years ago, quite a nice vibe there - but it did occur to me we didn't really need to go in any of those bars - I was lucky to also catch the sunset in Formentera on a desolate almost deserted stretch of coast and have to say I much preferred it. The Cafe del Mar brand was strong for a long time with Padilla at the helm - but not sure what it's USP is nowadays though?
 
Olly said:
we sat outside on the rocks outside savannah 2 years ago, quite a nice vibe there - but it did occur to me we didn't really need to go in any of those bars -
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Yea but there are plenty of downsides to that. The rocks are usually wet&dirty, your shorts get a nice sea smell and it's more difficult to hear the music as it mixes with the other cafes.
 
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Olly said:
. The Cafe del Mar brand was strong for a long time with Padilla at the helm - but not sure what it's USP is nowadays though?
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I found this when I was wondering why I couldn't buy their latest compilaton anywhere:

"
In late 2009 there appeared to be somewhat of a major cultural tremor in the upper eschelons of Cafe Del Mar central in Ibiza. While details are sketchy the result was a split with the two key principals in the business.
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"

So go figure..
 
I agree with the rocks. Just get a few beers and sit there with your friends. You can still sit in front of mambos if you want the atmosphere. The bar staff will tell you otherwise but ignore them, they don't own the rocks or the med.
 
what i like about cdm is that at the end of the season they stay open quite long -
when mambo etc are already closed and that area looks like a ghosttown -
even if it´s mostly empty.
but nowadays they are living on a name built by good marketing-skills.
in reality living from a past, which probably was just an illusion ;)

ridiculous oversized is their new shop above, where the usual crap like cds,
towels, key rings etc is sold ...
 
I've kinda gone off it (and Mambo). My favourite sunset bar is probably the Buddha place, way along at the end. Much cheaper and comfiest seating around!

San An sunsets are actually beginning to lose their charm in general for me - which'll make it an easier decision to stay in Playa D'en Bossa from now on!
 
Johnny Vodka said:
I've kinda gone off it (and Mambo). My favourite sunset bar is probably the Buddha place, way along at the end. Much cheaper and comfiest seating around!

San An sunsets are actually beginning to lose their charm in general for me - which'll make it an easier decision to stay in Playa D'en Bossa from now on!
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Bar Buddah is awesome.
Chill on a bed with a frozen beer glass and its only 3€ a pint.
 
I agree with Warren. In my view it's been rubbish down there for at least 10 years. It's crassly commercialised (Café Del Mar visor anyone?), boringly sanitised (snap-happy tourists ticking off the ‘Must-Dos', hen parties in flashing devil horns etc), with lowest common-denominator, bland, generic chill-out music pumping out of each bar over the top of each other in a way that makes you want to gouge your own eyes out with a blunt spoon.

It's over-crowded; the drink prices are ludicrous, you get harassed constantly for cash by photographers, ‘entertainers' and the like. In fact, the whole thing has a grubby, grasping air about it. There is nothing chilled about it whatsoever. Today it's like Carnaby Street or something, little more than a tourist trap.

Pre-Mambo/Savannah days, CDM was a peaceful place, on its own, far enough from the horrors of the West End, where addled clubbers could soothe their MDMA-softened brains with a beer, a quiet smoke and a sunset to the accompaniment of some amazingly varied and genuinely chilled music from Padilla.
 
Agree about the Golden Buddha,great place 8)

However a couple of weeks ago I did go and sit on a rock (dry) in front of Mambo to listen to Padilla.....took my own wine,such a cheapskate...
 
Harry Flowers said:
Pre-Mambo/Savannah days, CDM was a peaceful place, on its own, far enough from the horrors of the West End, where addled clubbers could soothe their MDMA-softened brains with a beer, a quiet smoke and a sunset to the accompaniment of some amazingly varied and genuinely chilled music from Padilla.
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I think that is the best description of what CDM was................pity I was not around to experience it. Sounds like my type of place 8)
 
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