The reopening will take place this Friday, September 18, from 8:00 p.m., with a buy-one-get-one-free drinks promotion during the first hour and a DJ set. The new team, made up of Alfredo and Carme, an engineer and a pharmacist, respectively, are thus making their debut in the hospitality industry with a project they say they were particularly excited about. “For now, we’re going to maintain the essence of Mantis Bar, but the idea is also to give it our personal touch, attract new people and broaden its audience,” the new owners told Aragón Digital.
MOJITOS WILL REMAIN ONE OF ITS CLASSICS
One of the former Mantis’s defining features was its cocktail menu and, especially, its mojitos. The new managers have decided to keep them and even have Eva Serrano’s recipe.
Mantis Bar will continue to focus on cocktails, including new offerings. Photo: @barmantiszgz
“We’re going to keep the mojitos. We already have Eva’s recipe and we’ll continue refining it,” they say. Cocktails will therefore remain one of the venue’s main focuses, although the new chapter will also introduce different offerings. These will include various types of spritz inspired by Italian aperitifs and a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails. “It’s something we’re taking into account because they’re ordered a lot,” they add.
The aim is to preserve part of what turned Mantis into a meeting place for its customers over the decades, while adapting it to the new project. “If you ask me whether we’ll continue with the essence, I think we will, but always adding a personal touch,” they explain.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR A BAR WITH 25 YEARS OF HISTORY
The new owners had not previously worked in the hospitality industry. Both are keeping their professions and decided to take the plunge after the opportunity to take over the venue fit in with their plans.
For Alfredo, one of the new managers, opening a drinks and entertainment venue was also a project he had had in mind for years. “Having a drinks, leisure and entertainment venue had been his dream since before he met me,” his partner says.
Alfredo and Carme, the new owners of Mantis Bar. Photo: @barmantiszgz
They acknowledge that it represents a major change from their usual jobs, but say they are approaching the project with enthusiasm. “I suppose you have to be a little crazy to have a secure, stable job and make life more complicated for yourself, but we’re very excited to start this project,” they say.
Learning about the venue’s history has made them appreciate the business they have taken on even more. “As we’ve learned more about what Mantis Bar is, we’ve grown increasingly fond of it and respectful of it,” they explain. In this regard, they particularly highlight the work done by Eva Serrano during the 25 years she was in charge of the venue. “What Eva has done over these 25 years is enormous: she created a community,” they say.
DJ SETS, EVENTS AND A NEW SCHEDULE
Music and activities will also play a prominent role in the new schedule. This Friday’s reopening will feature a DJ, and there will be a buy-one-get-one-free drinks promotion during the first hour.
Two sessions are also planned for Saturday, one in the afternoon and another at night, while the new managers are preparing more content for the coming weeks. “We have many ideas to develop little by little,” they explain. Their plans also include opening on Sundays and organizing events such as electronic music sessions and exhibitions.
For now, the bar will open on Fridays and Saturdays, although the intention is to expand its activity to other days later on. With the arrival of this new chapter, Mantis aims to preserve part of the identity it has had for years on Calle Mayor while adding its own schedule of events.
