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May 14 2026
World-Renowned Salmon Guru Cocktail Bar Celebrates its 10th Anniversary
Its inventive menus, neon-kitsch-comic-book-inspired decor, and multi-sensory drink experiences have made it a regular on The World's 50 Best Bars lists. Now, the uniquely brilliant Salmon Guru Cocktail Bar celebrates its 10th anniversary with three days of festivities featuring mixing classes, parties, and special guest bar nights, attracting a large community of revellers to mark a decade of cocktail-making mastery.
Founded by Spanish-based Argentinian mixologist Diego Cabrera in 2016, Salmon Guru Cocktail Bar opened its doors in 2016 in Madrid’s Barrio de las Letras, a historic neighborhood renowned for having been the home to famous writers such as Cervantes. Word soon spread about the quality of its cocktails and tapas that blend Spanish, South American, and Asian influences, and before long, the bar was making best of lists, winning the prestigious Michter's Art of Hospitality Award in 2021, part of The World's 50 Best Bars awards that year, for which it ranked 24th.
Cabrera had previously expanded his empire, opening two new international venues: one in Milan and another in Dubai, both showcasing the psychedelic atmosphere and highly creative spirit of the original. The company also opened its own production center, Dragon Experience Factory, a 450 square metre space located in San Sebastián de los Reyes, a municipality 20 kilometers north of Madrid, where its in-house products are tested and developed.
Pop-Ups, Parties, and Podcasts
Over its 10 years of operating, Salmon Guru has taken part in various international pop-up events and guest bartender shifts. In 2022, Salmon Guru bartenders served up some of the bar’s signature cocktails during ‘Viva España Spanish Month’ at Dante West Village, New York. The team took their talents to Beijing, China in 2025, for a two-day pop-up event at the Xitan Hotel in the Mentougou district, and showcased their skills with guest bartender shifts at Auténtico Bar Mendoza, Argentina, and The Barcelona EDITION hotel in 2026.
The brand has expanded into publishing and media with its cocktail manual ‘Guru’, which won Best Cocktail Book in the World at the Gourmand Awards 2023, and the podcast ‘The Guru Show’, connecting with its audience beyond events and its Madrid-based bar.
Unique Creations
Over the years, Cabrera has developed a selection of signature cocktails made using fresh, high-quality Spanish products from all over the country. With his Modern Times cocktail, he mixes vermouth with one of his go-to drinks, Brandy de Jerez. He also uses brandy to reinterpret a classic cocktail with his Brandy Julep, harmonizing its flavor with Pedro Ximénez sherry, cherry liqueur, mint, and cocoa powder for a punchy, playful cocktail that surprises the senses.
Cabrera looks to the islands for inspiration with his cocktail Gimlet Style, which features Mahon gin, lime cordial, elderflower liqueur, and banana wine from DO Islas Canarias, and creates a sparkling sensation with his Strawberry Passion, featuring strawberries from Aranjuez, cane sugar from Málaga, and cava from Valencia.
