Taberna Aranda in La Latina is hard to miss. It’s on the corner of Calle Almendro and Cuesta San Pedro just off of Plaza San Andre. It has a brick facade with white shutters and huge signs proclaiming the seemingly never ending happy hour. This is the first bar you come to on Calle Almendro which has quite a few good bars that are a little bit less expensive than the ones on the main drag of La Latina. Aranda is no exception, they have inexpensive cañas and cocktails that come with a free tapas usually consisting of a little slice of baguette with some ham or salmon on it.
Aranda has a clean bright modern look and is decorated with very odd wallpaper with a repeating pattern of Marilyn Monroe and several skyscrapers from New York. There are also a few photos of old movie stars spread throughout the bar. The front room has a bar and high tables. The back room, or the “Salon” as it is labeled, is a small room with tables and chairs where people usually go to if they are ordering food.
The food is pretty decent even if a little bit expensive for the size of the portions but this is really a place to drink. They have good cocktails, even better if you consider the price. Some of them even come with sweets in them if that floats your boat.