Bar Picasso, El Almacén

In the most central area of Arrecife, the Picasso bar of “El Almacén” is built on the junction of two 19th century houses. Il s’agit d’un exemple d’architecture domestique bourgeoise. Entre 1933 et 1970, le bâtiment servait de siège à l’école des arts et métiers de Arrecife. 

In February 1974, César Manrique and Pepe Dámaso transformed the building to create “El Almacén”, a space destined to become a reference >for avant-garde artistic and cultural movements. During its first years of existence and under the direction of Pablo Bucarelli, it hosted renowned creators and artists, such as Alberti, Aranguren, Espert, the playwright Francisco Nieva, Pierre Alechinsky, Manolo Millares, Óscar Domínguez, Ildefonso Aguilar and Antonio López, among others.

The Pablo Ruiz Picasso bar, popularly known as the “El Almacén” bar, opened that same year, quickly becoming a social meeting place and the silent witness of long evenings of meetings and exchanges of opinions on any subject not only related to universal culture and art, but also to anything related to the progress, advancement and development of society.

The latter would gather over a good glass of wine and some simple and delicious tapas to work out solutions to the problems of a particular country and to draw the first sketches of a great work of art. The tranquillity, the good atmosphere and the captivating discussions are the elements that gave colour and warmth to this place that was much more than just a bar.

The legendary Picasso bar of “El Almacén”, reopens its doors in July 2022, maintaining the spirit of its origins and with the firm intention of continuing to be the dynamic home of art, culture, cinema and gastronomy on the island.