El Soñador marks 10th anniversary Saturday
El Soñador will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Saturday, October 24, at 229 Ignacio L. Vallarta in Zona Romántica. The party starts at 6 p.m. and includes music from a DJ, informal trivia hosted by Guerrini, prizes, giveaways and special anniversary shot glasses. Free pizza begins at 7 p.m. and continues while supplies last.
Jose and his team from Slice ‘n Smash will bring a pizza oven to the second floor and distribute slices to guests. Guerrini expects the pizza to run out around midnight. Guests arriving earlier can order pizza and a drink from the bar’s specialty menu. At midnight, complimentary shots of El Soñador Refrescante will be available. Guerrini said the midnight shots are his personal highlight of the celebration.
Bartender Aldo created the drink for the anniversary month, and his recipe won the cocktail recipe competition. El Soñador Refrescante combines cucumber, Absolut Raspberri vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau and natural syrup.
John Guerrini and Nicholas Robles recently purchased the Puerto Vallarta bar and have made extensive improvements. Local designer Heriberto Mancha oversaw the transformation. The interior was repainted, and the exterior was remodeled with stonework and new lighting. The work included new furniture, tables, barstools and lighting, while large floor-to-ceiling windows replaced bars on the windows and door. The downstairs area now has air conditioning, and air curtains were installed at the front entrance and the top of the stairs. Both floors received upgraded sound systems.
The upstairs open-air bar remains central to El Soñador. People use the space to play games, watch a show, meet friends or spend time together. El Soñador is a gathering place for members of the LGBTQ+ community and sports fans, and its bartenders serve drinks throughout the day. Football fans can watch games at the bar and order burgers and pizza from Slice ‘n Smash.
Regular pretzels and peanut-butter-filled pretzels are free, and the seasoned peanuts come from a local supplier. The owners also upgraded the snacks and cocktail ingredients; cocktails now use natural fruit pulp and house-made syrups. Daddy Issues and 36,000 Feet Above Sea Level are among the bar’s popular cocktails. Guerrini said Daddy Issues remains a favorite.
Sunday hours have expanded to 11 a.m. through the end of the NFL season, and the bar is testing hours extending to 4 a.m. Guerrini said the expanded Sunday hours have worked well. The owners plan to add two resident DJs during high season: one would perform on Thursdays and the other on Sundays. Guerrini hopes high season will bring more customers who make El Soñador their regular gathering place. The owners anticipate that high season will bring in more people who will name El Soñador their personal ‘Cheers.’ Customers frequently compare the bar to the neighborhood gathering place depicted in the television sitcom “Cheers.”
El Soñador is preparing for Halloween and Día de Muertos. It plans to sponsor a local artist to create a Catrina for display on the Malecón. Visitors can arrive at 6 p.m. for the anniversary party, with free pizza beginning at 7 p.m. and complimentary El Soñador Refrescante shots at midnight.