Salsa Bar Closed?

[JMBroad]

How can you close a nice little place like Salsa Bar yet continue to allow Azucar and Coco Loco to remain open?

For those that haven't been, Salsa Street in Ponta Negra is a street full of bars and clubs where (mostly tourists) go. On that street there are two open air brothels which are very open about being packed with people "on the job".

On the other hand there are some very nice bars which both Brazilian and International tourists alike enjoy visiting. Salsa Bar is one of the latter. Not to say there aren't any "working" people in the bar but the ones there are a lot more discreet and the general atmosphere is a lot more socially acceptable.

Salsa Bar is just on the right as you enter Salsa Street, was normally full of people and had a short Capoeira show (Capoeira = Brazilian martial arts dance) at midnight which people really enjoyed. They also had salsa lessons throughout the night, with two young men and two young ladies inviting people from the crowd to join in. They had preserved a lot of trees within the bar and generally speaking it's a nice place to have a caipi and watch/participate in some salsa.

They closed it down last Friday because of "noise complaints from the neighbours" - yet Azucar and Coco Loco and all the others remain open?

Anyone on the ground have more info about this? I'm curious as to the real reason/outcome

[Golfingworld]

Are those "Brothels" Coca Loco or Azucar in Natal like the 20 or so ones between Torremolinos ond Estepona or the three or so Bars in Puerto Banus, or the girls that stand at the bottom of the lift in The Andalusia Plaza? Since when did The Costa del Sol have the moral high ground? Driven on any major "Caraterra Nacional" in Spain recently and seen the signs "Club" in neon lights......? So, before you tarnish Ponta Negra Mr Broad I suggest you look out of your office window at the neon lights!

As for Salsa no idea and it if it permanent it is a shame, was a good place, but it is a sign of the times maybe that the booming economy in NE Brazil is not all it is cracked up to be!

[michaelbush]

I guess I am the man to find out! I cannot believe it was the noise, although the music is more open than other bars. Maybe they did not pay the rent,taxes, or protection etc! The bar next door where they had samba, pagode, and brazilian reggae, was demolished and is now a car park. Maybe someone has bought Salsa to enlarge it with next door. There are a number of these places that have undergone or are undergoing reform. They are all in a residential area, so will have to control the noise to stay within the law. I expect to be visiting Brasil Tropical, with my partner, where it is all Brasilian, and not a working girl to be seen! I will make some enquires and report back, and John, next time you are here, I will let you know of some more Brasilian haunts.

[michaelbush]

Those of you worried that the Salsa Bar is closed will no doubt be pleased to know that they expect to re-open in a couple of weeks having done some work to contain noise levels. Apparently they were closed due to a complaint from one resident to the rear.

[Golfingworld]

This is going to be interesting for the whole area as this entertainment district has eveloved in a residential area. In fact there are three blocks of flats going in very close to Salsa Street. I think I need to join the residents committee!

[JMBroad]

I expect the noise could have been an issue as the central part is open air so the sound levels can literally "go through the roof". Hope it does open up again.

Regarding local haunts I have a very old friend living in Natal and she told me some of the places to go in Petropolis but last time I didn't have time to visit them - was working with the team so evening social activities were as a team too.

Taverna on Salsa Street is a lot more Brazilian and pretty good fun though.

[JMBroad]

Oh and they never re-opened. Was a great shame, went down "Salsa Street" while in Natal and while the dodgy Coco-Loco and Azucar are still open, Salsa Bar is now an abandoned plot of land, even the building seems to have been torn down.

However they opened a new bar next to Sgt Pepper, the Fuso Horário, whose lack of Brazilian character is very reminiscent of the typical cookie cutter bar anywhere in the world. The numerous waitresses (all young ladies) were quite content to blush and smile when I tried to catch their attention to order a drink but as for service, "not on the menu".

[Golfingworld]

Oh well Mr Broad, you'll just have to make do with that excellent service provided by The Navy Bar or Havana Bar in Puerto Banus in Marbella. But of course, would you ever admit to "optional extras" beng on the menu in such a sophisticated part of residential Europe, when every Mayor in the last 10 years has been jailed, where drug dealers are gunned dwn in The Point and Eastern European Mafia carry out open turf wars, whilst their poorer Eastern European brothers perpetuate petty crime. Not to mention the Africans selling counterfeit watches and DVD's on the Paseo next to the beaches that haven't been cleaned for months.

Considering all this, why are Coca Loco and Azucar so "dodgy" as you put it?

People who live in glass houses springs to mind!

[JMBroad]

One doesn't exclude the other. I don't visit those as I don't visit the ones in Salsa Street.

Mr. Braod -

You sir should understand by now in Brazil, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. You chose to live in Natal, that said, you made your bed, now sleep in it.