Latin American bar & restaurant El Santo, in Glasgow’s Merchant City, is preparing to celebrate its first anniversary on December 1, and looking forward to the launch of an authentic new menu crafted by its Brazilian head chef, Juliana Kipper.
But first, the venue plans to lean right into the Halloween social season with an epic three-night Day of the Dead celebration.
Day of the Dead – or Dia de Muertos, to give it its Spanish name – is traditionally celebrated in Mexico from the 2nd to the 4th of November, and in contrast to the UK’s horror-themed Halloween, has a much more joyful and celebratory feel to it, being essentially three days of feasting and drinking in honour of dear departed relatives.
So on those dates, El Santo will be going sugar-skull crazy, with live shows, flamboyant décor and costumes, and sponsorship from the iconic Tequila brand Patron, which is also supporting the venue’s regular live music events, ‘Noche De Musica’.
“We’re absolutely thrilled about our upcoming Day of the Dead festivities,” said general manager, Panos Dimou. “This event is a perfect reflection of our commitment to celebrating Latin American culture. As the clocks go back this weekend, it marks, for many, the start of the holiday season, beginning with Halloween.
“From live music to dancers adorned in elaborate costumes, we’ve got a three-night spectacle lined up! We encourage our guests to join in the fun and don their own festive attire. Even more cause for celebration is our new partnership with the iconic tequila brand, Patron, one of the world’s most distinguished labels,” said Panos.
“We’re incredibly grateful for Patron’s fantastic support, now serving as the sponsor for all our live entertainment, along with our selfie-perfect flower wall, which truly is an eye-catching centrepiece. This sponsorship aligns perfectly with our goal: establishing El Santo as the premier destination for the city’s best tequila and mezcal, served neat or mixed into one of our expertly prepared cocktails.”
Since opening last year, the 90-seater venue, including the ‘El Santito’ margarita bar, has carved a niche for itself in the city, offering guests a vibrant, all-day dining and drinking experience steeped in Latin American culture.
The restaurant’s South American style steaks, generous tapas-style sharing platters, and what is arguably Glasgow’s most extensive selection of tequila and mezcal, have all contributed to its growing reputation.
Chef Juliana finds herself rejuvenated after a recent trip back to her homeland. “My time at home has sparked inspiration for new creations that will soon grace our menu. I hope our customers will relish these novel tastes, flavours, and presentations as we approach the festive season.”
She added: “Rest assured, our menu will continue to feature all the beloved favourites from my Charcoal Grill, including the succulent Bife Costela Olho ribeye, the Brazilian-style Picanha, and the impressive sharing Tomahawk steak, known as El Bife de Cowboy.”
Owner and operator, Jonathan Doherty, said: “We can’t wait to commemorate our first year here in the Merchant City. The people of Glasgow have wholeheartedly embraced us, and our vibrant Latin American party scene, complete with live entertainment, has been a resounding hit. We believe we have injected an electrifying energy into the city’s social calendar over the past ten months, and we’re thrilled to take it up a notch for the festive season.”
