The music was loud and vibrant. The coat rack was crowded with jackets as I added mine. The lights glowed orange next to the industrial architectural features of a restored warehouse.
Hundreds of twentysomethings, thirtysomethings and fortysomethings had gathered to visit the opening of the highly anticipated taqueria, pool hall and bar Salon Madre. The entire place gave the vibe of a house party that had been picked up and transferred to a converted warehouse downtown, near the high-rise offices and law firms of the business quarter.
It certainly did look like people had gathered at Madre after work. Many flitted around, holding hands, dancing, or greeting each other with hugs.
At the bar, signboards showed the variety of drinks on offer- tequila, cocktails, cerveza, frescas (non-alcoholic drinks), and mezcal. The bartenders focused on their work with laser-sharp intensity, wearing shirts emblazoned with the phrase ‘your mother’- a nod to the titling of Salon Madre itself, that directly translates to ‘Mother’s Room’. This was a place where the staff were to look after the patrons, and that they did, darting through groups of people playing pool, throwing darts, or standing and eating.
The service greatly stood out to me more than anything else about Salon Madre- each of the staff was bright, attentive and smiling all night.
I got my lemonade and stood crunching the ice as I took in the scene around me. Salon Madre boasts four pool tables, and all four were taken by young professionals and influencers. I’ve never known how to play pool, and I’ve always been wowed by how people make it look so easy.
Salon Madre also possesses an interactive, electronic dartboard, which people were constantly surrounding. They would name themselves (sometimes with emojis) and then score points, which the board then counted and declared a winner after many rounds. I imagine that these games will be a good way for people to relax after work, and there was no doubting that Salon Madre was a trendy bar, already completely packed on opening night.
Tacos with various fillings, corn-on-the-cob and other Mexican delicacies were made all night by staff on the other side of the booth, who prepared every food item in plain sight. When I asked if they had anything vegetarian, they were very happy to accommodate me and later produced vegetarian nachos, complete with guacamole, pickled onions, refried beans and herbs. Later, when I asked for some corn without parmesan, they supported me with this too! The food was pretty great, well-seasoned, with the corn having a delicious smoky flavour.
When I found a quiet corner to eat my food and put my drink down, complete with Salon Madre coasters, I looked out across the room. People were dancing, taking pictures, and having fun. The DJ was quietly spinning tunes in the corner. The long glass windows looked straight out into the Leeds City night, complete with office buildings gleaming, their windows lit up.
Overall, Salon Madre boasts a great offering of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (especially margaritas), and a stress-free place for those working in Leeds and further afield to spend time with each other over some light bites.
Don’t take my word for it – grab a friend and go see for yourself!
