Bar de Jo, the once-clandestine bar tucked deep in Almería’s Tabernas Desert, is set for a long-awaited legal return. Created in 1993 by French biker Jo Bell, the open-air bar became a magnet for bohemians, bikers, and musicians seeking freedom, music, and a dash of rebellion under the desert stars.
Infamous for opening only on select summer nights and never with prior warning Bar de Jo’s gatherings were known solely by word of mouth. Guests arrived by motorbike or campervan, drawn to the bar’s wild spirit and raw desert charm. Drinks were poured in mismatched glasses, often from repurposed petrol canisters, and the signature shot the “Tóxico became the stuff of legend.
With no running water, permits, or electricity, the bar was pure DIY. Makeshift furniture, bonfires, and live music defined its untamed atmosphere. Even The Clash frontman Joe Strummer was a regular, celebrating birthdays there and dubbing it “the best bar in the world.”
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In 2017, local authorities closed the bar due to noise, safety, and environmental issues. But now, Níjar Town Council has backed a proposal to reopen Bar de Jo legally with plans for waste treatment, renewable energy, and cultural programming to preserve its iconic status responsibly.
Though still closed, hopes are high that the bar’s revival will maintain the spirit of its secretive, spontaneous past only this time, with a green light and proper plumbing.