Refuge of night owls, bohemians and lovers of music, this cave, converted into a musical bar is undoubtedly the perfect corner to visit in order to to experience the purest essence of the Menorquins. Menorca has a long tradition of folk groups that have provided scores to its inhabitants such as Los Parranderos, Traginada, Joana Pons amb Ses Guiterres or Trio Arrels de Menorca but Es Cau is a simple and quiet place to go to to have a drink, to sing some ‘habaneras’ with friends or, simply, to enjoy the atmosphere.
Opened in 1962 in Cala Corb by the American Jim Maps along with other partners, it was Gabriel Marquès with his inseparable “Manitas de plata”, who impressed his peculiar and unmistakable character on the premises.
Little by little, Es Cau became an obligatory place to visit for all tourists who wanted to know the most genuine Menorca. After passing through the hands of Bruno Marquès, after his father died in “Biel des Cau”, it was the brother and sister Joan Carles and Annabel Villalonga who kept this emblematic musical bar open. Today, David Serra runs Es Cau and he is responsible, night after night, for keeping the flame alive and maintaining the spirit of that endearing place that, in a certain way, all Menorquins carry in their heart.
In the soireés with friends and family, usually some start to sing and the most daring, to play the traditional guitar songs. The most beloved for those who speak Menorquin are: “Escolta es vent,” “Balada d’en Lucas” or “Na Nena”. Many have passed from generation to generation by pure oral transmission.
It was only last year when all this tradition was collected in a songbook of the pieces that are most heard and sung in Es Cau with the musical score so that these songs and the memory of this small cave on the port of Mahon, can never die.
