Demian has been brewing his own beer for thirteen years and will be offering a wheat beer, porter and oatmeal stout on tap when the project is finished this year. We got to taste them all and were quite impressed. Our waiter also brought out three martinis, coconut, tamarindo and mango, which were great.

Even though it has great food and microbrews most people like Sotano Suizo for a few other reasons. One of them is their music selection and another is the unrivaled ambiance for big soccer games and boxing matches. To give you an idea of the type of fan that watches the games I can say that during the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea the bar would be packed with people in pajamas watching games during the early morning hours because of the sixteen hour time difference. How do I know this? Because I was there having fun, rooting like a mad man with hundreds of people in PJ's watching the games while chugging beer.

Sotano also has a welcoming atmosphere because many of their employees have worked there for a decade or more. I do not want to give away my age but I have been going there for over twenty years and there are bartenders and waiters who have been there the whole time. Finally their Tijuana style Clamato is something to behold. Served in a large "chabela" filled with clams it is mixed with vodka, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lemon, salt and pepper to create what for many locals is the best hangover cure around. I used it that one time (wink, wink) I was suffering from the after effects of a night on the town and it worked wonders.

Sotano's happy hour is from five to seven on weekdays and draws a business crowd and different groups to enjoy some after work drinks and on Tuesdays girls have a choice of three drinks that they can choose for free until midnight.

You can come here for lunch with business associates, catch a game with the buddies, have a few drinks with your friends or on a dinner date with your significant other. Everybody is relaxed, the music is loud enough to set the party atmosphere but not too loud so you can carry on a conversation without losing your voice. I continually recommend it to my friends who have not been there in a while and I undoubtedly get positive feedback. Make sure you are alert so that when happy hour begins, ends and at closing time you are not scared to death when the swiss bells get rung. I got the chance to ring them which makes me special!

Sotano Suizo is possibly the best all-around bar in Tijuana and beyond and if you do not believe me…you will just have to go and find out for yourself.

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