PURA VIDA BEACH CLUB

We went to Pura Vida in Gijón to celebrate my best friend's 40th birthday on Saturday, January 24th, a private event for about 50 people. The initial part downstairs was quite good: the dinner was delicious, and I especially want to thank them for preparing a personalized vegan menu for the three of us (it was really good!). The atmosphere of the evening with the singer (hired by the birthday girl) was lovely, and everything flowed very smoothly. The disappointment came when we went upstairs for the DJ party. We had given the venue three very detailed playlists in advance (one for before dinner, another during dinner, and the main one for the party), with songs chosen with great care and personal reasons. Unfortunately, the DJ almost completely ignored them: he played very few songs from the list and mixed styles completely different from what we had requested. On several occasions, we politely asked them to include a specific song from the playlist or skip one we didn't like, but they ignored us. The last straw was when we requested a specific song from the list; it seemed like they were going to play it, and after only 10 seconds, they changed it to their own selection. A 40th birthday isn't an everyday occurrence, and the cost of the event (venue + services) was significant. The fact that the agreed-upon music selection (a key element of a private party) wasn't honored left a bad taste in the mouths of several guests. In short: the food and the customized menu were fine, but the party management and adherence to the agreed-upon music selection failed miserably. It's a shame, because the venue has potential (views, location), but I wouldn't recommend it for events where a personal playlist is essential. I hope they improve in this area for future celebrations.