BajaNomad

Hotel Joker

Bajahowodd - 3-16-2009 at 10:46 AM

For more years than I care to reveal, I have driven past the kitchy looking Hotel Joker and simultaneously giggled at its appearance, and location on the South end of Ensenada. I tried using the search function and came up with zero. Was wondering if anyone here has stayed there, and if anyone knows any history about it. Its location is almost as much of a puzzle as its architecture.

DENNIS - 3-16-2009 at 10:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
For more years than I care to reveal, I have driven past the kitchy looking Hotel Joker and simultaneously giggled at its appearance, and location on the South end of Ensenada. I tried using the search function and came up with zero. Was wondering if anyone here has stayed there, and if anyone knows any history about it. Its location is almost as much of a puzzle as its architecture.


It is/was owned by a couple of brothers who have/had Casas De Cambio in Ensenada. "La Moneda" if my memory isn't completely shot.
I never could understand the location but, the place has had some good restaurant action in the past but, that seems to be a matter of history as well. Once it was "El As" them "Molcajete"just to name a couple. We stopped in the bar a while back, early afternoon, place was empty and my buddy had a Bloody Mary for which he was charged eight bucks. That was it for us.
Oh yeah....during the various races, the place does business. P.T. Barnum was right.

[Edited on 3-16-2009 by DENNIS]

Lindalou - 3-16-2009 at 11:52 AM

We stayed there a couple of times before we moved here. It was always clean and quite and we felt quite safe. The resturant was really good at that time too. A lot more people are staying there then it looks like from the street. Its been about a year since we were there.

bajabound2005 - 3-16-2009 at 12:02 PM

the restaurant is closed...again.

DENNIS - 3-16-2009 at 12:06 PM

Road construction took it's toll along that stretch of road. I'll bet they had to raise the price of that Bloody Mary to fifteen bucks just to make up for lost revenue.

DENNIS - 3-16-2009 at 12:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by squintingringo
Restaurant "El As" used to be great. Stopped there for lunch a couple of months ago and it was closed. There were a bunch of Federicos hanging around and having some kind of a meal served. The guard in the parking lot said they were only serving food to the Feds???


What kind of Feds? The imported warriors or the smarmy nasty bastards with the dark aviator shades? If it's the latter, I'm getting a bad feeling about this place.

Lindalou - 3-16-2009 at 01:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
the restaurant is closed...again.
Too bad, I had some wonderfully cooked fish there.

Bajahowodd - 3-16-2009 at 02:57 PM

Thanks, guys, for the info.:yes:

Fred - 3-16-2009 at 04:44 PM

A few years ago it was a good place to watch the top boxing matches and cheap beer. Have not stopped in a long time.

sylens - 3-16-2009 at 05:06 PM

after "el as," but before the latest incarnation, the restaurant was korean:lol:. we stopped in once to check it out, but it had just closed, to open soon under new management and with a different name.