Welcome La Oficina to 759 Grand Street! La Oficina is a Latino dive bar, existing at the intersection of punk rock and Latino culture. Owner Julian Villegas dreamed of opening up a bar that would cater to both his Colombian heritage and his love for punk rock - achieving that with La Oficina. This comes in the form of salsa nights, punk rock nights - and nights featuring both at the same time. The one constant is “it's always a good time”, as Julian puts it. On the weekends they host either a DJ or a themed party; and on Thursdays La Oficina’s backroom turns into a Latino comedy club, with performances in mostly Spanish.
The bar is adorned with a mix of punk rock and Latino aesthetics - the artwork all being sourced from friends of Julian’s. The decor is adorned with a vibrant and wide range of art; ranging from neon backlit skulls to portraits of Pablo Escobar. There are also a handful of funny pieces of art - including a portrait of Tom Cruise (slide 4) and references to “The Office” (La Oficina’s English namesake).
Julian Villegas, Owner
Julian worked as a chef for 13 years, including time at Michelin starred Eleven Madison Park and critically acclaimed restaurant Kat & Theo. His first job in NYC was at Eleven Madison Park, where he learned English on the job. After a month he was promoted, and eventually received high praise from the head chef calling him the best line cook he’s ever worked with. After Eleven Madison Park Julian had stints at several other restaurants, even working in the Hamptons. Julian worked as a chef for 13 years, including time at Michelin starred Eleven Madison Park and critically acclaimed restaurant Kat & Theo. He brings that experience to the menu, which offers Colombian and Mexican dishes alongside some bar staples. Taquitos, Salchipapas, Elote, and Quesadillas are some of the dishes La Oficina is offering.
Eventually, Julian transitioned from the kitchen to the bar - wanting to have more time in his life to spend with his family. Back in Bogota, Colombia, Julian used to run a bar for a handful of years - this combined kitchen and bar experience is brought to the table with La Oficina. Julian’s favorite aspect of running La Oficina is sharing all of his knowledge of both the bar and the kitchen with his staff. “It’s exciting to see people agree with you when you know what you’re doing”. He places an emphasis on building trust and communication with his team, and wants customers to know that. Julian wants folks who visit La Oficina to notice the professionalism and kindness of the team, and look forward to returning. Swing by 759 Grand Street to check out La Oficina, the neighborhood’s newest bar!
