The old pastry shop in Malasaña that has become a strange upholstered business: "You only see one hand taking out your ice cream"

The once familiar pastry shop in Malasaña has transformed into an unusual, enigmatic business: "You can only see one hand pulling out your ice cream." At first glance, the establishment stands out not for its vibrant colors but for its stark, minimalist facade. The front wall is made of exposed concrete, with large white letters, “Nodo”, visible in the upper left corner. The only visible opening is a hole in the center, inviting passersby to peer inside. This unique setup has become a talking point, especially after gaining traction on social media platforms like Instagram, where it has amassed nearly 14,000 likes from well-known content creators. One of the two employees present on a late-August morning confirmed that the shop would remain closed temporarily, at least until the following Thursday. For the first time, visitors could glimpse through a side door that normally conceals an aluminum partition. The staff explained that the closure was part of minor renovations, though they offered little detail. They expressed hope for a quick reopening, although no official date had been announced yet. The shop’s distinctiveness is already noted in online searches: “More than an ice cream shop, Nodo is an experience. A raw concrete wall and a mysterious single hole from which our frozen desserts appear.” The description continues to recommend the place for those seeking “ice cream in Malasaña, frozen desserts, Korean bingsu, viral desserts,” or simply “a different ice cream shop to discover this summer.” On social media, the establishment presents itself as a seasonal pop-up, reimagining traditional Korean bingsu, a dessert featuring finely shaved ice layered with flavors. It incorporates modern twists, offering popular flavors such as lotus, chocolate Dubai, matcha, pistachio, and oreo. The packaging, from the enigmatic entrance to the quirky aesthetics of the ice, is designed to make these frozen treats highly shareable. Influencers like @vadeplanes have praised the novelty of the concept, questioning why Madrid still lacked such a spot. In a video posted a month earlier, she described her visit to number 41 on Calle de la Palma, where the shop is located. One of its notable features is the requirement to order via a tablet placed outside the hole leading to the store. At its peak, the shop attracted long lines of customers eager to try the ice cream. When space ran out indoors, the queue spilled onto the sidewalk. During this temporary closure, the shop has removed the screen and replaced it with a metallic mechanism. Now, a sign bearing the name “Nodo” and some Korean alphabet letters is visible. A worker from another nearby bar recalled the curiosity surrounding the shop: “It was strange: you could barely see a hand pulling out the ice cream.” He wasn’t surprised by the increasing number of businesses in the area that offer enigmatic or exclusive experiences, often generating long queues of videos shared on social media. Online reviews, however, show mixed responses. Some users who visited the shop were unaware it was closed, leaving behind complaints in recent posts. As of the latest update, search engines warn potential visitors of the current status. Among the 124 comments available, many rate the experience highly. One user, identified as “Eva A.,” wrote weeks ago about their experience with the mangonada, one of the offerings.