82 replies to this topic

[Forest]

La Lucha Libre for Mexican wrestling and cocktails! (in truth, the cocktails kinda suck, but the ambience is fun!). The Curio was fun the other night too.

thanks fresh_a....wrestling AND cocktails...well, sounds like an unbeatable combination. will check it out for the ambience at least. And, yes, I'm always happy with the Curio cocktails, but as it gets nicer outside, it's harder to drag friends into the dark bars....i really like the decor there, but it feels more wintery. But, i do love to stop in their for the spiced mules...very tasty!

[Forest]

How about Le Bar des Roses for cocktails, seems like it is getting a lot of attention.

Yeah apparently at the Bar des Roses the food is good (ex chef from Fogon)

So I tried Le Bar Des Roses for drinks and food last night. Someone there knows or appreciates cocktails because the menu's good for Paris. I had a nice martini & they offer up quite a few drinks (including Aviations & Martinez - neither of which are too common on Paris cocktail menus, but pretty standard cocktails in the big scheme of things). The cocktails menu offers a potential upgrade for top shelf liquor (9 for the standards, 12 for something 'nicer') I just asked for a martini and they poured bombay sapphire.

The terrace will not be a go for a couple of weeks though. Apparently they are waiting for an okay to put some tables out front (which means you will either be dining facing rue de clichy or the cross street - neither of which are particularly quiet).

The food - tapas style was also good (try the beef as a main dish or tapas!). But, don't want to go OT here, so feel free to PM me for details on that front.

[Forest]

Update on Baxo, which I mentioned I was going to try in a search for cocktails on terraces - yikes! worst drink I've ever had in my life. No gin in the house, so i took the dirty vodka martini off their menu...not my fav, but figured it was the closest thing they offered to a martini. Pretty much undrinkable...warm, served in a glass with chips on the lip and tasted like I was drinking pure olive brine. yuck. I'll post a longer review on my wednesday drinks blog, but you don't really need to know more than I wouldn't go back for a cocktail. (for full disclosure, I did not try a 2nd there and my two companions went for wine...perhaps they have a better handle on the other drinks, but i wasn't willing to waste another 8 Euros to find out)

Edited by Forest, 02 April 2009 - 06:30 AM.

[John Talbott]

March 20th in the on line version, March 22nd print one, Jean Tang in the NYT touted l'Experimental Cocktail Club, in the 2nd, open since 2007.

[daisy17]

Does anyone know what time Experimental Cocktail Club opens? Can't seem to find that info anywhere. Thanks.

[sugar plum]

Hopefully this isn't too late. It looks like it opens at 6pm. See here:

http://thecocktailgu...tal-experience/

Does anyone know what time Experimental Cocktail Club opens? Can't seem to find that info anywhere.  Thanks.

[fresh_a]

Any comments on Le Magnifique?

[sugar plum]

Er, this is to correct the post below. My sister and I popped over to see if the Experimental Cocktail Club was open last Saturday at 7pm. We waited until 7:20pm and gave up. They didn't seem to have any interest in opening up and serving us so we carried on with our evening elsewhere. From our experience, I wouldn't suggest going too early (we were hoping to get a pre-dinner cocktail but alas, it wasn't meant to be!).

Hopefully this isn't too late.  It looks like it opens at 6pm.  See here:

http://thecocktailgu...tal-experience/

Does anyone know what time Experimental Cocktail Club opens? Can't seem to find that info anywhere.  Thanks.

[pierre45]

I prefer lounges to cocktail places.They are lively,with beautiful people and enticing world music.

[Forest]

Er, this is to correct the post below.  My sister and I popped over to see if the Experimental Cocktail Club was open last Saturday at 7pm.  We waited until 7:20pm and gave up.  They didn't seem to have any interest in opening up and serving us so we carried on with our evening elsewhere.  From our experience, I wouldn't suggest going too early (we were hoping to get a pre-dinner cocktail but alas, it wasn't meant to be!).

Hopefully this isn't too late.  It looks like it opens at 6pm.  See here:

http://thecocktailgu...tal-experience/

Does anyone know what time Experimental Cocktail Club opens? Can't seem to find that info anywhere.  Thanks.

i think both experimental and curio seem to be a bit unpredictable with their hours....I've been to the experimental as early as 7 (actually thought it was 6pm...but perhaps it was 7) and it was open. As for curio, I think they used to open at 9pm, but i've also been there as early as 7 lately. So, seems like there is a lot of mixed reports on their hours. I'll call them later tonight to see if we can get an actual opening time.

[Forest]

Any comments on Le Magnifique?

hey fresh_a...no comments from me on this one as i haven't been yet. on the list...but got a bit sidetracked last month so I've fallen a bit behind. curious to hear what you think if you've been. otherwise, i'm going to try and get out there this month & will let you know what I think.

Edited by Forest, 05 June 2009 - 04:54 AM.

[fresh_a]

Well I was at the Experimental last friday around midnight and had a great time. Carina was en plein forme.

[Forest]

Er, this is to correct the post below.  My sister and I popped over to see if the Experimental Cocktail Club was open last Saturday at 7pm.  We waited until 7:20pm and gave up.  They didn't seem to have any interest in opening up and serving us so we carried on with our evening elsewhere.  From our experience, I wouldn't suggest going too early (we were hoping to get a pre-dinner cocktail but alas, it wasn't meant to be!).

Hopefully this isn't too late.  It looks like it opens at 6pm.  See here:

http://thecocktailgu...tal-experience/

Does anyone know what time Experimental Cocktail Club opens? Can't seem to find that info anywhere.  Thanks.

i think both experimental and curio seem to be a bit unpredictable with their hours....I've been to the experimental as early as 7 (actually thought it was 6pm...but perhaps it was 7) and it was open. As for curio, I think they used to open at 9pm, but i've also been there as early as 7 lately. So, seems like there is a lot of mixed reports on their hours. I'll call them later tonight to see if we can get an actual opening time.

well, i'm pretty slow on a response to this, but I was at the Experimental a few weeks ago and checked again with them and 7 is their official opening time.

And, while I'm here, I want to give a little shout out to Christophe over at the Why bar (60, Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, 75001 Paris) who previously worked the Forum but now has since opened his own spot. The place is pretty quiet, but he mixes up some nice drinks and some crazy deconstructed ones at a decent price for what you're getting (drinks around 10 - 12, during summer caips & mojitos at 6). I've blogged on him lately so I won't repeat that whole thing...but if you like either classic or interesting cocktails, I think it's worth a visit over here. He's a nice guy with a solid small collection behind the bar and very interested in cocktails. The place doesn't have a loungey feel, per se, but it's quiet & comfy and has a little sidewalk terrace that would be good if you get there early enough to grab a spot during the warm summer evenings.

[Forest]

How about Le Bar des Roses for cocktails, seems like it is getting a lot of attention.

So I tried Le Bar Des Roses for drinks and food last night. Someone there knows or appreciates cocktails because the menu's good for Paris.

Also, just as a bit of an update on Bar des Roses - There have been some changes to staff (chef & barman, I think) and the bar menu (as well as the food menu) have changed slightly. I've heard a lot of people complaining about a drop in the quality of the service and slight drop in quality of offerings...I haven't been for a bit & last time I was there I had wine, but (as I've already posted seperately about the food) I'm wondering if they are heading into a downward phase? Anyone been recently and have any comments on the drinks?

[Forest]

In view of 'la crise' we're on the hunt for cocktail bars with happy hours...anyone have any favorites that offer up good happy hour prices! As always...thanks for the input.

Updates from my end: I haven't stumbled across anything new and interesting lately, but I did make a visit to the Andy Wahloo not long ago and the drinks were not bad and the happy hour good (5 Euros cocktails from 5 to 8).

Also, if anyone is tempted to try cocktails at the lounge of the Sublim Eiffel (whose website makes it look rather interesting) stay away from the mixed drinks. Funny, funky little place, but not worth the trip for a cocktail.

Edited by Forest, 12 August 2009 - 06:21 AM.

[Forest]

Someone just sent me this link to a list of the best cocktail bars in the Guardian. I'm all for the Experimental and the Curio, which are the top two listed there, but there are a few here that I've never heard of. I'll start trying them out, but if anyone has any info on the other bars worth sharing, I'm all ears.

[fresh_a]

Funny, two of the bars mentionned are located on the author's home street. I'd never heard of them either, but I can imagine why they're getting coverage...

[Forest]

Any comments on Le Magnifique?

okay, finally I got around to trying le Magnifique & was rather impressed. It was admittedly a little tougher to give it a really critical eye because I have some friends in town, so Wednesday's crowd was a bit bigger and more distracting than usual. But, my martini was superb (16 Euros). I could get a martini of equal quality for a bit less, but I really liked the vibe in this place. The Colin Field inspired drinks (20 Euros) wowed us less. (he helped them develop the menu) The ambience is very low-key swanky lounge. Sofas, low tables, dark lighting. You have to ring to enter and the guy looks throught the little window box before letting you in. Of note also, there is a fumoir. I'll blog on it later this week, but those are the key elements. I'm going to go back on my own or just with one other person to get a really good look at what they're doing behind the bar.

Fresh_a: Have you been since your post? I'm curious to hear what you think of it.

[Forest]

also of note re: Magnifique (25 rue richelieu) is that their website says they open at 7, but actually they open at 8.

[Forest]

well, i haven't been around here in awhile (in fact the entire France forum seems pretty quiet these days). But, due to a query from a fellow EGer and a search for cocktails for a pre-concert drink tonight I notice that my cocktail bar unchartered spaces on it. I am on the hunt for cocktail bars:

1. around champs de mars
2. around Bercy

if anyone has any suggestions for these areas, feel free to send them my way!

[Forest]

okay people...that time of year again...seeking ideas for cocktail bars with really killer terraces for a drink in the nice weather! Thanks!

[Forest]

well, I haven't posted much here lately because there seem to be so few of us lurking around these days, but i wanted to give a little mention to La Conserverie, 37 bis rue Sentier, for their cocktails. Lots of fresh ingredients and TLC behind the bar of this hip, loungey stop.

[KD1191]

I can't seem to find any info on what days Experimental, Curio and Prescription are open. I'll be visiting Sunday-Tuesday and was hoping to hit all three. Any further details on days/hours of operation would be greatly appreciated.