With its low-lighting and gloomy front windows, Monsieur Antoine, on a sidestreet off Avenue Parmentier, is hardly eye-catching. But once inside, you can't help but feel welcomed by the rock soundtrack and the sound of the cocktail shaker at work.
We find a comfortable bar stool (a rare thing) and check out the weekly changing list of ten drinks. All the syrups are made in-house and fruit juice is freshly squeezed each morning. Our favourite concoction had to be Le Hermano; Koch mezcal, Campari, lime juice and agave syrup, which added a subtle bitterness. Another surprising success was a peat whiskey with tomato juice – basically a hardcore Bloody Mary. There’s also craft beers and biodynamic wines which are nicely paired with plates of mozzarella, straight from a small Italian producer.
Named after Monsieur Antoine in the French gangster film, 'Tontons flingueurs,' this is the kind of authentic drinking den you won’t be able to pull yourself away from.
TRANSLATION: MEGAN CARNEGIE