Artisan (CLOSED)

Good luck asking for 'the usual' in this new bar in trendy SoPi (South Pigalle) – the menu changes every two weeks, in accordance with the seasonal produce and the whims of the owners. Artisan arrives on the cocktail scene with serious bourgeois credentials: it's run by the team who brought Parisians Long Island meat platters, and the resident mixologist Frédéric Le Bordays is the man behind the cocktail recipe book 'Les nouveaux cocktails classiques'. It more or less lives up to the hype.

Heading in, you find yourself in a spacious, well-lit room punctuated by large stone pillars and the elegant U-shaped bar. High tables, an olive tree and a collection of ancient-looking mirrors complete the picture (there's also a darker, cosier room in the back). Old-school soul and jazz on the sound system set the mood for a chilled drink or two – the prices (€8-14 for a cocktail, €5-7 for a glass of wine) will ensure that you keep an eye on the rounds. Behind the bar, Le Bordays works wonders with classics like Vermouth, which he spices up with a range of surprising ingredients. If you get the munchies, posh snacks are on hand to fill you up: the tomato bruschetta with strawberries and parmesan is particularly enticing.