A welcome compromise between Saint-Germain’s pullulating cocktail bars and the ultra-cool hipster hangouts of Bastille. Behind a discreet façade on a little Marais side street, Sherry Butt (whose young owners Amaury and Cathleen previously worked at Prescription Cocktails Club and Curio Parlour) hides two spacious long rooms filled with studded leather couches, huge mirrors and dim lighting. The space echoes the simultaneously relaxed and classy atmosphere of the best New York bars. Come here for top cocktails mixed by expert hands, and a distinguished selection of whiskies from all over the world.
The cocktail list has just 11 entries, but most of the ingredients are either homemade (like pine nut syrup or champagne syrup) or frankly mysterious, like the Umeshu spirit (made from Japanese plums). Try a fresh ‘Belle en Bulle’ (pisco, pear syrup, lemon and Champagne) or ‘Yuzu Yuzu’ (gin, Japanese citrus spirits), a sweet ‘Frangipane’ (rum, cognac, Champagne, barley syrup, lime and bitter chocolate) or a bitter ‘Shimbashi’ (Japanese whisky, Fino sherry, bitters). They aren’t cheap (€12-€13 a throw) but the service is attentive and well-informed. There’s also a strong menu of European cuisine, though you won’t find a place to sit and eat it on weekends when DJs work the decks.
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