The Parisian cocktail scene is far from dead – especially since Alex Francis and Barney O’Kane opened their own bar. After shaking the ice at the iconic Little Red Door, the British duo are now bringing their signature drinks to vibrant Rue Montorgueil, where a large ceramic bar and two light-wood tables set the stages for their virtuoso creations. These highly seasonal liquid assets rotate daily and are best explored via the five-course tasting menu (€55), also available in non-alcoholic form, rather than picking from the fifteen or so individual creations on the menu. That evening, we dipped into: a Venetian sgroppino with a Norman twist, blending meadow-honey sorbet, mead and elderflower – perfectly smooth and delicate. Next came a lively, aromatic aperitif of purple shiso, umeshu and rosé cider. Then a salty stopover on Breton shores, alchemizing kombu liqueur, dashi and citron brandy, with a whisper of Martini-like bitterness; followed by a floral mocktail of hay cordial and non-alcoholic orange wine; before finishing on a chilled strawberry wine lifted by a geranium infusion – a joyfully playful finale. All accompanied by a few clever grazeables (fermented wild mushroom chips, chicken liver parfait with strawberry scone, hake tempura and asparagus tartare – €15 for three), just enough to keep things grounded along the way. · Albin Nycta