Oak, mahogany, crimson velvet, heavy curtains and French Second Empire style furniture…. Not much has changed since Le Bar du Raphael was opened in 1925. This timeless boudoir was once frequented by Gainsbourg, and more recently by Bernard-Henri Lévy, and as of late, by yours truly for Le Fooding. Cleverly mixed by the classy Christian Gomez, dressed in a double-breasted jacket, the menu has a selection of forty cocktails: short ones like the Sazerac (rye, absinthe, Peychaud’s bitters, sugar, €23), and long ones like the Fizz 24 (Beefeater 24 gin, fresh grapefruit juice, sugar, soda, €25), along with a few alcohol-free varieties like the Cucumberry (cucumber purée, raspberry, Champagne syrup, lemonade, €15). And to make the evening last a little longer, you can indulge in a club sandwich (€20) or a plate of blinis and Sologne caviar (€80). // A.B.
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