With its very bare-bones unfinished walls and extremely minimalist decor, Povera could easily be mistaken for an abandoned bar. That is until the clock strikes apéro hour and the owner assumes his position behind the bar (Maxime Potfer, who used to work at the Experimental Cocktail Club), when the place comes to life with the sound of cocktail shakers and ice cubes. What is there to sip on? Drinks made with local and seasonal ingredients, like the signature Text Book alchemizing blended whisky, Christian Drouin hard apple cider eau-de-vie, vermouth, Campari, olive leaf and Antésite, a licorice concentrate (€15), or the inspired Lavoisier that combines pisco, orgeat syrup, charred toast, oat milk, egg white and Angostura bitters (€14). There are also some unexpected mocktails (Lya Verra with Carros strawberries, fenugreek, lemon and tonic water for €9), a hearty handful of natural wines sourced from the Fanfan & Loulou wine shop (a German riesling from Max Dexheimer at €7.50 a glass), and good snacks – like the Pompon focaccia topped with scamorza, purple mustard, pickled fennel and zucchini jam (€9). // Lenny Vega