Tango

All those thirsty for holy water have a new spot in town to check out! After Smudged, bar Tango is here to confess its sins in the shade of Saint-Paul church. Sebastien De Boeck (ex-Le Pristine Café) and Aram Mondt’s (ex-Osaka and Café Commercial) only offense? Shaking up cheeky cocktails made with fresh ingredients that won’t hit your wallet too hard – like the signature Spumoni with Carpano bitters, grapefruit and elderflower, served carbonated with big, branded ice cubes (€9) – and popping open quality bottles – like a German riesling produced by Max Dexheimer (€7.50 a glass) or Oude Gueuze from 3 Fonteinen (€20 a bottle). Pair them all with a few bites to eat by Kirsten Sprokkelenburg (ex-Osaka and Le Pristine), who sends out things like oysters shot through the heart with horseradish, kibbeling (fried cod) stuffed in a bun with homemade tartar sauce, or even mackerel flambéed with verjus and dressed in a coriander vinaigrette. FYI: the devout duo’s cocktails can be bottled up and taken to go for a religious experience at home. // Gordon Zola