Têtu : le magazine des gay et lesbiennes

Last week Frère Jack was invited to join 300 other guests at Drinks International’s famous annual contest. Both Paris and London managed to make it into the prestigious list…

Oui, c’etait le soirée des 50 meilleurs bars du monde! The event was held on Northumberland Avenue in London and the large panel of judges included four important French figures:

Alexandre Gabriel: The owner of Cognac Ferrand

Joseph Biolatto: The head bartender at Le Forum in Paris

Julien Escott: The owner of Papa Doble in Montpellier

Marc Bonetton: From L’Anquitaire in Lyon

The private party was sponsored by several exclusive drinks brands including French favourite Prince Hubert de Polignac, and guests were allowed to sample a variety of specially made cocktails (including the one photographed at the top of this post, an exquisite white chocolate creation by Nikka Whisky).

Just for you, Frére Jack has picked out the Top 3 London bars for you that feature on the list. This has little to do with gay culture but lots to do with style and exquisite cocktails! (So sort of?)

1. ARTESIAN - 1C Portland Place, Regent St.

2. NIGHTJAR – 120 City Road

3. CONNAUGHT BAR – Carlos Place, Mayfair

I would also like to give a shout out to this bar called Happiness Forgets, a bit of an underdog on the night that ended up entering the Top 50 list at a stomping  No.12:

HAPPINESS FORGETS - 8-9 Hoxton Square, Shoreditch

Happiness Forgets was described on the night as being “a bunker of a bar with exposed brickwork and a distinct lack of glamour”. Amazing! I was thrilled to see such an alternative venue break its way onto such a prestigious list, and not only that, but land at 12th in the world – wow! You can find out more about this bar here: http://www.happinessforgets.com/

Moving on…

Do you want to know which French bar was rated the highest? Well it was this one…

CANDELARIA – 52 Rue de Saintogne

The highest ranking French bar on the list, and so possibly the best bar in Paris right now, The Candelaria is actually owned by two American business partners and a one of their wives – a Columbian lady – hence the bar’s name. One of the highlights for real cocktail connoisseurs at Candelaria is their “Make Your Own Martini” option by which customers can choose their own gin, vermouth and bitters. I spoke to a representative of the bar and he recommended the “Royal Sherry Cobbler” too – an Amontillado sherry based cocktail made with fresh orange juice and champagne.

http://www.candelariaparis.com/

Following Candelaria on the list, the second best French bar was Le Bar Du Plaza Athénée (25 Avenue Montaigne). Part of the Dorchester Collection, the venue showcases an incredible sculpted glass bar and the interior changes colour from blue to red throughout the course of the evening!

TÊTU would like to thank Drinks International for inviting us to the party. Also, we’d like to know why the goodie bag included a set of golf balls? Not the best thing to give Frère Jack following a night of free cocktails!

Find the full list of bars on http://www.worlds50bestbars.drinksint.com