12/04/06

Anise drink grotto.

by emeraldcoupdegrace

Ever since discovering the joys and wonders of licorice tasting drinks, I have been looking for a friendly bar that served anise spirits, (Emerald green or otherwise).

I have located a pixie grotto in Brooklyn where these elixirs flit.

It?s called Barbes and it is now my home.

Everything about this place is wondrous, from the engraved tin ceiling to the dim romantic red glow of the place.

Cabinet type windows look into the performance space ? and one of these is guarded by on old French Zoltar fortune teller type bust.

I overheard one soused punter mistaking the bust for the performance space ticket taker.

Barbes hosts an amazing array of exceptional performers, but I was so taken aback with the friendliness of the barman and the people cramming the place I never made it into the second room!

The first drink I ordered was a modern Absinthe, called Absente.

This was delivered with accompanying carafe of ice water as it should. A unusually French looking girl asked me about it and I explained that it was Absinthe with the Grande Wormwood exchanged with a less bitter cousin called Southern-Wormwood, also known as "Petite Absinthe,"

I noticed a preponderance of good looking guys with shaved heads and black rimmed glasses. Including myself and the bartender and inventor of the delicious Bar Belle ? a Citron Cosmopolitan with a splash of Campari, Ricard and a twist of some sort of peel? the red lighting was washing out my rods and cones and I couldn?t see what color the peel was? but one sip of it and I was relaxing in the anise flavored winds of Pontarlier.

The anise drink menu makes it compulsory for me but I assure you the place is magic for anyone.

Review by The Wez.

• Pros: Anise drinks, Service, cosy.

09/15/06

Global music--often live--and a worldly neighborhood crowd.

by Contributor

The Scene
Proving a French influence means something other than steak frites and a few Rue-De-Whatever signs, this modest bar and performance space brings European panache to the Slope's what's-on-tap scene. Decent French wines and classic pastis cocktails, combined with a surprising musical program, draw a literate, well-traveled crowd who know how to linger and mingle. Bring your dominos and Djarums.

The Draw
While the tin-ceiling bar is owned by two French-born Brooklyn musicians, its back room offers a globe-spinning variety of entertainment nightly--from international film nights and readings to a ragtime band or rumba--all performed under the "Hotel D'Orsay" sign hovering above the stage. Watch for the owners in their own inventive band, Bebe Eiffel, featuring a tuba and a banjo.

07/24/05

A very cool bar!

by chabela007

A very cool bar with a French name. Its nice atmosphere and great entertainment with all types of music performed, sometimes filmstrips -- Monday nights are international film, Tuesdays readings. Also, they offer a real Irish session, a ragtime band or rumba later in the week. I love taking my friends over there -- they really enjoy it. Whenever I go I always meet very interesting, well-travelled and -learned people.

• Pros: People, Conversations, Music
• Cons: Size

06/18/03

Cool with out trying

by trebla

A very friendly little place. I was there on a tuesday night and there was a clesmer jam. It was great. The owners know what they are doing. Try it you'll like it.

• Pros: Atmosphere
• Cons: Too far from my house

10/11/02

Tu vuo fa l'Americano?

by vespaboy

Barbes is the perfect place to meet for a pre or post dinner cocktail. The staff is super friendly, the happy hour just right ($4 cocktails like the Side Car and the Americano!), and the ambience a bit of the Rive Gauche in the Slope. Thanks Zack for the drinks and stories! Salud.

• Pros: Ambience, Drinks, Music