Monsieur Antoine: Casual Cocktails & Caterpillar Salt

Since opening last November, Monsieur Antoine has been doing a tidy little business of pulling in the Avenue Parmentier pedestrians for refreshments plus an alternative playlist (think The Growlers, The Strokes, etc.) You might easily amble past the low-key exterior without realizing the liquid goodies that lie within. Inside, you’ll find natural wines and artisanal beers on tap, plus a dozen or so cocktails at 12 Euros. While the majority of their nearby neighbors might be putting out drinks that are more fruit or sugar forward, here you can order up something a little more sophisticated with quality brands like the Quenza (Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, black lemon and shiso.) Or the Mezcal-based Hermano, which makes for a nice aperitif with the addition of Campari and lime that give it a bright and bitter profile. It’s also rimmed with caterpillar and grasshopper salt and mixed with a regularly changing selection of less intimidating spices. (Coincidentally, we were just talking about worm salt a couple of months ago…) For something a little more pedagogic (or stiff) try one of their spirit flights like the mescal trio of Koch, Union & Leyenda Guerrero for €22. The interior is stylish [...]