Le Gabrielle D'Estrees

Success is a difficult one to pin down. For almost twenty years, the Mazouz brothers have been serving as a case study in ‘bars for dummies,’ which should de distributed to all entrepreneurs interested in mixology. We took a spin at the recently updated hangout.

Rule number 1: drinking in peace means staying out of sight. Invest in an out-of-the-way street, without any clear frontage and get a hefty door, like the sort of thing you’d find in a private member’s club. An air of mystery always wins the punters.

Rule number 2: Use décor to create a distinctive and unique interior. Here hôtel particulier meets pop art and orientalism, nicely summed up by the name; Andy (Andy Warhol) Wahloo (meaning ‘nothing’ in Arabic).

Rule number 3: Make cocktails like no on else, such as their exceptional Old Fashioned or the Mexican version, with a formidable mezcal from Oaxaca. There seem to be hundreds to choose from too. Finally, the last rule is to invite a DJ who really knows how to get the crowd going – but still plays tunes to match the place. With all those boxes ticked, you’ll have more than a feeling – you’ll have an atmosphere. Sipping great cocktails without leaving the country is possible but admittedly, you’ll pay a Parisian price for it with drinks hovering around €15.