Mabel (Closed)

Address: 58 rue d’Aboukir, Paris, 75002, France
Tel: +33 1 4233 2433
Website: view Mabel (Closed)’s website
Door: Open door
Style: Cocktail bar
Food: Bar Snacks

Review

Please don't tell its owners, but Mabel looks like a speakeasy bar. This cocktail bar is hidden behind a food bar specialized in grilled cheeses, the delicious American sandwich. When you enter the bar, you are surprised by the cosy and contemporary decor. The very long bar is the main attraction, surrounded by comfy seats. It's the best place to talk and appreciate the bartender's elegant moves. One of Mabel's specifics is that you must be seated before ordering a drink.

Co-owner Joseph Akhavan is one of the best bartenders in Paris. After working at Mama Shelter (a hotel designed by Philippe Stark) and La Conserverie, one of the first cocktails bar in Paris, he decided to open a spot with his friend Samantha, and wanted it to be dedicated to two of his passions: mixology and rum, his favourite spirit. Each drink on the menu (17 creations with rum, mezcal, port, gin...) tells a story, with precise style and skill. His homemade products are mostly organic, which is very rare in Paris. Besides, Joseph likes sharing his knowledge with the customers who ask for it. The cocktails are described with several adjectives: fresh, spiced, fruity, light, bitter, strong... One of the best-sellers is served in a bottle: the Bamboo Crane (which won the Nikka Perfect Serve Contest 2011), made with Nikka from the Barrel whisky, Antica Formula, Pedro Ximénez sherry, Bonal, and Bob Abbott's Bitters.

Mabel is also a rum place: Joseph has selected 114 top of the range rums from all around the world. In addition, Samantha, his girlfriend, has a list of six grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu, some of which are cooked with rum. Very addictive!