Little Felix, a French-style cocktail bar brings a sophisticated and intimate slice of 1920s Paris to Sydney’s CBD with a reimagined classic cocktail offering.
Little Felix Sydney – Photo Supplied
Located on Ash Street adjacent to Felix Restaurant, Little Felix by Merivale (Charlie Parker’s, The Paddington) channels the heady times in Paris when cocktails and champagne were de rigueur.
The cocktail list plays on what may have been served to the likes of Hemingway at the time. Well-known classics from the great Parisian bars and hotels of the early 20th century have been gently refreshed them to give them modern relevance. “Embracing provenance as a guide for these developments, we used French liquors as modifiers to the tried and tested recipes,” says group bars manager Sam Egerton.
The classic French 75 – a combination of gin, citrus and champagne – is reborn as Paris Meridian, named after the line that ran through the Paris Observatory. Three versions of the drink are on offer: Villages with Beefeater gin, Farigoule de Forcalquier, a thyme liqueur from Provence, Lemon, and Chandon Blanc de Blanc, Premier Cru with Beefeater 24 Gin and ‘R’ de Ruinart while Grand Cru uses a combination of Monkey 47 Gin with Dom Pérignon in addition to the citrus component.
The Sidecar, said to have been invented for an American army captain and first made at The Ritz Hotel is named Le Ricain, a French nickname for Americans. It’s made with a similar structure, ranging from Hennessy VS with Cointreau, lemon juice, Le Birlou apple and chestnut liqueur to Hennessy Paradis and Bertrand Curaçao for the Grand Cru version.
From the Digestif list, Some Assemblage Required combines Maker’s Mark with Campari, Pineau des Charentes and Antica Formula for a slow sipper while We’ll Always Have Paris brings together Noilly Pratt with Cassis, Monkey 47 and Gentiane de Lure for a night cap.
Naturally, a selection of champagne is on offer, served by the glass are poured by magnum adding a theatrical element. Guests can order back vintages from the extensive list at neighbouring Felix.
Little Felix opens on Friday 9th August.
Click through the following pages to view more images of the venue.
