Nestled in a beautiful Parisian hotel, this bar offers a mixology experience inspired by Baudelaire.

There are places in the capital that feel like time-stopped enclaves, far from the hustle and bustle, where people gather to rewrite the world in prose. And if Charles Baudelaire so vividly captured the sweet melancholy of the Spleen of Paris, this retreat tucked away in the 1st arrondissement of the capital invites us to dodge the blues while sipping on the Flowers of Evil. To discover this haven for dreamers with a taste for la dolce vita, you first have to push open the doors of Burgundy, a handsome Paris hotel known for its arty spirit, to seek refuge at the heart of its bar Le Charles, conceived in homage to the renowned French writer.

We slip into a hushed, intimate atmosphere, beneath a colorful, floral mural that nods to the poet's famed collection. Here, the menu unfolds as a notebook, sketches revealing the elixirs while the prose hints at their essence. This quirky menu hides a secret: after the drinks, the words of those who came before you slip between the pages, sharing moments and musings, sometimes penned with steady confidence, other times scribbled with a few errant lines.

You can obviously order classic recipes here, but the real point is to discover floral-flavored creations with cocktails designed to suit every taste, with or without alcohol. If you feel overwhelmed by the pages, the team is ready to guide you according to your preferences. That’s how we would have had the chance to discover the Fleurs de Baudelaire, one of the cocktails on the menu’s most iconic offerings, composed of gin infused with rose petals, brut champagne, pomegranate juice and lime.

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A light, fresh, fruity profile that should appeal to those who prefer cocktails on the less-sweet side. The cocktail illustrations give a rough sense of what your drink might look like, but don’t expect them to be 100% accurate. As for price, it sits on the higher end, though in line with similar spots: €25 for an alcoholic cocktail and €16 for a mocktail.

For a private, intimate rendezvous, we also suggest splurging on the 55€ aperitif package, which includes a tapas plate and two cocktails, letting you enjoy a luxury experience at a reasonable price. The sharing plates are, moreover, more generous than what you typically see at venues of this caliber, with decidedly good value for money. We especially recommend the fried zucchini blossom fritters, a highly praised crowd-pleaser that somehow keeps to the theme, right down to the plate.

Generally, the setting is ideally suited for a date or a quiet chat with friends. The vibe is calm; this isn’t the kind of spot where conversations get drowned out by the noise. For louder laughs and a more relaxed toast, you might prefer places like Superfine in the 11th arrondissement. If you’re after other intimate spots that are both creative and gastronomic, where the world seems to pause for a moment, we also recommend Copperbay, tucked inside the Lancaster Hotel.

So, ready to sip on The Flowers of Evil?

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, please drink responsibly.