If there were an area in Paris where you could pull off a pub crawl successfully, it would have to be Montorgueil. Young, hip Parisians sit outside the mass of bars and cafés on the rue Montorgueil and savour their beverages carefully, watching the world go by and probably discussing Godard, philosophy and whatever interesting articles the Libération printed that day.

True, many Parisians frown on ‘Anglo-Saxon’ high jinks and anyone desirous of drinking more than a couple of vodkas at the weekend or a glass or two of vin rouge to accompany a meal. Wine, like food is taken pretty seriously in France. Serving the wrong bottle of red with your coq au vin could amount to social suicide in some circles. You should probably apply the same policies to wine and politics in France: If you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t venture your opinions. But what about cocktails? Well the New York Times claims that no one in France drinks cocktails, but there must be someone sipping sidecars at old favourite Harry’s New York Bar and willing to pay 20 euros for a beverage at the bar of the Plaza Athenée. They are probably the same serious types deep in discussion though, so where are the mixologists with a sense of fun in Paris?

We have found them, though they are well hidden, it must be said!  The Experimental Cocktail Club can be found on a quiet cobbled sidestreet just off the rue Montorgueil, although you could easily walk past this mecca of alcoholic creations if you weren’t aware of its existence. On a brass plate outside a nondescript door are marked the words “Experimental Cocktail Club”. Even before trying the drinks themselves, you feel slightly privileged and ‘in the know’.

The interior is cosy and modern, providing an intimate experience for the cognoscenti who have tracked down a spot offering cocktails and fun. The deco is pared down with exposed brickwork and beams, a few leather sofas and, of course, the bar. This isn’t somewhere which has to show off with flashy modern furnishings and quirky artwork. You’re here for the cocktails. And the ambiance. When we arrived at around ten o’clock, the bar was fairly empty and we managed to grab seats, in glorious pride of place, at the bar. The menu isn’t the size of a large dictionary as often happens in trendy cocktail bars, but there was enough choice for us to realise that we were going to have to stay for a while, in order to try a few of the mixologist’s creations. And the menu provides enough unusual, different drinks to keep even the most experienced cocktail imbiber entertained. From Tommy’s Margarita Especial (tequila, fresh lime, organic vanilla honey and cloves) to the Strawberry Alarm Clock (Ketel One, strawberries, lemon, mint and strawberry cordial), the cocktails are varied, imaginative and dare we say it… experimental. And delicious.

The Experimental Cocktail Club may be well hidden, but its group on Facebook has over 2,000 members. And about an hour after we arrived some of the ECC’s fans arrived. There aren’t many bars in Paris where people are willing to stand up, but the Experimental Cocktail Club is an exception to this rule. Although the bar was full, with Parisians shouting orders, chatting to each other and a DJ mixing, there was a really fun, unpretentious atmosphere. We quickly understood that this wasn’t the kind of place that attracts wine snobs or people who like to discuss politics in a knowledgeable manner. And we also understood why no one would bother with a pub crawl around here. Drinks like the Experience 1 (Ketel One, fresh lime, basil, lemongrass and elderflower cordial) are not meant for quaffing.

Experimental Cocktail Club,

37, rue St. Sauveur,

Paris 75002

The Experimental Cocktail Club Youtubed…