In launching its first cocktail bar in the heart of Paris, esteemed drinks group Moet Hennessy thought it best that it started with something special. Enlisting the help of designer Rami Fischler and restaurateur and bar owner Franck Audoux, the bar grew from the concept of replicating the spirit and class of Audoux’s own bar, located in the 16th arrondissement, into a much larger space that acted as a beacon of bacchanalia. Named ‘Cravan’, after the avant-garde poet Arthur Cravan, the bar takes up residence in a five-story 17th-century building. Different bars can be found on different floors of the building – along with a Rizzoli bookstore for those inclined to splash the cash on coffee table books having imbibed a few choice tipples.
Historic elements fill the space, juxtaposed with contemporary furnishings that collaborate to create a luxe environment that steers away from the usual bland direction that swanky cocktail bars can often be inclined to follow. Emerald marble, handsome panelling and herringbone parquet add to a set filled with decorative yet functional furniture that is used as much as it is admired. Offcuts from the fashion labels of the LVMH Group were used in the furnishings via Nona Source, a company that retrieves unused textiles for repurposing, and every piece was custom-designed by Fischler to emphasize the bespoke, one-of-a-kind approach of the entire operation. Visit for cocktails and people-watching now.
Photography © Vincent Leroux / Alice Fenwick