Walking through the lavishly decorated Hotel Place d’Armes on Luxembourg City’s main square, one thing in particular stands out. The U-shaped bar in the lounge area overlooking the rear terrace looks like a mix between a mixologist’s workshop and an ancient pharmacy.
Dozens of small glass bottles with handwritten labels and a handful of pipettes line the counter.
“Our chief barman aims to have around 300 different essential oils to add to cocktails,” said the hotel’s marketing coordinator, Pauline Pertuisot. “He adds them according to the customer’s taste. If somebody says they like the smell of a specific Guerlain perfume, for example, he will try to match it to make a bespoke cocktail.”
The man behind these quirky creations is Ayrton Mongenie, who is busy testing different essential oil concoctions to add to classic cocktails. He has also come up with a so-called ‘canvas’ cocktail menu, offering eight different drinks which give a nod to famous paintings.
“He takes a painting and makes the cocktail have a similar feel,” Pertuisot added. “The cocktail representing a Monnet painting is yellow with touches of sparkle, like the painting in question. Ayrton is very artistic and art is his passion, so it was his idea.”
Mongenie’s inspiration for his new selection of mocktails comes from his regular clients, with whom he spoke to get a feel for their personality before trying to imitate their character in the alcohol-free drinks.
Terrace of the Year competition winners crowned after 22,000 readers vote
The bar and lounge area overlooks a terrace, which won a Terrace of the Year award following Luxembourg Times readers’ votes. More than 22,000 people reading the Luxembourg Times and its three sister publications voted for their favourite outdoor spots across the country.
Located at the rear of the building, the white terrace is calm and feels private with only a few tables, away from the flurry of the city centre’s main square.
Customers can enjoy one of the bar’s unique cocktails from 15:00 or an afternoon tea of orange juice, tea and a selection of patisseries on a three-tier stand from 16:00.