Amaro: a cocktail bar dedicated to bitters in the heart of Paris's 9th arrondissement

Amaro is the spot imagined by chef-restaurateur Philippe Baranes. This dining and cocktail bar puts bitterness in the spotlight with an exclusive cocktail menu. Head to Paris's 9th arrondissement to experience the art of Northern Italian Aperitivo as if you were there!

If you're as passionate about Italian culture as chef-restaurateur Philippe Baranes is, then the Negroni is surely one of your favorite cocktails! Already behind Braisenville (2011) and Il Cuoco Galante (2017), innovative concept creator Philippe Baranes has given birth to his third Parisian establishment. Nestled in the 9th arrondissement, Amaro is the very first cocktail bar dedicated to bitters in Paris. Designed by architect François Doll, the place has been conceived as an anti-speakeasy with a Venetian pink decor.

But what exactly are bitters? Bitters are alcoholic beverages made from infusions, decoctions or macerations of bitter or sweet-tasting plant ingredients (herbs, plants, fruit and vegetables, spices, etc.), mixed with wine (vermouth) or alcohol (Amari). At Amaro, lovers of these Italian specialties can discover an exclusive menu featuring some of the most popular references, as well as the most cutting-edge nuggets. The menu plays with the flavors ofamari, vermouth and bitters. In-house bitters are also devised by mixologist Julie Martin.

In all, some fifteen cocktails are offered on the menu, with plans to continually evolve with the seasons. And of course, at Amaro, the art of theAperitivo is enjoyed in its entirety. The bar also offers a tempting selection of traditional gourmet snacks. What's on the menu? Bruschetta brurrata, eggplant caviar, polpette or squid with lemon emulsion.

A menu that the editorial team was able to try once again... We particularly love the polpette, with its melt-in-your-mouth texture and particularly well-seasoned, tangy tomato sauce. Special mention must also go to the calamari and its fresh lemon emulsion. An extremely fine cuisine, with a very simple composition, to be enjoyed without moderation...

As for cocktails, the classic Negroni d'Amaro awakened our taste buds, while the Verdant added a very special touch of bitterness. Special mention must also go to the Bellini revisited in season, with its red plum juice in place of the peach juice. A real treat for Bellini lovers like us... In short, a menu we can't recommend highly enough!

To round off this fine selection, Amaro doesn't forget to include raw produce from small producers, with cheese (taleggio, pecorino sardo, gorgonzola) and cured meats (24-month Parma ham, mortadella, finocchiona, speck, Nduja) from the boot.

So, are you ready to take off for Northern Italy?

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.