Speakeasy: 404 Not Found, a hidden cocktail bar a stone's throw from Place de la Bastille in Paris

It's a secret haunt with some big surprises in store. To discover it, you'll have to head to the Bastille district where Prost awaits you, a Franco-German restaurant offering good beers and German specialties for a good price. We head upstairs, through a steampunk-esque industrial setting, to a large drinks fridge. On the left, an unobtrusive handle will alert you. Your curiosity is well rewarded: by pulling it, you'll discover a secret staircase and an enigmatic sign: 404 Not Found.

Determined to unravel the mystery, you climb the stairs step by step to discover a hidden room. The Jules Verne spirit of Prost has given way to an intimate, Haussmann-style salon, where designer furniture contrasts with moldings and ceiling paintings that take you back to a Paris at the dawn of the French Revolution. Through the windows, you can see the July Column rising over the Place de la Bastille, like a window to the present from an anachronistic location. But it's not a bug: you've just found 404 Not Found, Prost's speakeasy.

In this hidden bar, two twin lounges await us, immersing us in an atmosphere that is both historic and contemporary. One of them features the counter behind which head bartender Paul Meltzer passionately concocts elixirs that will enchant the taste buds of mixology enthusiasts. The creations are literally brought to light the moment they are placed at your table, like a kind of ceremony unique to 404 Not Found.

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At the time of our visit, the menu unveiled cocktails in homage to Paris that were not yet the creations of this talented alchemist. While the recipes presented at the time were refreshingly gourmet, we got a real feel for Paul's savoir-faire when we challenged her on the bespoke cocktail, also offered on the menu. She brilliantly succeeded in adapting to a number of constraints and expressing her creativity on a carte blanche by juggling flavors and textures.

Here, if you let yourself be guided by this artist-barman, you don't just come for a drink, you live a cocktail experience. During our stopover at 404 Not Found, we'll see her busy between orders, trying out and testing new recipes, making progress on her preparations, and our curiosity takes over. What will her future menu look like? Paul then outlines his inspiration, which should be all the more in keeping with the setting and location of this surprising speakeasy. Expect creative cocktails with a slightly more historical dimension. To be continued!