Candid, the colorful, retro-futuristic cocktail bar in Paris's 18th arrondissement

Welcome to Candid, the retro-colored bar in the 18th arrondissement that aims to make cocktails accessible. Every Tuesday, you can become a bartender and create your own drink, or follow the team's advice to discover original tastes!

In the Lamarck-Caulaincourt district, a unique bar opened a few months ago, with the aim of making original cocktails accessible to all, in an area where cocktail bars are few and far between. When you walk through Candid's door, you're transported back in time, with its unique, space-age-inspired decor, full of pop and eye-catching orange colors.

The space isn't very large, but you can sit at the counter, in front of hypnotic lava lamps, and enjoy Dominik's expert advice, or in a more intimate room, filled with mirrors, giving you the impression of changing space-time!

This retro-futuristic spot, with its sixties ambience, offers a menu cleverly devised by a former engineer whose watchword is accessibility, for cocktails far removed from the elitism of those bars reserved for initiates. You don't need to know anything about mixology to choose a drink that suits you and that you're sure to like, just follow your instincts and the indications on the menu: floral, tangy, earthy, there are as many flavors as there are characters.

We let ourselves be guided by the founder, with a request to taste fruity or sweet cocktails, for a gourmet start to the evening. The Mick, best-seller and described as"silky, earthy and herbaceous", wouldn't necessarily have caught our eye at first, and yet it turned out to be perfect, with its mezcal, green chartreuse, citrus, a pinch of cinnamon and CBD! Clarified with milk, this highly creative signature cocktail is smooth and fresh, with a pleasant hint of bitterness.

And if you feel like enjoying it without consuming alcohol, delicious mocktails are on the program, including the one named after the house, the Candid! Based on Martini Floreale, sour apple, vanilla and coconut milk, it's a real journey into a floral and tangy universe, reminiscent of childhood sweets. But these cocktails may not be the same when you visit, as the menu changes seasonally, making it the perfect place to drop in regularly!

Don't miss the immersive mixology class on Tuesday evenings, where you can learn a whole host of techniques and take on the role of bartender for just a moment! It's a rarity in the capital, but here you can prepare your own cocktail, at no extra charge, behind the bar, guided by the team, reflecting our desire to make mixology affordable.

We loved this moment, with the famous cocktail shake, before tasting this blend of Calvados, Danish brandy and rosewater, not yet on the menu, absolutely divine, with its little mousse made with love.

Prices are affordable for cocktails of this quality, ranging from 9 to 14 euros a glass, and 8 euros happy hour on Wednesdays. If you loved your cocktail enough to dream about it at night, you can buy a bottle to take home! And to make sure you don't drink on an empty stomach, we were delighted by a few snacks from the Superproducteur brand, 100% natural from farm to plate, with a choice of vegetable rillettes or creams - a real treat!