I had the pleasure of discovering the newly renovated Nacarat Cocktail Club & Bar in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, this past week. The venue, boasting impressive light fixtures atop the bar, gave me major retro vibes. Inspired by David Bowie’s alter ego Ziggy Stardust, Nacarat Cocktail Club & Bar is stimulating for the eyes and taste buds.
The swanky bar is well located in the heart of downtown Montreal. If you are in the area, this is your new afterwork spot. The ambiance is lively yet the design can provide as much or as little privacy as you want. Ready to mingle? Hang out by the bar, meet people and watch the mixologists as they craft your cocktails. Want to stick to the people you know or have a tête-à-tête? Opt for a table by the window, a banquette with dim lighting or the lounge area in the hotel lobby.
Cocktail delights
Nacarat Cocktail Club & Bar lives up to its name by offering a wide variety of spirits, wines, beers, ciders, aperitifs, champagnes and signature cocktails. Whether you drink or play for the virgin team like me, you are sure to find your poison. Mine is the Mind The Door cocktail made with Seedlip Spice, a non-alcoholic spirit. This frosty drink topped with raspberry, blackberry and lime edge garnish is refreshing and an experience for the palate. It is served with a metal straw which, for me, is the cherry on top! I can appreciate a team who cares about sustainability and does its part to reduce waste.
From the decor to the food, service and mixology, Nacarat Cocktail Club & Bar is distinctive and shows attention to detail. Leading the charge is Nader Chabaane, Tunisia-raised but internationally-made. Now in Montreal, Chabaane is bringing innovation and mystery to the local mixology scene.
Nacarat’s new Signature Cocktails menu was crafted to tantalize the tongue and showcase a wide range of flavor profiles from Umami to sour to sweet to bitter to spicy and back to Umami which is savory.
More of a on the rocks type? The Whisky list is extensive and includes Crown Royal Northern Rye, Jameson, Lot 40 and Johnnie Walker Blue Label, of course. Nacarat also carries twenty-two Rhums such as Bacardi, Barbancourt and Brugal Papa Andres. The Nacarat bar is fully stocked with Gin, wine, Tequila, Mezcal, Vodka, Amaro, Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, Liqueur, Grappa and Eaux de vie. As for the mixed drink lovers, you will also be served. How does a Bourbon with raspberry and bell pepper sorbet (La Marsa) or Rhum with Southern Comfort, pineapple, lime, coffee and cloves tincture (P’tit Louis) sound?
Food delights
Chicharrones, Boreal arancinis, oysters and salmon Tataki are but a few of the eats on Nacarat’s menu. If you are not hungry yet, the Rasta Rocket which is a jerk chicken sandwich on a soft bun served with smoked sweet potatoes and Chinese Take-out style sautéed shrimps, soba noodles, spring onions, citrus and sesame, make for a tasty and approachable menu with an edge.
As for the vegans in the house, Nacarat has sweet and salty spiced nuts which are to die for and a vegan tartare made with seasonal vegetables, red quinoa and a vegan egg yolk. You won’t have a full vegan dinner here but these eats will hold you over until dinner time. If you love olives as much as I do, I recommend you also order a side of marinated olives. Lastly, satisfy your sweet tooth with cupcakes, campfire s’mores, chocolates and caramels.
What I wore
For the event, I kept it cool and wore an office-to-happy-hour-ready look. The focal point was an authentic Fashion With A Conscience, New York t-shirt. This shirt always brings back good memories. In case you didn’t know, Conscious & Chic started with fashion as Fashion With A Conscience. I only covered style back then, but as the brand began to grow organically to include beauty, food and travel I upgraded the name to Conscious & Chic and steered the focus towards lifestyle.
I paired the tee I designed with an almost-vintage (circa 2003) black blazer, skinny blue jeans, a Pixie Mood tote, Daniel Wellington watch, black turban and Adidas Superstar sneakers. My look was perfect for the night since Nacarat Cocktail Club & Bar is posh but not pretentious.
I enjoyed my experience and I will definitely be spending more happy hours there in the near future.
