Arrive Magazine - January/February, 2008

Cocktail
Bubbly Bars

Skip the celebration, not the bubbles, at these chic champagne bars

BY JESSICA MERRILL

Tired of the usual wine bar, choosing between red, white or maybe, if you’re feeling inspired, a glass of rosé? Then add some sparkle to your next night out. Champagne bars are popping up in cities from Philadelphia to Boston, making it easier than ever to sample Champagne-style sparklers from around the world, from Spanish cava, Italian prosecco and New World sparkling wines to the French originals. With plenty of sweet and savory snack accompaniments and DJs spinning, these plush lounges up the sophistication quotient of the local bar scene. So go ahead, raise a toast with a glass of bubbly—no celebration required.

NEW YORK
Flute

The scene: Candlelit nooks and oil paintings lend an intimate speakeasy vibe for couples on dates and for girlfriend get-togethers. Old trunks double as cocktail tables, and the walls are lined with champagne bottles. The long, sleek bar is flecked with gold.

The bubbly. More than 25 champagnes are available by the taste, flute or bottle, topping out at a Krug Grande Cuvée for $60 a glass. Fans of bellinis will love choosing from white peach, lychee, mango, pear, rhubarb, raspberry or strawberry juices with Flute’s bellini tasting flight.

The eats: Vietnamese fusion spring rolls, from a traditional Saigon version with shrimp and noodles to an Italian-inspired Firenze with proscuitto and mozzarella, are on the light bites menu. There are mini tuna and beef burgers too, and a selection of caviar and rich desserts (think chocolate crepes).

Find it: Flute is tucked amid the shops and cafés of Gramercy. Plus, a second location is in midtown ( 40 E. 20th St.; 212-529-7870 or 205 W. 54th St.; 212-265-5169; flutebar.com).

PHILADELPHIA
Swanky Bubbles

The scene: When they opened Swanky Bubbles, owners and brothers Vince and John Frankowski set out to create a bar with a hip yet soothing environment, where people could listen to live DJs, eat good food and sip champagne. “The next closest champagne bar was in New York City, so it seemed like a perfect match for the city,” Vince Frankowski says. A custom bar top of assorted broken glass by designer Kevin Hale, and matching cocktail tables, give the space plenty of its own character.