Maison Premiere: Old-School New Orleans And Paris In New York City
It's no secret: we here at TheSpir.it love to drink. Whether it's at home or out on the town, there's nothing more splendid than a cocktail that, after the first sip, makes you truly happy you made the choice to drink, and to drink that. While most of our cocktail endeavors take place in the comfort of our own home bars, every once in a while, it's important to journey to places that stake their reputation on mixing up excellent cocktails. It's our duty as cocktail lovers and drink enthusiasts to go to as many of these places as possible. And darnit, we will!
In order to pay homage to the beauty that is the cocktail bar, may we introduce to you Bars We Love. Since TheSpir.it is headquartered in New York City, our first few installments will be based in the Big Apple. But we want your suggestions on places all over the country, so don't hesitate to drop us a line and let us know about your hometown favorites. When it comes to cocktails, we pride ourselves on being equal opportunity imbibers, and so should you.
Our first bar in this monthly feature is one of my favorites, Maison Premiere. Tucked neatly onto Bedford Avenue in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, this bar has a serious cocktail reputation. The bartenders behind the stick definitely know how to be true to the term "hand-crafted," with an incredible amount of attention to detail and care put into their diverse cocktail menu. If you ever find yourself in Williamsburg, stop into Maison Premiere for a cocktail or two. You won't regret it. Cheers!
What to Drink
The name of the game at Maison Premiere is old-school New Orleans and Paris, so the drinks are definitely more on the elegant side than not. Their cocktails can certainly be considered classics, but many of them are twists on the originals. I recommend the A La Louisianne; a classic New Orleans style drink, similar to the Vieux Carré, prepared beautifully before your eyes. This drink is not for the faint of heart; it's made entirely of booze, so prepare yourself for a strong yet satisfying drink.
What to Eat
Maison Premiere has a fantastic dinner menu, as well as brunch, but there's nothing more refreshing to me than a boozy cocktail and a dozen oysters. Briny, ice cold, and super fresh, the oyster selection at Maison Premiere is really extensive, full of some of the best deep-sea offerings from both the East and West Coasts. If you have any interest in oysters, you'll definitely want to order a dozen of these to accompany a cocktail or two.
Where to Sit
With spring officially in bloom, Maison Premiere is the perfect outdoor drinking destination for virtually any day or early evening of the week. With an outdoor space and bar to accompany it, this is a fantastic place to soak up the warm rays and enjoy a few refreshments. While the interior of Maison Premiere is exquisite to look at, I'm a firm believer that if a bar is offering you outdoor seating and it's above 60 degrees, sitting inside is missing out on the ultimate way to spend your day.
— Sara Kay, The Spir.it