Lounge Bar at l’Hôtel Novotel Montparnasse
257 Rue de Vaugirard
75015 Paris
I want to have it all. You know the saying “You can have a great job, relationship and apartment. Just not all at the same time?” So it is with bars. You can find good locations, good drinks and good prices. But, not always in the same place.
Tucked away in a lesser-visited area in the 15eme atop the Novotel Montparnasse, the Lounge Bar offers up an expansive panorama from its 7th floor terrace. The clean green and white décor is modern and comfortable with a whiff of hotel bar. But, the real stunner is the view when the outdoor seating opens during summer months.
The cocktail menu, however, is less expansive with a rather limited spirits choice and a selection of ten drinks comprising Trends (cosmo, mojito, pina colada, and Long Island Ice Tea), LBV Concepts (peach caipiroska, etc.) and a couple of champagne cocktails.
Unfortunately during my visit there was no ice in the bar. That meant a martini or pretty much any other drink on the menu was out of the question. I went with a gin and tonic because – as the barman suggested – the tonic was cold. I knew even at the time, I should have skipped the cocktail. I don’t like Schweppes and my need for ice has already been documented.
So it probably goes without saying that I was non-plussed by my drink. I arrived at opening time (5pm) so I assume they would have had ice later. While any bar should be prepared for customers during all opening hours, a hotel bar should be even better equipped considering guest expectations and 24 hour access to hotel facilities (which presumably include a restaurant.)
Yet there was something of interest on the menu in addition to the Coca-Cola by JP Gaultier – a concept I don’t really get – and the interdiction of flash photos after 10pm. The Lounge Bar has a happy hour, which offers their 12 – 16 Euros cocktails at two for one until 8pm. And, that’s not something you often find in a terrace hotel bar with a view like this.
So, I’ll stop in again, skip the cocktails and sip a glass of something bubbly overlooking the city. Because while the view is lovely and the happy hour prices are nice, you apparently can’t have it all at the Lounge Bar.
I’m glad to see they are doing the outdoor lounge again this summer since it just down the street from our apartment. 😉
I went last year with some girlfriends the night before my wedding and had a nice time, mostly due to the view and the occasion. The service wasn’t great, but the two-for-one cocktails were a good deal and they also sell bottles of chilled rosé for a very reasonable price.
K_sam: Nice to know about the rose – always a good bet for a summer drink with the girls. 🙂