The South of France is often regarded as the bastion of luxury: decadent villas, boutique resorts, and private yachts. That image is inextricably tied to an age-old stereotype – posh locals. Aah well – Absinthe Bar is where that stereotype unravels bit by bit till you come away thinking the locals are the most fun-loving people EVER. Funny thing is, the green fairy (aka absinthe) makes sure you don’t remember much of the night (including your fresh perspective on the French) the next morning 😉
This gem of a bar is tucked in a little corner of one of the most charming towns of the Côte d’Azur – Antibes. As soon as you walk in you will realise it has all the trappings of a perfect night. There is a whole wall crammed with headgear of every shape and size, a couple of guitars, walls scattered with absinthe-related memorabilia, and a bar full of the strongest spirits known to mankind – not much CAN go wrong.
All you need to do is saunter in, grab the headgear that takes your fancy, order some absinthe (what else?), and let it work its magic. If you haven’t had absinthe before, you’re in for a treat at Absinthe Bar. Since absinthe is highly alcoholic (50-70%), it is banned in a number of countries. Here they serve it in the traditional way – your glass will be accompanied by a carved silver spoon with a sugar cube on top. Dilute the anise-flavoured liquor with water till it turns milky, and enjoy your drink. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try dipping the sugar cube in pure absinthe and lighting it- the friendly owner is happy to show you how to do this.
After three or four drinks you might end up having a conversation with the locals (mostly students) that populate this bar – in French, no less, even if you cannot differentiate ‘Bonjour’ from ‘au revoir’- Don’t say we didn’t warn you 🙂
The Absinthe Bar is fairly easy to find if you’re in Antibes. It is located in a cellar off the Marche Provencal (the covered market). It is a tiny bar and it can get pretty packed – we suggest going early to avoid being disappointment.
Address: 25 court Massena Près du marché provençal à Antibes 06600 Antibes
Spoilt for choice
Memorabilia on the walls of Absinthe Bar
The traditional way of serving absinthe
They have hats- LOTS of them
If you’re seeing this by the end of the night, it’s been a good night 🙂
Hey guys,
During my time living in Spain, there were many Absinthe fuelled nights out where we would mix it with the infamous Fat Frog alco-pop drink and dance the night away. I think it would be impossible to sum it up better the Oscar Wilde…
“After the first glass of absinthe you see things as you wish they were. After the second you see them as they are not. Finally you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world. I mean disassociated. Take a top hat. You think you see it as it really is. But you don’t because you associate it with other things and ideas.If you had never heard of one before, and suddenly saw it alone, you’d be frightened, or you’d laugh. That is the effect absinthe has, and that is why it drives men mad. Three nights I sat up all night drinking absinthe, and thinking that I was singularly clear-headed and sane. The waiter came in and began watering the sawdust.The most wonderful flowers, tulips, lilies and roses, sprang up, and made a garden in the cafe. “Don’t you see them?” I said to him. “Mais non, monsieur, il n’y a rien.”
Adam Absinthe + Fat frog is the bomb. It’s good to see someone else think of Oscar Wilde every time they down some absinthe- for me the two are inseparable 🙂
Lol – it’s wonderful reading your version of this lovely little gem of a bar. Love the photo capture as well. Unfortunately i did not get to try any as I was driving so seeing that poster was definitely missed! Oh well perhaps when I do visit again 🙂
Natasha you must visit again – it should be illegal to leave this bar without trying some absinthe 😉
I am interested in day trips from Antibes into the countryside. Do you have suggestions?
Hey Sindy – you can drive to the Mercantour National Park – it’s a great area. We have some more suggestions in our article on a Road Trip around the French Riviera. Here’s the link https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/french-riviera-road-trip