38

Forbína Bar

Prague

Theatrical serves in glamourous surrounds

Forbína is just across the street from Prague's National Theatre and, indeed, it's an ideal stop for intimate pre- and post-show nightcaps. Fittingly, the bar's inaugural menu is an ode to that lavish 19th-century institution's profusion of ballets, plays, operas and multimedia Laterna Magika performances. A herbal amalgamation of Botanist gin, Bénédictine, heather, verjus, chamomile and milk thistle, for example, evokes the forest in Johan Kobborg's adaptation of the romantic ballet La Sylphide, while a dessert-like combination of Jelínek apricot brandy, kefir and oats references the Czech countryside in Bedřich Smetana's witty opera The Bartered Bride. The Wonderful Circus comes to life through a blend of Roku gin, vanilla, grapefruit and bitters, and vermouth and Italian aperitivo are bolstered by pinot grigio and black truffle as nods to Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters.

As guests contemplate cocktails that weave in Hungarian herbal liqueur, green tea and pine, and order hefty roast beef sandwiches on brioche, they will be equally captivated by the glamorous design of the bar, showcasing wood inlays dressed up with whimsical motifs and bespoke lighting fashioned out of hundreds of kilograms of hand-melted glass. A velvet curtain separates Forbína from historic, all-day Café Slavia, a must-visit spot for nougat sundaes and live piano music.

Contact