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Say bonjour to Roquette. The highly anticipated new Belltown bar with a French theme from acclaimed bartender Erik Hakkinen quietly opened to the public last week next to Local 360 on First Avenue, with a handful of cocktails and wines on the menu. Currently, patrons can sip on concoctions such as a Francofied version of a mai tai made with cognac, rum, and pineapple, a Citadelle gin negroni, and an apple brandy old fashioned.
A more robust cocktail list will come soon, along with small bites that should include seafood tins, chicharron, and a fancy version of beef jerky. Also on the horizon: happy hour highballs and some non-alcoholic options infused with CBD.
The new spot was inspired by Hakkinen’s time spent in Paris when he was in his 20s, although the decor skews more tropical (in the spirit of overseas French territories), with palm tree murals on the walls, moody lighting, and snug booths. It also follows an increasing trend in the neighborhood toward more upscale boozy experiences: Ben Paris and Aerlume opened up this year, and Bathtub Gin and Co. still holds down the speakeasy fort. Good news for downtown bar hoppers getting fatigued with the beer and dive vibe.
