Heavens

Just wondering. A couple is meeting us over there. We have travelled together but usually on business award trips in luxurious hotels or cruises that offer many choices. The wife doesn't like wine, but loves "sweet" cocktails. H and I LOVE wine and so does the H in the other couple.

SO, what I am wondering is, if we are strolling around and find a cafe, bistro that we like, is it likely that they will not serve cocktails? Or is there maybe something else we can recommend to her to try instead of a glass of red or white? She likes amaretto and milk, rum punch type things.

Just wondering. Maybe this is no problem at all? What are your thoughts...thanks for your help in advance.

nytraveler

If you go to a real bar they will undoubedtly be able to serve the basic cocktails - but I'm not sure about all the tropical umbrella type sweet ones.

She can probably get Amaretto most places (but with MILK???). Would she drink a Kir or Kir Royale - it so pink she may think it's very sweet.

In a random cafe - unless in a very tourist area - like along the Champs Elysess - I think you will find that what the bar has is more limited.

Perhaps you can ask in the hotel what a French equivalent to something sweet would be. Or she could have fruit juice.

tuscanlifeedit

Heavens

I have to admit that the sweet cocktail lady cracks me up. I don't think she will be able to get what she wants in the average cafe...

How about Pernod and water? Milky looking and licorice tasting... it has been many years since I tasted this... I think it was a little sweet.

I'm curious: will she be in a snit if they don't have these cocktails? Because I really don't think they will be available in cafes and bistros.

HowardR

C'mon now, do you really think that in one of the world's great cities your wine-resistant friend wouldn't be able to find drink that would suit her tastes?

Surfergirl

What about a beer? Seriously, this will NOT be a problem. There are cocktail bars scattered all over the place with lots of new, strange and interesting cocktails. As for cafes, if they don't have hard liquor, ask for a citron presse, which she can fill to the gills with sugar.

AnthonyGA

With the exception of the small neighborhood bar, most places serve a variety of cocktails, although if she's extremely specific in her tastes there's no guarantee that she'll find the exact cocktail she wants.

If you take her to Harry's Bar, they'll prepare anything she wants.

djkbooks

Nearly all our favorite cafes have a full bar and she can likely find something to her liking. I don't think amaretto and milk will be a problem.

At those prices, she'll probably want something to sip leisurely, anyway.

I'm not too fond of Kir, as many places prepare it with very, very dry white wine (sour to me). So, Kir Royale would definitely be the better choice (much sweeter).

I actually prefer the Creme de Cassis with club soda, and it's served without too much of a raised eyebrow, as I find too much alcohol during vacation saps the energy.

walkinaround

tuscan...unfortunately for you, howard is right. these drinks that you so strongly disapprove of are widely available in paris.

Rillifane

Its no problem at all. The French are as adept at the art of the cocktail as anyone else.

SaozinhaP

You have all the answers... cafés have lots of things, sometimes old bottles of very good generous wines (sweet and aged), and I found there some good Porto and Madeira wine. Why dont you try to say to her that she must try the different things we have here in Europe? And than just ask for something sweet and alcoholized... she will make acquaintance with a few "nouvautés!

Heavens

Trust me, I don't dissapprove of cocktails of any sort. Each to his own. I love a good martini myself. I was worried that most of the cafes and bistros only served wine and that was about it. I can see us walking down the boulevard and finding this cute charming little place but all they serve is wine from the bottle. Three of us are happy and maybe she would be unhappy bc of not much selection. Then I was worried bc maybe we would have to walk another few blocks to find a "restaurant" type place with full bar and a totally different type of atmosphere.

From what you all are saying, there is alcohol at most places and this should not be a problem and that is great news. That way all of us can be happy. Thanks Fodorites. You are so helpful as always.

ira

Hi H,

In case your cafe doesn't have a full bar, there are

Sweet sherry, marsala, port

Dubonnet Rouge

Vermouth Rouge

Be careful when ordering a Martini. Most Europeans think of White Martini and Rossi Vermouth.

walkinaround

heavens...to clarify, my comment was not at all directed towards you. another poster's comment was laced with judgement of your friend's beverage taste and the (wholly wrong and wishful thinking) advice that such drinks are not available in paris (or at least not in their idealised version of paris).

Powell

Campari and soda is a good alternative.

milliondollarbbw

No, I don't see a problem. Just because wine is offered in Paris does not mean that it is the ONLY beverage to have.

Your friend can just stick to regular soda and water and juices. Not such a big deal because she isn't a fan of wine.

I will suggest that you try the Beaujalais, however. That is an excellant wine!

Michael

The Martini & Rossi Bianco (or any vermouth named Bianco) is on the sweet side.

nytraveler

I don;t think someone who likes things very sweet if going to go for Campari and soda. (I drink it all the time in the summer - and it is not all sweet. In fact - I've had people who never had it before taste mine and hate it because it was so sour.)

Also - I don't think it's idealized that small local cafes in Paris can't produce coconut milk cocktails with umbrellas at a moments notice - they simply can;t - because no one orders them. But even there you can get something else sweet.

And regular bars or larger tourist cafes probably can come near what she's used to.

ekscrunchy

The sweetest vermouth is not white, but red, or rosso in Italian. Campari is a bitter, so it is nowhere close to being sweet. I seem to remember that the words "Bar Americain" signify a bar in which all kinds of hard liquors and cocktails are served. So keep an eye out for those words.

Or have her bring a flask and order either a set-up or juice mixer!

RufusTFirefly

Campari does actually have a sweet base--the herbs make it bittersweet. With the emphasis on the bitter.

suze

I really think if she could get into the swing of Pernod and water, she'd like that the best, and it would "fit in" with the style of things in Paris. Certainly cocktails are available but they are not as common place in Europe as in the U.S.