Charlemagne Cocktail Bar

What is Charlemagne Cocktail Bar? Perched on the second floor of Café Renée at 100 Portland Street, Charlemagne is an intimate, 25-seat hideaway styled after a 1940s London drinking den with old-world Parisian warmth. Concealed behind an unmarked black door up the stairs, the room brought to life by beverage director Gus Edmundson and partner Nick Liu features low amber lighting, rich brown leather booths, and a steady soundtrack of jazz and vintage standards. It operates as a civilized, relaxed counterweight to the louder party spots along the King West strip.

Charlemagne Cocktail Bar Menu & What to Order The cocktail programme balances high-technique house originals with bespoke drinks mixed according to your exact flavour preferences. Standouts include The Redwood, a Cognac-anchored Black Manhattan variation layered with Amaro Lucano, red cedar tincture, and an elaborate house-infused cherry, as well as The Rabbit Hole, blending bourbon and Campari with earthy lion's mane mushroom tincture and carrot-orange-blossom syrup. Rather than generic bar snacks, the compact food lineup comes straight from Nick Liu's kitchen, featuring delicate steamed wontons and savoury dumplings that punch far above standard pub fare.

Know Before You Go Given the tight ~25-person capacity, booking a booth through Resy is strongly advised for peak weekend nights, though walk-ins of one or two can often secure counter stools by asking the Café Renée host on the ground floor. Tuesdays feature live jazz sets that draw a dedicated cocktail-loving crowd. Portland Street parking is notoriously limited, making the 504 King streetcar to Portland the most painless transit option.