Upscale French-Inspired Cocktail Bar Opens In Cobble Hill

BROOKLYN, NY — One sip here and you might think you’ve stumbled into a Parisian salon from another era, not a cocktail bar tucked into the heart of Brooklyn.

Bar Rêve opened earlier this month at the corner of Smith and Butler Streets in Cobble Hill, bringing a cosmopolitan flair to its craft with a curated selection of specialty cocktails. Guests receive the cocktail menu in a bound book, which can also be purchased, and is refreshed every 12 to 18 months.

The inaugural edition pays tribute to Impressionism, the defining art movement of the Belle Époque, and even features original free verse poetry. Each cocktail on the menu is Bar Rêve’s unique “impression” of a classic recipe, inspired by an iconic Impressionist painting.

Bar Rêve was founded by hospitality veterans Alexander Buchholz and Victor Triebel, who bring decades of experience from luxury brands worldwide. The two first met while working together at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Buchholz later held roles at Four Seasons Dubai and Ralph Lauren, where he helped develop Ralph’s Coffee. Triebel trained in Europe and led acclaimed food and beverage programs at Maybourne Beverly Hills and Mandarin Oriental New York.

“Bar Rêve is our dream realized,” Buchholz said. “It’s influenced by our travels, our careers in hospitality, and above all, our love for the neighborhood we call home. We want every guest to experience a sense of escapism while feeling perfectly at home.”

According to the duo, the bar blends classic cocktails and refined hospitality with a vibe inspired by Paris at the turn of the 20th century, a period of peace, optimism, style, and celebration. They say those same qualities now define Brooklyn, a cultural hub home to some of the world’s most notable artists, designers, thinkers and drink makers.

Alongside their selection of drinks, which includes specialty cocktails like the Aurore— inspired by the Pornstar Martini and Monet’s Impression, Soleil Levant and made with tequila blanco, Champagne, passionfruit syrup, and lemongrass liqueur — the food menu leans French, with beignets, frites, and fromages available for snacking.

“Our beverage offering is a celebration of the classics,” Triebel said. “We’re obsessed with the technique and precision behind beautiful drink-making, but we also want to present our guests with something unpretentious and enjoyable. Our goal is to showcase a new perspective on the cocktails we all know and love.”

Bar Rêve, located at 222 Smith St., accommodates up to 65 guests across its 1,500-square-foot space, featuring a 10-seat bar and a mix of seating options. The bar is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.