After trolling around the heart of L'il Italy for about 30 minutes, I finally found a satisfactory place to stop. A woman on a mission, I'm still scouring the city in search of the best Lychee Martini.

Like a true martini lover, I had consulted martiniboys.com before coming down to L'il Italy. There were a few places we could try, but after assessing the crowd from the outside, it was decided that Rose and I would try Päaeez. Even on a Thursday night, Päaeez had a decent sized crowd. This, and it's impressive review on martiniboys, was enough to draw us in.

Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the establishment's odd shape. I found myself standing at the end of a very long and narrow hallway. I thought that perhaps the backroom was more conventional (i.e. square) but it wasn’t. This may very well be the nicest hallway you’ve ever been in. From the same people who designed Lobby & Hotel Boutique Bar comes the most comfortable and inviting hallway in which you can sit and sip your cool alcoholic pleasure of choice.

The décor is predominately red and incorporates the strong use of glass and mirrors. The front area was mostly patio and patio overflow (i.e. people who wanted a patio table but had to settle for “next to the patio”). The little tealights and backlit walls created the romantic intimate feel that everyone craves on a cool summer night.

As Rose and I entered, we were sadly disappointed by the lack of hostess and non-existent wait staff attention. We seated ourselves and proceeded to wait a good 15 minutes before giving up on expecting service. We weren’t unnoticeable either. We had selected a table directly across from the bar and had watched 2 or 3 waiters/waitresses blow past us without so much as a nod of acknowledgement. Eventually, we both just approached the bar. Chris, the very friendly bartender, retrieved a couple of drink menus for us and chatted us up, inquiring about what brought us here and what we had heard. It was very strange to go from being completely neglected to being the prime focus of customer attention but as long as the service is on the improvement curve, I’m not going to complain.

After ordering my Lychee martini, I inquired about Päaeez’s infamous bong. Apparently, it’s not really a bong. Well, it is physically a bong, but not for cannabis consumption. It’s $15 and you get to smoke fruit flavoured tobacco for about an hour and a half. It’s supposedly a very unique experience but I’ll have to ask other patrons about it on another visit. I don’t plan on trying it for myself, although I must admit, it does look rather cool.

Their drink menu is extensive and impressive. They have a lot of fruit blended martinis and champagne cocktails that sounded absolutely tempting and delectable. Unfortunately, my liver and my wallet both limit me so I had to be very selective about my drinks.

Chris delivered my drink and I jokingly told him that the pressure is on since I only came because they have a reputation of making good drinks. He smiled and said, “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.” Like all bartenders, he punctuated his sentence with a seductive wink. It’s funny how all the bartenders think they can convince a woman that she’ll like her drink more if he flirts with her.

To start, I’m already mildly disappointed that the lychee is served as a garnish that is suspended above the drink by a plastic sword. Chris actually took the time to push the sword through the fruit and balance it atop the glass. He should’ve just tossed the plump little fruit in since this fruit-stabbing thing did not improve the look and tossing it in would’ve improved the taste. Half the points for taste are in the fruit after all the liquid has been consumed.

So the first thing I do is relieve the lychee from its impalement and slip it into the soothing bath of liquor. I pick up the glass and do the official swirl and sniff test. It’s alright, but Chris was a little stingy on the Soho so it doesn’t flood the senses like many of the other lychee martinis I’ve enjoyed. But then again, I was a bit stuffed up from my cold, so I’m not going to deduct points for this.

I bring the glass to my lips and gently sip a bit of the alcoholic mixture. It’s good that I didn’t condemn the drink on sight and smell. It tasted amazing! It’s crisp without a sharp bit in the back of your throat, and goes down clean without creating an after taste. I’m so close to saying, “Move over, Major. You’ve been replaced.” However, I’m not quite there. Final verdict comes after I eat the fruit.

So Rose and I chat a bit and I try really hard to keep myself from just hitting the drink back. That’s always a problem when the drink is good and when you need to restrict your numbers. Eventually, my glass is devoid of liquid and the moment of truth arrives. I ceremoniously jiggle the glass a bit to ensure that the fruit will roll out easily and take a deep breath in preparation for the lychee. Bottoms up!

The fruit, though canned (like everyone else’s) is pretty good quality. It’s plump and juicy and gloriously sweet. Unfortunately, it falls short on alcohol absorption. It doesn’t have the strong alcohol taste that makes the lychee martini the crown jewel of martinis in my book. It probably has to do with the overall alcohol content of the drink (Major’s drink is stronger) but reasoning is secondary. Results are key.

Look:
Smell:
Taste:

After tallying all the points, Päaeez’s Lychee Martini gets a good solid 4. I highly recommend the place as a whole, and despite the minor disappointments, I thoroughly enjoyed my drink.

Final rating for Päaeez:

Service:
Ambiance:
Martini:

Next time you’re there, tell Chris that Daisy & Rose sent you, and maybe he’ll do something special for you.