Cocobelair created quite a buzz when it recently opened in Belair, right next to the Parc de Merl. I’ve now been there twice, and I can see why. I first came during the day for a coffee, when it was not too crowded, and then went back on a very sunny Saturday afternoon. Unsurprisingly, it was packed.
The place itself is very minimal, with big white walls and large windows. I really liked how bright it is. Some people might not care about that, but I love when a place has lots of natural light coming in.
Cocobelair is also on the right side of the street (literally and figuratively) when it comes to the sun, so if you feel like working on your laptop while getting a little bit of sunshine, this is your place.
The concept comes from Raphael, who also owns BAC, the cocktail bar in Pfaffenthal, and Tiago, co-founder of Intense Coffee. They both wanted to bring their two areas of expertise together: coffee and cocktails, trying to “push it to the highest possible level”.
They also wanted to bring “big city vibes” to the neighbourhood, and without a doubt, they did.
The cocktails are the main character here. At first some may be surprised when reading the menu. Soy sauce? Onion? Beetroot?
Those are some of the ingredients that appear on the menu, but then you actually taste them and realise how well some of these combinations work – and how subtle they are.
I went for the Beetroot Americano (€14), made with sherry, Suze, beetroot, tomato water, elder flower and CO₂. This was probably my favourite of the ones I tried. It was refreshing, punchy and had a nice zing to it. It also came with a tiny tomato on top, which was a unusual touch.
My friend went for the Aperitif Martini (€17), with gin, pear vodka, vermouth, ylang ylang, olive and onion. Definitely on the pricier side, this one also tasted stronger, so that’s your choice if you’re looking for something with a bit more punch ;).
On our second round, I went for the OG Penicillin, with whiskey, smoke, ginger, lemon and “fake honey”. The fake honey is actually candied ginger on top, and there was indeed a nice light smokiness to the drink. Everything went really well together, and I also loved the beautiful yolk-y colour.
My friend went for Coco’s answer to a Mojito, which is probably the one to go for if you’d rather stay on the classic side. It’s refreshing and very mojito-like, but with a little twist from the green tea, which changes the flavour only slightly.
They also have quite a few coffee cocktails – figures - including the Kaffi Kirsch, with tequila, cherry and coffee bitters, which comes with a little “strong” warning ( I didn’t dare).
There are also quite a few non-alcoholic options, including the Hippie No Alc, made with matcha, soy yoghurt (again, what?), oolong tea and acidity. Another friend tried this one and said it was delicious
Food-wise, the offer is currently quite small, with croissants, cakes and homemade granola during the day. In the evening, they serve vegan lasagna, and they’re soon adding a little appetiser plate with some nibbles.
The menu is curated as a team, with head bartender François mostly taking care of the cocktails. They also change their coffee roaster regularly, so there’s always something new on that side.
Raphael mentioned that they want the place to be “vibrant” and “innovative”, but without forgetting about the good hospitality, and indeed, even though it was busy and crowded, our cocktails always arrived with a smile and quite quickly.
Cocobelair does have that downtown, big-city, vinyl-bar kind of vibe, but in Belair. And I actually think it could be a particularly nice place in winter, when you want somewhere bright and cosy to sit with a good cocktail.
There are also turntables behind the bar, with DJ sets planned for weekends and occasionally during the week. So yes, things are set to get a little livelier too.
And then there’s the toilet. This is a first for me, but Cocobelair probably has the most disco toilet in town. The rest of the place is very minimal, but the toilet is filled with disco balls and bright orange walls and completely steals the aesthetic attention!
Cocobelair might look minimalist on the outside, but the disco fever is definitely happening inside.
Food quality: 4.5/5
Family-friendly: 3.5/5
Budget-friendly: 4/5
Date-friendly: 4.5/5
Veggie-friendly: 5/5
Carolina Reinertz, former RTL Today editor turned contributor, is testing every hotspot in Luxembourg with honest reviews on whether a place is date-friendly, budget-friendly, or worth the hype – so you can spend your money wisely.
