With an award-winning career spanning over five decades, Salvatore Calabrese, aka ‘The Maestro’ of mixology, was the perfect fit to devise the menu for Hotel Amigo's destination cocktail bar Bar Magritte. Paying homage to Surrealist artist René Magritte, Calabrese seamlessly blends tradition and surprise in a menu of 20 signature cocktails. Divided into 'His Works' and 'His World,' the concoctions draw inspiration from Magritte's art and classic cocktails from his lifetime.
Calabrese's creations promise a surreal journey, each sip a masterpiece – an ode to the sublime and theatrical, mirroring Magritte's aesthetic. Here, he shares his connection to Magritte, his inspiration, and what sets Bar Magritte apart.
“I played a key role in creating the bar's concept and designing the cocktail list, drawing inspiration from Magritte's art. The goal was to craft unique recipes that reflect Magritte's life and artistic work. So dreaming about Magritte and thinking about Magritte and creating incredible recipes that reflect his life and art was key.”
“I believe that Bar Magritte will contribute to the identity of the iconic Hotel Amigo, which is already known as a central meeting place in the city. Brussels is the centre point of the world, where all politicians and well-known people visit. The bar, with its unusual concept and the cultural significance of Magritte, as a prominent Belgian artist, ensures it has the potential to become centre stage in Brussels.
“The uniqueness lies in various aspects, from the glassware to the drinks and the overall ambiance. The bar's design is visually stunning, it’s been designed by Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, in collaboration with Sarah Daniels of DO Design Studio, so it looks fantastic.
Additionally, our commitment to excellent service and the use of bespoke glassware further enhance the distinctiveness of the bar. But it is a beautiful concept. I think we chose the right concept to make something special."
"I created the menu with a diverse range of flavours, but I can’t say that I have a favourite. I really like the menu, it’s been created for many tastes – from sweet to sour to bitter, to long to refreshing, to earthy drinks. So anyone can go to Bar Magritte and find something that they will like.”
One of the things I did was visit the Magritte Museum because you cannot come up with a recipe just because you choose to create a drink, and say “It’s inspired by Magritte”. No. You have to see the painting, you have to see and think and feel the painter, the artist. You have to see what his inspiration was, and through that inspiration, you start to get inspired and start to combine flavours together, the glassware together.
“For example, Magritte didn’t drink that much alcohol but he used to love red wine, he loved Bordeaux so to make something unique, I created a drink that has red wine in the cocktail. So, we are respecting not only what he used to like but the glass also represents him - we had a bespoke glass made up for this drink inspired by the bowler hat he famously wore.
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.