Cordial, new bar in SP, has a pleasant atmosphere and great cocktails in front of Copan

The double meaning in the name of the new Cordial bar, a recently opened cocktail house on Rua Epitácio Pessoa, in the República region, is clear. In addition to the adjective, cordial is also a type of fruit syrup with a citrus flavor, which may or may not contain alcohol, which is made there by the bartender himself and serves as the basis for all the drinks offered on the menu.

“In carambola cordial, for example, we alternate layers of sugar and fruit, as if it were a lasagna. After two days resting, the juice is extracted and used to make the cocktail”, says Gabriel Santana, partner of the new establishment and name behind Santana, another great cocktail spot in the Pinheiros district of São Paulo.

The carambola cordial joins a shot of rum infused with tommy mango, another shot of lime and allspice, to compose the Hora Bolas (R$ 29), a very refreshing and aromatic version of daiquiri, which it is one of the best sellers around the house.

The Spicy Tommy´s Melancia (R$37), a variation on the margarita, has tequila with a watermelon syrup, pout pepper, coriander and the rims of the glass garnished with salt. The flavors of pepper and coriander can be noticed in the cocktail and complement the sweetness of the fruit with tequila, one of the best drinks on the menu. The house also offers mocktail options with non-alcoholic rum and gin made in the bar itself.

Innovation, however, is not limited to cocktails. Cordial offers an interesting menu of snacks. On the menu prepared by chef Fabio Moon, the cheese bread with kimchi (R$9), with dough and stuffing prepared in the kitchen, and the minced meat pastries (R$22), with duckling in pieces and boiled egg, are the main highlights.

Almost everything is excellent. One however is the Manhattan em SP (R$ 42), a reinterpretation of the classic Manhattan, made with bourbon, aged cachaça, pineapple vermouth and cocoa bitter, which would be an excellent cocktail, were it not for the fact that it is served in a low glass with ice in small cubes —the drink becomes watery after the third sip.

The same problem appears in Amargo do Bando (R$ 42), based on gin, amaro, fine sherry and Frangelico, which, in addition to becoming tasteless due to the ice, needs to have the proportions of the components readjusted, since it only feels the strong hazelnut flavor of the liqueur.

Not only for the quality of almost all cocktails, Cordial also draws attention for its look. The refurbishment project transformed an old downtown bar into a space that reveres the architecture of the classic buildings in the neighborhood. The walls and bar, for example, use the same tone and wood cut as the lobby at Copan, across the street, and the Portuguese stone outside extends into the interior, making the bar floor an extension of the sidewalk.

“We wanted to bring the São Paulo classic”, says Santana, one of the bar’s partners, adding that he insisted on keeping the tiles and lighting similar to that of the old bar that used to be there. “Our proposal was to respect what already existed to create a more accessible bar and cocktail menu.”

In the future, Santana intends to facilitate the operation of the bar with barrels of drinks previously or partially made. According to him, this would speed up the service, in addition to reducing the price of cocktails for the customer, in the same way as a brewery or a wine bar.

On the same street as Bar Regô and a few blocks from Casa do Porco, combining a pleasant atmosphere with great cocktails, Cordial is a good option in the center of São Paulo.