Bar Henrietta

After 10 years of adventure and success, Alexandre Baldwin dreamed of working on something closer to home. "We decided to keep it local and do a new project ... Something that would better represent us," says Alexandre, who's come a long way since his first job as a caretaker in a bar. So Baldwin Barmacie on Laurier Avenue West, known for its refined decor, is now the charming and unpretentious Bar Henrietta.

It's a close-knit and experienced team at Bar Henrietta. Alexandre and Éric Dupuis, who is also known for the Taverne Square Dominion and the Balsam Inn, had already teamed up with Alexander Wolosianski and Nicole Lemelin of the Whisky Café. They've now joined with Marc Bungarten, the manager of Baldwin Barmacie.

"I've travelled with Éric in the past, and my family is originally Portuguese. When we were coming up with a concept, I proposed that we do a small, Portuguese-inspired tavern," says Alexandre.

As the owners no longer drink in the same way as they used to back in 2005, they have now added a wine section that is more reflective of their current tastes — which includes a large selection of natural and organic wines — while keeping the cocktail bar. The bar's name is another nod to Alexandre's family, this time from the Portuguese side.