In March of 2013 the gods blessed us with this new hotspot, a little gem of a bar located between Oud-Zuid outside of Vondelpark. The owners Leonardo Belloni and Daan Bonsen know cocktail bars as they are also the owners of Vesper Bar, Hugo’s, Bar22 and Chapter 21, all great places to either drink, dine or both.The phrase “Little Gem,” describes this place perfectly. This quaint little bar and kitchen only seats about seventy-five people in total but it is a huge, rare find. The multilevel bar offers intimate reserved dining on one level and the bar and more seating for walk-ins on the other. Franklin Bar and Kitchen’s décor is filled with vintage designed furniture and stylish lighting that draws you in. You will be quite impressed with the atmosphere, the excellent service and the strong drinks.The bar gets a little crowded around cocktail hour. This is the time when the yuppies and neighborhood locals come in to enjoy the Franklin Bar ambiance. For a little extra space, if the weather permits you will enjoy sitting on the terrace. Though small in size, it is a great spot for meeting up with friends and sharing a moderately priced cocktail. Franklin’s Favorites are menu items carefully chosen by bartenders. They include; the Spanish & Tonic, this cocktail is made with Tanqueray Gin, homemade cucumber puree, lemon juice, and tonic. It is an inspiring twist on the gin and tonic, Mint Julep , made with Bulleit Bourbon, sugar syrup, mint leaves, and angostura bitters, The Pornstar Martini, mixed with Ketel One vodka, Passion Fruit Puree, and Vanilla Syrup. Try any one or all of them. They just might become your favorite as well.
Photo GVB 919,Amstelveenseweg. by Bart is licensed under CC BY 2.0