If you thought the speakeasy concept ended with the repealing of the alcohol Prohibition laws in Depression-era America… well you were right to be honest, but while the 1920s were lacking in legal booze, the decade had style by the gallon and that edgy cool that comes with a little bit of clandestine yet wholly-understandable law-breaking. No wonder then that their recent revival has taken the world by storm; and now the team behind Jules Basement have introduced Mexico City’s first underground and extremely hush-hush bar, presented in the manner of the old-style speaks.
Entrepreneurs Alfredo Luengas, David Hernandez and Gerardo Salgado came up with the idea, while the other two members of the consortium, French designer Emmanuel Picault and architect countryman Ludwig Godefroy were responsible for the aesthetic. It starts with a very unprepossessing door which looks like it leads into a walk-in fridge (which it used to), and continues down into a basement. As the old saying goes, if your name’s not down, you’re not coming in to Jules – a strict guest list policy ensures that only the preferred few get to enjoy the very upmarket inner sanctum. Shards of black, white and silver jut from the ceiling in reference to Mayan ceiba trees, while enormous skulls grin out from the transparent tables.
If you can get in and get comfortable, there are equally flash cocktails to sample, and best of all, none of the booze was distilled in any hillbilly radiators, so the hangover should be no more than standard. Just keep Jules on the down-low, will you?
