A private club blending perfumery and mixology

Cocktails and fragrances share many traits: distillation, a balanced composition, aromatic layers on the palate reminiscent of a perfume’s top, heart and base notes, and meticulous attention to the glassware. That connection inspired Grup Confiteria’s latest concept: Stravinsky’s Parfumerie.

The venue opens with a museum tracing the life of Grigori Stravinsky, an endearing yet eccentric figure from the Roaring Twenties who spent time with Coco Chanel and Ernest Beaux, the creator of the iconic N° 5. Trained in perfumery by Beaux and a chemist by trade, Stravinsky ran two shops in Paris before settling in Barcelona, right where the bar sits today, with the same lack of success - as he was a man more devoted to ideas than to their (proper) execution.

The museum tour ends in a small boutique offering perfumes, teas, books and themed magazines, including the volume Stravinsky’s Parfumerie, which combines biography, rich imagery and cocktail recipes. From there, the entrance to the Parfumerie comes into view.

Stravinsky’s Parfumerie is a members-only club (guests get their card at the museum entrance) that re-creates the feel of an old-world perfume shop, inspired in part by the Paris boutiques of Officine Universelle Buly.

“We want visitors to genuinely feel as though they’re in a perfume store,”  explains Cesar Montilla, bar manager of Dr. Stravinsky and partner. “The room is lined with antique bottles and objects we picked up while building the space. Guests can also pick things up and try them. We have a perfume bar where every unusual ingredient used in the cocktails can be smelled individually - we call them mono-aromas. That helps people decide whether they’ll enjoy the notes in their drink.”

The menu lists 16 classic-inspired twists, each honoring someone who shaped Grigori Stravinsky’s life. For instance, the Negroni Romanov pays tribute to his youth in Saint Petersburg.

“You first order your cocktail, then pick one of three matching fragrances - one of which is more adventurous - to suit your taste. That final step lets guests finish the drink themselves and deepens the experience. At the Parfumerie we focus on aroma, not on technical flair.”

For The Rite of Spring, a twist on the Gimlet, the usual sweet-tart profile from lime cordial is achieved using clarified sour plum juice and a labdanum-based cordial, a staple in perfumery. The “adventurous” option might be to mist a smoky fragrance over the finished drink.

The concept reaches its fullest expression with the Chanel:

“The team tried to recreate N°5 in liquid form,”  explains Davide Norcini, bar supervisor at Dr. Stravinsky. “First, we give the whisky a bitter, aromatic edge by gently infusing it with sandalwood at a low temperature. Then we make an ylang-ylang syrup and add a Paragon vetiver cordial, both ingredients found in the famous perfume. A rose-and-jasmine soda and a house fragrance spray complete the build. The result is a beautiful highball served in a bottle reminiscent of N°5.”

From the Prep Room to the Play Room

Stravinsky’s Parfumerie also houses a second area: the lab dedicated to in-house preparations (the Prep Room). Starting this summer, it will host intimate sessions for 10 to 12 guests, like tastings, private presentations and masterclasses.

The idea is to bring guests closer to the creative process, letting them ask questions, handle the equipment and interact with the ingredients, while following a seasonal theme: summer (fruit and vegetables), autumn (teas), winter (spices) and spring (flowers).

“Menus will be short and streamlined yet technically precise. Guests will be able to taste ingredients one by one, touch them, smell them. We see it as a playground, the Play Room, where short, eight-drink menus will be served during timed sessions. Everything will be pre-batched so we can focus on engaging with guests and answering every question. The space will also benefit our team, giving us access to all the prep ingredients plus whatever we bring back from our travels.”

“At Dr. Stravinsky we change the menu once a year, which means you’re making the same drinks for twelve months straight. This new spot will help keep the team’s creativity sharp. Creativity is like a muscle: you have to work it every day,” Cesar Montilla notes.

Dr. Stravinsky: conceptual menu and anniversary

The forthcoming launch of Stravinsky's Parfumerie doesn’t mean Dr. Stravinsky is slowing down. On the contrary, since last year the bar has offered its first true conceptual menu. Titled A Journey Across Spain, it was developed in partnership with local artisans to showcase ingredients emblematic of three regions, Galicia, Castilla-La Mancha and Cádiz. Cesar Montilla and his team worked all three products - a flavored butter, a custom vinegar and a uniquely made goat cheese - into the bar’s 15 cocktails.

The sneak preview of the Parfumerie also coincided with Dr. Stravinsky’s birthday. For the occasion, several guest-bartending sessions took place: the three original bartenders Antonio Naranjo, Alberto Fernandez and Yeray Monforte served a menu of ten signature drinks from the bar’s early days, followed the next day by the Paris team from Danico (Corentin Gaudin and Jules Inisan); then came Himkok (Maros Dzurus and Karl Follo) from Oslo to round off the first week of festivities.

What’s different between these two openings, eight years apart? According to Cesar Montilla:

“Back then a cocktail bar could stand on its own. Guests came because it was trendy or simply for the quality of the drinks. Today people want a complete experience; they want to understand what’s behind each cocktail. Having a strong, solid concept has become essential. It’s what makes guests choose your place over another, especially in Barcelona, where there are so many great bars. You need to offer something extra: a vision, an identity.”

So what’s the secret to longevity?

“You have to believe in what you do and stay authentic. If you change with every new trend, you risk losing your identity. We live in a fast-paced, fleeting world. If you stay true and connected to your vision, that’s how you last. That’s why Dr. Stravinsky keeps succeeding, because we don’t cheat. Look at classic bars: they span decades. Why? Because they have a strong essence; they don’t chase fads. That’s our secret: we love what we do, passionately. People know our work and come for that.”

Menu - A Journey Across Spain