Marquis Lounge, a New Orleans-inspired cocktail and wine bar, launches Friday in Portland’s Arts District.
Co-owner Meg Bartos said the lounge will feature seasonal cocktails alongside some New Orleans classics like a Sazerac and Smoked Vieux Carré, along with absinthe fountain service. The bar program also offers a selection of Champagne and caviar, beer and shot pairings and snacks like bourbon pecans, pork rinds and pigs in a blanket.
“We’ve intentionally gone playfully lowbrow/highbrow,” said Bartos. “The idea is to be a cozy, approachable neighborhood Parisian-style cafe, but with a few New Orleans speakeasy-style surprises along the way.”
Marquis Lounge takes its inspiration from the Marquis de Lafayette, who stayed in Portland in 1825 in a boarding house where the lounge now stands. Their aesthetic redesign of the space — which had prominently featured taxidermy on the walls when it was the Teddy Roosevelt-themed Sagamore Hill — includes showcasing the original marble mosaic floors and brass fixtures.
The space has seating for 55 customers, and standing room for about 25 more. Marquis Lounge is open at 150 Park St. Sunday through Tuesday from 4 to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
This story was originally published by the Maine Trust for Local News. Tim Cebula can be reached at tcebula@pressherald.com.