Through the Red Velvet Curtain: Experience the Parisian Spirit of Bar Rêve with Alexander Buchholz & Victor Triebel
Discover Bar Rêve in Brooklyn, where founders Alexander Buchholz and Victor Triebel bring Parisian elegance to creative cocktails and a luxe, unforgettable experience.
- By: Julianne Elise Beffa I Photos By: McGuire McManus
When I got off the train, braved the cold winter Friday night and arrived at Bar Rêve‘s doorstep, I almost thought I had the wrong address. A quiet, unassuming entrance on a corner in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, it does not announce itself with flashing signs or the chaos of nightlife. As I double checked the address, opened the door and slid through the red velvet curtain, the rest of Brooklyn slipped away.
The room is bathed in red velvet, as if I had passed through a theatrical curtain straight into Paris. Murano chandeliers hang overhead, casting a soft glow on vintage fixtures, and the low hum of conversation and clinking glassware sets the tone for an evening that feels intentionally removed from the rush outside. Bar Rêve is the kind of bar you might expect in a trendy Manhattan neighborhood, yet here I am in Brooklyn, and I would not leave for the world. It feels intimate, elevated, and alive all at once.
The bar feels like stepping into someone’s impeccably curated salon, a place where every object has a purpose. There are books that double as menus and each drink tells a story. When I met Alexander Buchholz and Victor Triebel, the founders, I immediately sensed that their vision for Bar Rêve is as personal as it is precise.
Alexander Buchholz, formerly of Ralph Lauren and the Four Seasons, and Victor Triebel, a Paris native whose résumé includes Dante Beverly Hills and Mandarin Oriental New York, have created something timeless. Buchholz tells me, “My time at Ralph Lauren and Four Seasons exposed me to global audiences that value restraint, elegance, and longevity over novelty. I realized that trends, while profitable and relevant in the short term, come and go. Timelessness is what endures. Bar Rêve was born from our desire to create something classic, confident, and culturally fluent without ever slipping into nostalgia or kitsch.”
Victor Triebel adds, “One of the biggest motivations for starting Bar Rêve was to reclaim the classics. I’ve been lucky enough to work at the top brass of luxury, places such as George V in Paris, Maybourne Beverly Hills, and Mandarin Oriental New York. With Bar Rêve, I was excited to develop a timeless concept with deep respect for classic drinks while also taking a creative approach. Our collectible menus, for example, allowed me to combine creativity, narrative, and design- all while staying true to classic inspirations.”
Related | Y.E.S: Yap, Eat, and Sip at Skylark NYC
The Interiors
The bar’s interiors are a love letter to Belle Époque Paris, a period defined by optimism, elegance, and artistry. Murano chandeliers, red velvet drapery, and vintage fixtures all nod to the salons and soirées of turn-of-the-century Paris, reimagined for Brooklyn. Alexander shares, “Working with Studio Friedman on all of our interiors, our non-negotiables were warmth, layering, and intimacy. The space needed to feel residential—almost as if you’re stepping into your well-traveled friend’s salon. We wanted to build a space where you’d want to linger for hours without the pressure of pretension.”
Victor’s perspective adds an international lens. “Growing up in Versailles, I often visited Giverny, home to the landscapes that inspired the Impressionists. For the first volume of our cocktail menu, I returned to the works and atmospheres that shaped my childhood and artistic worldview—especially the elegance and creative energy of Belle Époque Paris. Those experiences continue to inform how I approach balance, beauty, and storytelling in every drink.”
We wanted to build a space where you’d want to linger for hours without the pressure of pretension.
And the cocktails themselves are no less extraordinary. The menu is presented as a bound book, each drink an “impression” of a classic cocktail interpreted through iconic Impressionist paintings. I order the Scandale, a smoky, subversive riff on the Naked & Famous, inspired by Édouard Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe. Victor explains, “While maintaining the original cocktail’s structure, we layered flavors to reflect the contrast, complexity, and quiet provocation of the painting itself, bringing a piece of art to life in liquid form.”
The Drinks
Sipping it, I can feel the intention. Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime combine in a way that feels both modern and rooted in tradition. This is the kind of craft cocktail that rewards attention and presence.
Each cocktail offers a story. The Aurore, inspired by Monet’s Impression, Soleil Levant, is a crisp, luminous, and effervescent take on the Pornstar Martini. The Tutu draws from Degas’ La Classe de Danse, light, elegant, and poised. The Over the Bridge Margarita evokes Monet’s White Water Lilies, delicate, bright, and herbaceous. Every drink reads like poetry. As Victor puts it, “We created these beverages to capture the essence of the now—vivid, expressive, and unforgettable.”
Meeting Alexander and Victor, I quickly realized that this meticulous attention to detail extends to every corner of the experience. Alexander says, “Luxury today is less about formality and more about feeling. At Bar Rêve, luxury means inviting people into a lifestyle—one defined by great conversation, beautiful art, and an ice-cold martini at exactly the right moment.”
Luxury today is less about formality and more about feeling. At Bar Rêve, luxury means inviting people into a lifestyle—one defined by great conversation, beautiful art, and an ice-cold martini at exactly the right moment.
Victor added, “Service is everything. After years shaping guest experiences in luxury hotels worldwide, my commitment to hospitality remains unwavering. Food and beverage skills can be taught. What cannot be taught is a genuine passion for service, hospitality, and memorable guest experiences. These are the qualities that define our team and the service we deliver.”
The Vibe
Watching them interact with guests, it is clear that their vision is not only executed through drinks and design but through genuine human connection. I notice how the bartenders anticipate needs, how the lighting frames every interaction, and how the music and pacing allow the room to breathe. Alexander says, “The product is never just the product. It’s a reflection of lifestyle and aspiration. Every touchpoint is designed to quietly support the world we’re inviting guests into.”
Brooklyn itself influences the experience. Victor says, “I call Brooklyn home, and I love it. In developing Bar Rêve, I wanted to create a world-class brand unlike anything our neighborhood had seen. Our cocktails, menus, and service draw inspiration from Brooklyn’s rich culture and art, as well as bars, hotels, and clubs I’ve experienced across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. Bar Rêve is a curated collection of my favorite global experiences brought to life just steps from my door.”
As the night stretches on, the bar fills with a creative crowd. People from fashion, art, and media mingle effortlessly. Alexander observes, “We positioned Bar Rêve not simply as a cocktail bar, but as a lifestyle brand. That clarity naturally attracts like-minded partners across industries like fashion, fragrance, and culture who share our values and aesthetic.”
The Details
Beyond a great drink, I hope guests feel as though they’ve stepped out of time for a moment.
It is clear that Bar Rêve is the first chapter of something larger. Both founders see potential beyond a single location or even the cocktail program. Alexander hints, “Everything we build going forward will be guided by the principles and ethos of the Rêve identity. My partner and I are hoteliers at heart, and we see a very natural evolution into the hotel space and beyond, always with the same commitment to storytelling, intimacy, and resonance.”
I leave Bar Rêve having sampled not only inventive cocktails but a philosophy of hospitality rooted in artistry and respect for tradition. The experience lingers. It is immersive, literary, and luxurious without being inaccessible. Victor sums it up perfectly, “Beyond a great drink, I hope guests feel as though they’ve stepped out of time for a moment. The space offers a sense of quiet escapism, where conversation lingers and guests leave feeling restored, not rushed.”
Bar Rêve is the kind of cocktail bar that rewards presence, attention, and curiosity. In 2026, as Brooklyn continues to evolve as a nightlife destination, Bar Rêve stands out not for spectacle but for precision, care, and imagination. It is a bar where every sip tells a story, every shadow has a purpose, and every guest is invited to slow down.
If you want a night that feels like stepping into Belle Époque Paris, complete with Murano chandeliers, velvet curtains, and a menu that reads like art, Bar Rêve is waiting. You do not need to leave Brooklyn to find it, but it feels as though you have traveled to a world where every detail is curated, every cocktail is an impression, and every visit is unforgettable.
Read More
