World’s 50 Best Bars: Bethnal Green’s Coupette hoping to be listed again

The World’s 50 Best Bars are set to be revealed at the Camden Roundhouse next month, and Bethnal Green’s Coupette will be hoping to be listed once again.

The French-inspired joint in Tower Hamlets was named the 23rd best bar in the world in 2019.

LondonWorld caught up with Andrei Mancu, Coupette’s bar manager to learn more about the bar’s inspiration and style.

“There are a number of elements that have added to our success,” Mancu told LondonWorld from behind the bar.

“I think firstly our consistency in service and in the products we are delivering, from small nibbles or bar food to the drinks we’re serving has contributed to our service.

“I think we’ve built our reputation over time.

“Also our creativity has helped with our success, as we’re always coming up with new things and creating special menus.

“We launch a new menu every year.

“People in our community are always coming back to find out what’s new and to try new things.

“Sunday is our development day, where we put four drinks on the menu and sell them at a discounted price to be able to get feedback from customers.”

Coupette prides itself for staying true to its French roots, but at the same time being a strong part of the Bethnal Green community.

“A big thing for us is being a part of the neighbourhood and adapting to it,”  Mancu explains.

“Everything we do, we try to add a French element to it.

“Our favourite spirit here is calvados, we have around 60 different bottles of it in the bar right now and we are experimenting with it.”

Mancu recommends newcomers at Coupette to try the Champagne pina colada or the chocolate and red wine cocktails.

Like many bars and restaurants, Coupette was hit badly by the pandemic.

Luckily though they were able to gain support from the 50 Best for Recovery Initiative, a charitable organisation which has provided vital support to bars and restaurants across the world in 2020.

It raised almost £1million to ensure hospitality venues remained in business amid enforced closures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The 50 Best for Recovery Initiative was something that we needed a long time ago,” said Mancu.

“I guess other brands did it in the culinary world but no-one actually did it in the bar industry.”

“Business is going back to normal after lockdown, with the vaccine passports there is a lot of politics around it.

“We’re on a good track right now and I hope no other Covid spikes are going to occur.”

Looking ahead to the World’s Best Bars list for 2021, Mancu speculated on what cities he expects to see on the list.

“I expect to see Paris and Berlin on the list, Barcelona and Madrid for sure,” he said.

“I hope to see more of the little cities like my hometown one day.

“It will be interesting to see 50 Best expanding around the world and for more cities to be added to the list.”

The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled as part of a live awards ceremony on December 7 at Camden’s iconic Roundhouse.