Why did you choose writers as the inspiration for both bars?

Milan Čupka:
We didn’t name the bars after famous writers without context. The answer becomes clear once you look into the lives of both authors. The life of Bukowski and the atmosphere of our first bar, as well as Baudelaire’s life and the mood of our second bar, seem to correspond quite naturally. What both bars should share is that everyone can find something for themselves. We’re not a typical cocktail bar, nor a classic dive bar, beer pub, or wine bar. But we believe that lovers of any kind of drinking culture will find something here — even if it’s not exactly what they expected, it certainly won’t disappoint. We aim to offer quality and always something a little surprising.

Why should we visit Baudelaire — what can we find here that we won’t find in Bukowski?

Michal:
You should start your evening in Baudelaire and finish it in Bukowski — that’s the ideal combination (laughs). Baudelaire offers a pleasant beginning, a calmer experience of muses (cocktails) and shots, and then you can end the night in Bukowski, where you let yourself be fully pulled into the flow of events. For example, cocktails are not part of Bukowski’s concept.

Milan:
In Baudelaire, we offer a wider selection of absinthes, served with an absinthe fountain, which is an experience in itself. The alcohol selection between Bukowski and Baudelaire overlaps by less than half, so there’s a lot to discover here — from higher-end Scotch whiskies to a different range of wines.

Who helped you with the interior design, and what was most important to you?

Michal:
Architect Dalibor Vidiečan from yourDesign helped us, but there are always multiple people involved in our creative process. The main metal installation Flowers of Evil was designed and produced by sculptor Dionýz Troskó. The linocuts of plants used to produce alcohol were created by artist Tomáš Klepoch. Graphic design and the overall visual identity were handled by graphic designer Braňo Bezručka. This whole team collaborated closely with the three of us to make everything work as a coherent whole.

Milan:
This kind of collaboration worked well for Bukowski, and in Baudelaire it already brought its first results. Our menu, unusually organized by the types of plants used to produce the alcohol, won the Slovak Bar Awards for Best Bar Menu of the Year. It was the result of strong teamwork. The original idea was completely different, but over time it evolved into this form — and we hope it resonates not only with an international jury of bartenders, but also with our guests.

What is distinctive about the interior and its symbolism?

Martin:
Definitely the floral patterns that form the dominant visual element of the bar — the metal bar structure itself. Flowers are the main motif of the bar and appear on the walls as original linocuts by Tomáš Klepoch, in the menu, and ultimately even in your cocktail.

Michal:
Baudelaire himself once said that when writing poetry, he “extracted beauty from evil.” We like that approach. For us, Baudelaire is a place where vice brings pleasure, ugliness is not something to mock, and muses can both inspire and break you.

Who should definitely visit your new bar?

Michal:
Anyone who enjoys a lively atmosphere and quality, without worrying that they’ll spend their entire paycheck. When preparing the bar, we thought a lot about how to offer an authentic experience on such a tourist-heavy street while keeping prices reasonable. We want to be the opposite of tourist traps and make locals feel good here.

Martin:
We welcome open-minded people who enjoy good drinks and good fun. We’re grateful that many regulars from Bukowski supported us in the beginning — they came to see Baudelaire, shared valuable advice, suggestions, sometimes criticism, sometimes praise. It helps. We feel that Bukowski created a strong community.

Is Baudelaire more focused on tourists because of its location?

Michal:
As we already hinted, definitely more on locals.

Milan:
From Bukowski, we know that when locals feel good somewhere, tourists naturally follow — because they feel they’re experiencing something authentic.

How is Tomáš Klepoch’s linocut artwork used in the bar?

Michal:
As wall decorations, but especially in the menu, where it defines its entire structure.

Milan:
In the future, we might create a series of T-shirts. People could wear artwork depicting the plant from which their favorite drink is made.