Let’s start from this: the Marlene Bar in Chisnau, apart from being most probably the best place in town for good drinks, is one of the best bars I vistited EVER (and you know I am normally quite difficult to impress…). The place is so pleasant in many ways that, after a few cocktails, it made me reflect on why a bar is good, from my very personal “enthusiastic-educatied-barfly” point of view. Point 1: the venue. In the case of the Marlene, the venue is a 3 rooms sort of apartment on the groung floor in the centre of Chisnau, with modern classy minimalistic decoration and very confortable chairs and tables. In a word, beautiful and home-feeling. Also, it has a cosy garden with a vineyard pergola, simple tables and a very relaxed vibe. Point 2: the service. You are welcomed with a smile and once you sit, the waiters are always there but without pressing nor annoying, with the result that you enter for one or two drinks and you go out after five. The bartenders just do their job, without showing off nor behaving like they worked in the best bar in town. Point 3: the ambience. This is a mix of music (at the Marlene it seemed they knew which are my favourote records, from Charlie Parker to Tom Jobim…), crowd (in there everybody smiles at you and is ready for chitchat if you want) and that indefinite thing called “vibe”, that maybe comes from the place’s history (quite recent at the Marlene, but still you feel part of a sort of Moldavian youth renaissance of which the bar is part of). Point 4: the drinks. I always start with a martini cocktail (which was absolutelòy up to the expectations) and then explore the cocktail menu. The bar offers you some well-crafted classics, some seasonal cocktails and some very creative signature drinks. I tried more than a few of them, and no one decieved me. All in all, the bar is scoring extremely high in all these points, so in case you happen to be in Chisinau you know where to head to. Classic Martini rate: 9.
The Martini Hour 