Some days, especially after long flights or drives, you'll arrive somewhere and your brain just stops functioning. Upon checking in to Das Triest, I had hit that mental wall, and after depositing my bags in my room I came downstairs looking for a drink to try a mental reset. Michael suggested that I stop in at the hotel's bar, and walked me through a discreet door behind the front desk into Silver Bar, introducing me to Keita behind the bar.
Keita welcomed me warmly, and asked what I was interested in having. When I asked him for a Sazerac, he got a concerned look on his face and said that was one thing he couldn't do. When I told Keita that beyond a Sazerac my brain was blank, he took a long look at me and proceeded to start mixing something. With a flourish, Keita presented a drink in front of me and asked me to sample it to see if it was where my head wanted to be. To my outstanding surprise, the Hemingway Daiquiri was exactly what I needed - fresh, with a hint of sweet and a hint of a bite to it. Keita then expounded on his concern at the Sazerac, and his disdain for absinthe. Enjoying a long chat, I learned that Keita has had a long and storied career behind the bar, and was a pleasure to converse with about politics, society, life, the universe, and everything.
Silver Bar is a dark and intimate space inside the bright and airy Triest hotel. A place for intimate conversations, and leaving the world behind for a little while as you are looked after by a man who can, at a glance, figure out what drink will put your spirits right again. Whether you live in Vienna or are just passing through, make it a point to visit and let Keita suggest your drink for you. read more