The champagne bar oasis located within Oxford Exchange is officially open, and its daring you to day drink.
Let us explain, the bar runs the same hours at OE, which means it is serving up bubbly from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (thanks to that damn drinking law).
In typical Oxford Exchange fashion, the concept spared no expense transporting visitors to a decked out 400-square-foot champagne bar, which has consumed nearly half of the boutique area.
In a media preview, owner of Oxford Exchange Allison Adams addressed the crowd and explained that the inspiration behind the champagne bar was organic, "It started when we first opened Oxford Exchange, we wanted to create a community where people could gather and escape from the everyday world." From there, Adams said that people began hosting birthday parties, baby showers and intimate gatherings at the restaurant, and then celebrations became part of OE's DNA. "Nothing says celebration like the popping of a champagne cork," Adams said with a laugh.
The main focal point of the bar is the antique French bakery counter, which is covered in fruit, flowers and other garnishes to dress drinkable creations.
Massive flower arrangements are scattered throughout the space, making any seat an "Instagrammable" location. The champagne bar offers up limited chair and couch seating, with floral throw pillows, which means no seating (unless you claim your seat at 9 a.m.) until the newness wears off.
Now let's get to the bubbly. The menu was created in partnership with Rifle Paper Company, who also custom-made the bowties and ties of the servers within the champagne bar who pour up bottles by the glass ranging anywhere from $9-$50 (2-ounce pour of Dom Perignon Brut). Drinkers can also opt for a flight of bubbles for $30, which includes three glasses of wine: Louis Pommery Brut, Nicolas Feuillate Brut, and Veuve Cliquot Rosé. Rifle Paper even has a cocktail named after them, Rifle Paper Co. Punch which is topped with Etolie Rosé and filled with flowers.
Other signature cocktails include the OE Grand Mimosa, Champagne Cocktail, a Cranberry Spritz and a Pimms Fizz.
Adams wrapped her toast to the crowd with a banger from F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Too much of anything is bad, but too much of champagne is just right."
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