Drink Diary: Ruby, Copenhagen

"Classic drinking, forward thinking."

Thus reads the inside of the leather-bound cocktail menu at Copenhagen's hidden gem Ruby. Behind an unmarked door just opposite the canal from the Thorvaldson Museum sits this unassuming but elegant bar. In fact, if it weren't for the bottles lining the far wall of the front room, one could easily be tricked into thinking she accidentally stumbled into some emeritus professor's flat.

Leather chairs and velvet footstools are artfully arranged in secluded enclaves, lit by flickering candles and antique light fixtures. Vintage liquor posters, photos and trophies accentuate the khaki and tan striped wallpaper while jazz classics from the likes of Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington play softly in the background. Not to mention the attentive servers who, clad in suspenders and horn-rimmed glasses, strongly bring to mind that one cute film studies TA...

Aside from a handful of classics-with-a-twist, much of the menu is seasonal. My Berry Club Fizz of strawberries, Hennessy, absinthe, and soda with a touch of citrus was like a tangy lemonade - a refreshing end to a hot day.

After a full afternoon of sightseeing neither of us was feeling up to braving blaring music or overcrowded dance floors. (Also it was Sunday, so probably not the ideal going out night anyway). Ruby was the perfect alternative because, thanks to its strong but well-crafted drinks and intellectual ambience, it's highly conducive for sinking back and having a good conversation.