Actually, my favorite place has always been at the bar, in front of the bar," says Gage Plecic during our visit to the Galerie Boutique Bar on Thun's Aarequai. The establishment, which opened in May of last year, was named Switzerland's best new opening at the 20th SWISS BAR AWARDS. The bar owner's joy is immense, and his team feels honored.
At this year's anniversary SWISS BAR AWARDS, the Galerie Boutique Bar was in competition with Geneva's new À l'Ancienne Bar and the Zurich establishment No Idea Bar. Hans-Georg Hildebrandt, founder and owner of the filler brand Gents, described the contenders as all "super cool guys.
Michael Zotter paid tribute to their step into self-employment: "This award in particular is also representative of the fact that courage should be especially rewarded in such uncertain times". Gage Plecic, who traveled with his team to the gala night in Baden, did not expect to win. "We can't win against a Zurich or Geneva bar," the bar operator thought to himself. "Sure, it would be possible, but we didn't expect that. Even if that sounds trite".
An award on the Aare in Thun
Now the SWISS BAR AWARD for the Best Newcomer Bar is already where it belongs: in the Galerie Boutique Bar on the Thun bank of the Aare, right next to the Sinnebrücke. Many well-wishers from Plecic's circle of friends have already turned up, punks from the club scene, artists and Thun night owls. For more than a decade, Plecic has run the VAMP Club and the rocking Tarantino-style tequila bar La Cueva in Untere Hauptgasse.
Along the way, the bon vivant also got off to a flying start as the frontman of the band Colafluid. "We were in every newspaper and on TV and played a lot of concerts," recalls Plecic, who now also works in the multimedia design industry after completing his studies. But being a singer in the age of free downloads cost money, the lease on La Cueva expired last year, and the Corona pandemic continued to rage.
From shell to bar whisper and art
Just in time, the opportunity to take over the house at Obere Hauptgasse 74 with a restaurant business came to him. Having seen the shell of the building at that time, it becomes clear what Gage Plecic and his life and business partner Rahel Wenger took on. "The police inspectorate approached us and asked if we would like to take over the store," says Plecic. He and Rahel Wenger stood before the bare walls on the ground and upper floors, without any power lines or toilet facilities let alone ventilation, in darkness and under a low ceiling. He and Rahel roll the dice in October 2020. They quickly decide to take over and launch his new bar the following spring.
"I felt the place was a place of power, surrounded by water, the mountains and light. I never had such an expectation before, because until then I worked as a 'nightshade' in nightclubs and in dark cellars," says the Swiss. In early November 2020, the authority approved the conversion and the extensive work could begin. "Back then, when everyone was off and bored during the lockdown, I had the biggest stress of my life. You really sweat blood during a remodel like that," he recalls. To open up and brighten up the guest rooms, he even had a ceiling demolition done.
Today the building shines in new and probably for the first time. Galerie Boutique Bar opened on May 1 last year after a swift four-month complete remodel and renovation. The light warms up the downstairs bar area through the ceiling reconstruction, bringing out the purple and gold-colored seating. Specially imported gold-colored lamps by London-based and Plecic's favorite designer, Tom Dixon, from the ceiling in the upper and exposed portion of the building do the rest. They wrap the space in warm light, and even the water reflections from the Aare River permeate the bar, which seats about 30 and has bar stools along the back counter.
Bar culture on the Aare
There, Plecic and his team forge mainly sophisticated signature as well as classic cocktails. The drink philosophy: a small, manageable menu with a few top-level drinks with sours, classics or pre-dinners and signatures. The cornerstones of the recipes are based on freshness and sustainability.
At Galerie Boutique Bar, all essences are homemade as a base for lemonades or ingredients for cocktails. A berry, citrus (from the "yuzu fruit" or peach persimmon essence are fixed ingredients. "We also had a grapefruit berry essence to enhance the cocktails. It's through the use of such products that we want to talk about signature drinks. Because it's always about flavor. That's how you pick up guests, and you can also stand out a little as a bar," says Plecic.
A Negroni, a Margarita or a Last Word are part of the standard repertoire of the bar menu illustrated with drawings. Sours based on everything from amaretto to whiskey are also included. Summer specials like a Blueberry or Ginger Mojito may soon give way to winter cravings. Rhäzünser, Valaisannie or Amber from Feldschlösschen beers are freshly tapped. Bottled beers come from the local house of NIKKSON.
All categories of spirits from absinthe to vodka are waiting on call in the back bar. "Gin & Pepper, a vodka-based Frischer Fritz with apple, cucumber, dill and tonic, or a Canadian Ginger Fizz underpin the company's status as a top-class cocktail maker.
"Actually, my favorite place has always been at the, so in front of the bar."
Gage Plecic
Art in all sights
The facility, however, is going another way and also wants to be a gallery. "When we were doing the ceiling deconstruction, we had the thought, the idea of also initiating an art gallery here in this place," Plecic says. He has succeeded in doing so. Every two to three months there are openings and exhibitions of local artists or artists from the punk scene. "There are so many artists who deserve attention. We want to offer them a forum here. Of course, you can also buy the works."
In keeping with the spirit of the hosts, a colorful mix of guests has been frequenting the Galerie Boutique Bar since it opened. The goal was to create a place or a small world of the senses. "All the senses should be addressed here; we want you to smell, taste, touch and see art," says Plecic, in whose bar essential oils create a pleasant aroma.
A big plus of the house is its spacious outdoor area, which was one of the reasons for the takeover and, above all, the rapid restoration and completion for the spring business. "I'll never get another terrace like this in Thun," Plecic thought to himself at the time. More than 40 seats are located on the terrace overlooking the Aare River.
"There is no etiquette or rules. The only thing that counts is respect for your counterpart."
Gage Plecic
Fork and brush
With a crossed fork and a brush, the logo of Galerie Boutique Bar clearly expresses its orientation. The gallery, which is the heart of the bar, also serves good food. The menu is deliberately kept small. Prefabricated products of all kinds are dispensed with. Instead, everything is produced in-house and in small quantities, in order to minimize the ecological footprint and to always be able to prepare fresh food. Chef Alejandro Sobral from Galicia, who has a background in Michelin-starred cuisine, is responsible for this.
According to the motto quality instead of quantity, only the freshest, seasonal and regional products possible are used for the evening menu and the bar service from 6 pm. Soups, salads, hummus variations as starters, vegan dishes or a pulled beef burger don't make the choice any easier, even if the menu is kept narrow.
A little nightshade has to be
On Saturday evenings, the basement is cleared of the flexible tables and chairs. Then there is a club feeling in the otherwise dignified bar and art gallery. The space is transformed into a dance floor that can be observed from the gallery above. The host can individually illuminate and control the centrally aligned lamps by Tom Dixon to adapt the lighting conditions to the atmosphere. Or vice versa.
But what's important to hosts Gage and Rahel is that guests feel at home. Whether and whoever comes by when to dance on Saturday night, to linger on the terrace, to look at or buy art, and of course for a really good drink, makes no difference. "Life itself plays an essential role here. You can be the way you want to be. There's no etiquette or rules. The only thing that counts is respect for one's counterpart. Anyone can and should come, but unfriendliness and disrespect have no place here," says Gage. He no longer has to get a seat in front of the bar. We wish him continued good luck and success.
This article appeared in
Issue 5-2022
BAR NEWS magazine as single issue
