ottled by Fluid is located in the space formerly occupied by Red Drink Boutique, the once-loved spot that was a magnet for the power-drinking set. Opening last Wednesday, Dean Holdip, Moses Sabatino and Irfan Bukhari have taken the room and redesigned the whole deal into a bottle service setting. The interior, sectioned into several intimate banquette-surrounded tables for big spenders not wanting to queue up for that next round of drinks.

The trend known as “bottle service” has been an option for big spenders in European nightclubs for years. The trend hit L.A., New York, and eventually Montreal. Then last fall, after a few kinks were worked out in Ontario liquor laws, bottle service became available in Toronto, with Lobby and Ultra Supperclub leading the way.

A club that offers bottle service will have a designated area, usually plush VIP-ish seating arrangements. For the lavish toll of sitting at a table in that area, big spending drinkers are obliged to buy at least one bottle of premium alcohol at brutal prices. Depending where you’re coming from, bottle service could prove to be a blessing; no waits, no pimping yourself to bartenders and no precarious walks back to your thirsty yet grateful friends - armed with cocktails for all.

With no entrance from the street (the original backdoor will be reserved for celeb types), access to BBF will be from deep within Fluid, where a bouncer mans the door. When you do get your BBF stamp of approval, you’ll first notice (besides the work it took getting there) is a new interior devoted to bottle service, a shiny pearl-white tile floor (replacing the red carpet) and that someone has a deranged obsession with chocolate brown.

The next thing you’ll notice is the price tag for a ‘bottle’: $250.00 for a bottle of Belvedere, Smirnoff or Finlandia vodkas. Any one of which would cost approximately $35.00 at any LCBO.

It’s all worth it,” says Interior designer Irfan Bukhari. “As long as staff attend to presentation - a chilled Champagne chiller, proper mixes, replacement of clean glasses - bottle service is a very sophisticated option. You have your own drink supply. You have your own wait staff. And because of that, it encourages people to stay in one spot, a good thing for them and staff.”

Upshot: As one recent bottle service embracer accurately noted: “It’s remarkable how many ‘friends’ drop by when you have a $350 Chivas Regal setup on the table.” - DE



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