La Petite Maison reveals playful new cocktails

The magazine-style menu is as heartwarming for the soul as it is exhilarating for the tastebuds

Words - Devinder Bains

It’s not every day that your afternoon’s work involves tasting 10 innovative new cocktails, served alongside some of the world’s finest French cuisine—in a sun-soaked Dubai. But this is La Petite Maison (LPM), where things are never done by halves. The global f&b brand, with restaurants in cities including London, Hong Kong, Mykonos, Limassol and Riyadh, relies as much on its impeccable reputation for perfection as it does on its award-winning dishes and drinks.

“The ice is not quite straight,” whispers LPM’s Global Beverage Director Tibor Krascsenics, while pointing at a B.B. Sour cocktail that arrives at our table. I stare hard at the frothy, citrus whiskey drink, the large ball of ice, perfectly round, resting gently on the floor of the low coupe-style glass – not moving a millimetre even when lifted.

“It’s slightly off,” he laughs. “I’ll take another look at these glasses later.” This is just a glimpse into the level of scrutiny every one of these new cocktails has gone through before being allowed into the open, which will officially be the day after our lunch—when press and guests of the brand will be the first to sample the new offerings aboard a luxury Dubai yacht.

“It took us nearly a year to bring the new menu to life,” tells Krascsenics. "A journey filled with countless late nights, creativity, and dedication. A lot of passion and energy went into every detail, from the concept to the final pour. It was truly a labour of love.”

I feel fortunate to get a sneak peek—not just at tasting the cocktails but at the menu itself. It’s playfully designed as a magazine titled Déjà Vu—a publication that would be right at home in the stylish French Riviera of the 50s to 70s—as an editor, I’m intrigued and entertained. There are of course detailed lists of ingredients for each beverage but more interestingly, there’s the thought process behind the invention, and the story of how each cocktail is connected to the region and era.

“The South of France has always been at the heart of LPM's soul,” shares Krascsenics. “The new Déjà Vu menu is a love letter to the region—to its timeless glamour and effortless sophistication.” He goes on to add: “We looked to the golden era of the French Riviera when icons like Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly turned the Côte d’Azur into a global symbol of style and freedom.”

In fact the B.B. in the aforementioned sour is named after Bardot, with all the other drinks monikers also referencing the sunshine region. There’s the Soleil—a gin cocktail with a Mediterranean tonic—named after the famous fragrance, there’s La Piscine—a strawberry tequila infusion, the Hermès-inspired, rum-based Birkin—served with a custom French silk scarf, and my personal favourite: Mr. Monaco—a delicious mix of pear, vodka and champagne—honouring Formula 1 legend Graham Hill’s nickname.

“The cocktails draw directly from that energy, blending nostalgic storytelling with modern craftsmanship,” Krascsenics explains. “Each serve reflects a memory or a muse from the Riviera, reimagined through the lens of LPM’s expert mixology. As a brand deeply rooted in the culture of the South of France, the menu celebrates our heritage but also feels like a product of that place and time.”

That explains the names, tastes, vibe and even aromas of the cocktails, but why go to the trouble of producing a vintage magazine instead of a regular menu? “It allowed us to capture the charm of a beachside afternoon in Antibes or a café terrace in Saint-Tropez, thumbing through old editorials, horoscopes and crossword puzzles,” tells Krascsenics. “It’s whimsical, nostalgic, and deeply personal to the LPM experience. It's a way of storytelling that mirrors the way people linger, connect, and celebrate life in the Riviera.”

The horoscopes are a particular highlight of mine, breaking down the personality traits of each star sign before matching it with the cocktail that best suits. As a Capricorn, I’m “quirky, innovative and forever unpredictable” and directed towards the nutty and aromatic Ricard-based Pétanque cocktail. Unlike my star sign, the drink is predictably tasty, as are all ten of the new drinks, to be honest.

I ask Krascsenics which of the cocktails he prefers, he makes like a bad dad choosing a favourite child and admits: “The Douilou Douilou is one of my favourites — It is our modern take on a classic Piña Colada. Instead of the traditional creamy version, we reimagined it with Cognac and Champagne,” he says of the cocktail named after the iconic song from the film Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez.

“The coconut element is introduced through a fat-washing technique, giving it a silky texture without the heaviness.” And there’s a final spectacular flourish: “To elevate the experience, it’s garnished with an edible umbrella tulle, a little nod to beachside nostalgia, and served alongside a vintage Walkman playing a specially curated French Riviera mixtape.”

The next day at the boat party, the new cocktails are a big hit, but the truth is, even without the yacht and the sunshine, these drinks can transport you to the French Riviera—no matter which of LPM’s restaurants or bars you may be sat in. “It’s a celebration of joie de vivre,” says Krascsenics of the new menu. “We’re shifting the mood, dialling up the vibrancy, and inviting guests to experience the spirit of the Riviera through bold, refreshing cocktails and a new rhythm of storytelling.” I’ll cheers to that!

The new Déjà Vu cocktail and mocktail menu is currently exclusively available in LPM Dubai. It will be available in LPM London from September.