Florentin, a former low-end neighborhood going through the throes of gentrification, has gained a reputation as a haven for the alternatively minded. The aura of an artist’s haunt guarantees a uniform of informality, where torn jeans and sandals are a must year-round. In such a realm, where definition is the enemy, a hybrid establishment such as the Bugsy flourishes.

Straddling the intersection of Forentin street and Washington Boulevard, Bugsy serves as a neighborhood café by day, and a popular bar by night. Its name is a tribute to the infamous Jewish American Gangster Benjamin Siegel – not exactly a hero, but a tough Jew outside of Israel is always a point of interest. Its day-time personality is a constant draw for the area’s non-office dwellers, with its simple, tasty menu and a quaint view of the tree-lined boulevard. At night, the bar attracts a crowd spanning beyond the neighborhood. Expect to see couples on their third or fourth dates, as well as small groups of hedonists beginning their Florentin pub-crawl. In accordance with the new waves of neighborhood tenants, Bugsy will usually host a crowd in their mid-twenties, dressed down and palming a tumbler of whiskey or a pint of the local lager.