As we continue celebrating Long Beach Last Call 2026—a 10-day, multi-event celebration of our city’s rich bar culture and the people who make it happen—we will offer a series of features that highlight events like this feature on The Attic wanting to educate patrons on the beauty of absinthe… All in order to lift a glass to a social and economic driver that rarely receives the love its deserves: our bar industry. For more information on Long Beach Last Call, tap here.
Many can recall, when watching the postmodern, Baz Luhrmann-led maximalism of “Moulin Rouge,” its intense focus on absinthe as this hallucinogenic concoction that can be as inspirational as it can be detrimental. For Iano, that introduction of absinthe was no different.
“My relationship with absinthe started exactly the same way as everyone else born in the modern era,” said general manager Iano Dovi. “We were told it was a mystical beverage that would make you hallucinate and see the Green Fairy. There was always that person who had been to Europe, or stumbled into the right bar in Las Vegas, who came back with stories so gloriously mythologized they felt more like legend than lived experience. I listened to all of them.”
And little did he know, Iano would not just dabble into the unique spirit but outright pursue its many iterations—an experience he wants to share with the patrons of The Attic for Long Beach Last Call.
The glorious, proper absinthe tasting at The Attic for Long Beach Last Call.
Few spirits are as entwined with French cultural identity as absinthe, which fueled the cafés, salons, and studios of 19th-century Paris. Revered by writers and artists—from Charles Baudelaire to Vincent van Gogh—absinthe became both a ritual and a symbol of creative rebellion, its slow drip of water over sugar transforming the spirit into the cloudy “louche” beloved across France’s bohemian circles.
Which is why it is such a perfect pairing for The Attic’s growing libation menu: In a sense, The Attic has always leaned into its New Orleans influence via its overall Southern take on food. And there is no place in the country more French-influenced than NOLA.
“Given absinthe’s deep roots in French drinking culture—and France’s enormous imprint on New Orleans cuisine—it felt not just fitting but necessary to actually understand the spirit,” Iano said. “I sourced a few bottles early on, and what started as a cursory introduction became something I couldn’t put down.”
The absinthe menu is wildly expansive, covering American, Swiss, and, of course, French versions of the spirit. They range in colors, from green
The beauty of absinthe…
The range of absinthe—largely driven by licorice-like flavors a la grappa, ouzo, or arak—is a beautiful thing to witness while it is served tableside at The Attic. It can be super sweet or almost dry. It can be earthy and herbal or minty and cool.
“Absinthe is a genuinely beautiful spirit, crafted in a way that’s unlike almost anything else behind the bar,” Iano said. “Its botanical character is unmistakable: anise and fennel upfront… But it’s wormwood that sets it apart from everything else in the category, giving it that herbal complexity and that lingering bitterness that makes you stop and think.”
Then there’s the pure showmanship of it all: A cart pulled up to your table lined with bottles, sugar cubes, glasses, an array of absinthe slotted spoons, and a brouilleur, the water dispenser that drips H2O on top of the sugar cube above the absinthe itself.
“Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of tasting and talking about absinthe alongside some remarkable bartenders, and sharing the experience has become one of my favorite things to do,” Iano said. “The story alone is worth the conversation. Its troubled past. The myths that nearly buried it. And the fact that it only became legal again in the United States less than 15 years ago. It’s always a great tableside moment.”
Wait–you mention Long Beach Last Call 2026. What is it?
Long Beach Last Call was born following the success of my restaurant week, Long Beach Food Scene Week, and serves as a 10-day toast to the bars, bartenders, and cocktail creatives that define Long Beach’s drinking culture.
Designed as both a celebration and a spotlight, the citywide event highlights the craftsmanship behind the stick—from meticulously built classics, like the special NOLA-centric menu at The Ordinarie this year, to boundary-pushing original creations, like those at Olive & Rose—while encouraging locals to explore neighborhood institutions and hidden gems alike.
At its core, Long Beach Last Call isn’t just about cocktails; it’s about community, storytelling, and honoring the independent spaces that give the city its distinct flavor after dark. And Marlena is a part of that—so go order a drink.
The Attic is located at 3441 E. Broadway.
