Pix/Bar Vivant The beloved French bakery is back, with tapas

Like your college girlfriend on her WWOOF journey of discovery throughout Europe, Pix Patisserie spent its Summer vacation getting intimate with some sexy Spanish flavor and -- after shuttering its NoPo and Division locations -- has returned a little spicier with the opening of Pix/Bar Vivant, a boozy European Union of flavors.

The horseshoe-shaped spot's split to offer unique experiences, with the Pix side shelling out the bakery's well-loved French macarons, puff pastries, and chocolates in a sunny cafe with sliding doors overlooking a patio. The Spanish-leaning Bar Vivant, meanwhile, embraces its inner Banderas thanks to a sleek, seductive aesthetic complete with chandeliers, a full bar, and a wall packed ceiling to floor with more champagne bottles than The Continental's dumpster. That side's where sweet's ditched for savory, with 40+ $1-$5 tapas including Iberian ham sliced razor-thin to order and wrapped around quail eggs), bacon-wrapped dates, salmon rillettes, papas bravas, empanadas, croquettes, and a pretty serious foie puff, or what the magic dragon's buddies started calling him when he stopped toking up all the time and got really snooty and into haute cuisine.

Even that damn straight edge dragon would have to make an exception thanks to Bar Vivant's 20-page wine list, local taps, and craft cocktails including the Maria Theresa w/ Amontillado & vermouth, and an absinthe-soaked take on the Sidecar, which your college gf is surely cruising around in right now -- damn you European men and your ability to make anything seem sexy!