Hottest bar openings in March 2014

A host of scintillating new establishments burst onto the international bar scene last month – from Myanmar to Melbourne – as BarChick discovers.

BarChick scours the globe to find the hottest international bar openings in March 2014

Whether you’re an experimental barfly seeking a taste of the deep south in Australia’s most cosmopolitan city or a cocktail enthusiast looking for a cosy roof terrace in the Big Apple, BarChick has uncovered the hottest new venues to open across the world.

This list includes exciting new bars to open in Myanmar, Melbourne, London, Austin, and New York.

Click through the following pages to see which venues made the cut.

For more global bar recommendations, visit BarChick.com.

Le Bon Ton – Melbourne

This New Orleans style wonderland offers oysters, absinthe and smokehouse fare; hunks of brisket and pork shoulder are smoked for 16 hours before appearing on your plate. The excellent cocktail list is overseen by the Black Pearl’s Evan Stanley, and at weekends the Absinthe Room in the back is where to be until 6am.

51 Gipps Street , Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia; lebonton.com.au

Big Easy – London

The Chelsea branch has held a long-standing reputation and the new opening in Covent Garden is just as impressive. Upstairs offers a nine metre long bar with more than 500 bottles to choose from and a menu brimming with BBQ meat, pulled pork, lobsters and dozens of sides. Downstairs The Shelter bar offers something a little more serious and refined with its weekly changing cocktail menu and signature drinks that aren’t available upstairs.

12 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London, UK; bigeasy.co.uk

Half Step – Austin

From industry veterans Chris Bostick and Sasha Petraske, this is a welcome addition to Austin’s Rainey Street. They’ve implemented a serious training regime here and it shows in the drinks and not to mention the ice (their ice house has the only Clinebell Ice Maker in Texas). Furthermore, it’s beautiful – located in a detached turquoise house with sultry Art Deco interiors.

75 1/2 Rainey Street, Austin, Texas, USA; halfstepbar.com

The Roof at the Viceroy – New York

The Roof perched atop the Viceroy hotel has launched just in time for spring. Styled like a sky high luxury yacht there’s lots of rich wood and polished brass, though yachts don’t usually come with 29th-floor views of Manhattan and a back bar of small batch spirits this good. There is an indoor lounge and spacious outdoor terrace with wool blankets to cosy under, perfect for date nights.

124 W 57th Street, New York, USA; theroofny.com

Gekko – Myanmar

You may not think of Burma as the obvious destination for a high profile bar opening, but the team behind Singapore’s famous 28 Hong Kong Street have curated the Japanese-inspired cocktail menu at this ramen and yakitori grill and drinking den in downtown Yangoon, putting it high on our hit list.

535 Merchant Street, Kyauktado Twonship, Yangon, Myanmar; gekkoyangon.com