Hottest bar openings in June 2016
A saloon with a resident dog, a cocktail list centred on experimental house-infused rums, and a bar inspired by hedonistic literary icons top last month’s new openings.
The Bloomsbury Club Bar features in our pick of hottest bar openings last monthYes, you read that correctly. San Francisco bartender Kevin Diedrich has opened a new cocktail bar with a “fun and approachable” menu – and a bar mascot in the form of his pit bull, Kona.
Meanwhile, an “experiential blended concept” has opened in London, combining a bar, kitchen, coffeehouse, male grooming centre and florist – a perfect pitstop for the millennial who wants it all, and wants it now.
Across the pond in Delaware a neighbourhood bar decked out in pennies pays painstaking attention to detail, revamping classic pre- and post-Prohibition cocktails.
Click through the following pages to discover some of the hottest bars to open around the world in June 2016.
The Bloomsbury Club Bar, London
The Bloomsbury Club Bar takes inspiration from the lives of the hedonistic Bloomsbury Set – an influential group of English writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists. Housed within The Bloomsbury hotel, the bar is furnished with plush leather armchairs, atmospheric lighting and wall-to-wall bookshelves, leading to an enchanting outside space. The menu features a selection of original cocktails named after literary icons – try the Virginia Woolf; a “tart yet fruity” combination of No. 3 gin, lemon juice, raspberry shrub, Cochi Americano and egg white.
The Copperhead Saloon, Delaware
Delaware’s newest neighbourhood bar and lounge offers its own take on carefully considered classic pre- and post-Prohibition cocktails. Take the recipe for the Ole Smokie, a souped–up Old Fashioned, which first sees a sprig of rosemary used to paint the inside of the glass with Laphroaig. Then orange slices and Azucar Morena brown sugar are muddled, orange bitters are added, along with German cherries, Maker’s Mark, and a pre-smoked ball of ice. The cocktail is finished with a puff from a smoking gun.
Beast & Butterflies, Singapore
The newest player to join the cluster of exceptional hotel bars gracing Singapore, the mixology team at Beast & Butterflies know how to make a stylish cocktail. While you relax at the impressive 13 metre-long counter, try the Mi Amor (pictured), which contains Hendrick’s Gin, Absinthe, and citrus; or perhaps the Brazilian Mary, a mix of Cachaca 51, basil, baby roma tomatoes, pepper, sea-salt and bitters.
Heist Bank, London
Heist Bank brings something entirely new to Paddington, specialising in wood-fired pizza, local beer and fresh flowers. The cocktail list features 10 classics using high quality ingredients, and includes the Dark & Stormy, made with Goslings rum, fresh ginger syrup and lime soda; Scofflaw Evan Williams Bourbon, dry vermouth, lemon and pomegranate syrup; and Southside Fizz, a combination of mint-infused gin with lemon served long with soda. Back to the backdrop – the venue is bursting with seasonal flowers by its in-house artisan florist, while the kitchen boasts a selection of delicious pizzas and small plates featuring local cheeses, cured meats and seasonal extras.
Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco
Renowned San Francisco bartender Kevin Diedrich – formerly of Burritt Room, Jasper’s, and BDK – has opened his very own cocktail bar, and he’s brought his pitbull, Kona, with him as bar mascot. The menu boasts 18 inventive cocktails comprising The Saffron, a saffron-infused mezcal drink with grilled pineapple; Santorini Summer, with Bols yogurt liqueur, gin, cucumber juice, ginger juice, lime, cilantro, mint, and a splash of tonic; and Mum’s the Word, which combines Chrysanthemum-infused Christian Drouin Calvados, Campari, and elderflower.
Bar-Roque Bar, Singapore
The new Bar-Roque Bar certainly has a more tropical vibe than its well-established adjoining meat eatery, Bar-Roque Grill. After spending the last three years in the kitchens of the Caribbean, chef Stephane Istel has returned with fresh inspiration. He has been infusing his rums by the jar for years, to the delight of grill customers, ranging from ‘The Sing’ – rum infused with pineapple, red chilli, vanilla and cinnamon – to ‘The Thai’; mango, lemongrass, lime leaves, and lemon slices. These flavourful spirits now dominate the drinks menu: six infusions, each inspired by a country, used in three signature cocktails.
Trade Union, London
A new “experiential blended concept”, Trade Union comprises a bar and kitchen alongside speciality coffeehouse, Vagabond, male grooming brand, Drakes of London and florist, Maua. The bar serves a seasonally changing menu that offers all the classics alongside modern favourites and signature creations. Described as a “completely new collaboration of some of London’s most exciting lifestyle brands”, the venue also offers a range of interactive packages, from cocktail masterclasses to florist workshops.
The Phoenix, LA
A fitting name for a bar that has risen from the ashes once again, this time ditching bottomless mimosas in favour of a brown spirit-centric back bar. More than 200 kinds of Cognac, Bourbon, brandy, Scotch and whiskey adorn the shelves, while the cocktail list boasts spirit-forward cocktails. Try the Godfather – made with made with Pierre Ferrand Cognac.
