Hottest bar openings in July 2016
From an Italian bar that pays homage to famed rapper The Notorious B.I.G to a post WWII-themed haunt with a focus on rum and rye cocktails – here are 10 of the hottest bar openings in July.
The Blue Bar at The Berkeley features on our list of hottest new openings last monthA new Scottish-inspired bar in Singapore showcases its extensive list of whiskies, cheeses and Gaelic dishes, while a legendary venue will open its doors once again after a six-month refurbishment with classy colour-themed cocktails.
JJ Goodman, co-founder of London Cocktail Club, jumped on the industrial theme and debuted a new location for his famous franchise.
Click through the following pages to discover some of the hottest bars to open around the world in July 2016.
London Cocktail Club, Bethnal Green
A unique cocktail institution in the heart of Bethnal Green, the phenomenally popular London Cocktail Club has opened its latest venue in the east end. LCC takes on a railway theme with a special selection of gins, nestled in Bethnal Green’s arches. The bar has a real industrial vibe, with a wide range of beautifully innovative drinks to satisfy any cocktail enthusiast.
Nosh & Booze, Chicago
AMK Group officially opened Nosh & Booze last month, the latest gourmet restaurant serving American street food and craft cocktails. News has spread fast as the Chicago Tribune already reports that the venue’s pimento burgers as ‘one of the best burgers of 2016’. The eatery is a temporary pop-up and will only be open until December, with provisional plans to open a permanent concept in 2017, so don’t miss out and head down while it lasts.
Blue Bar at The Berkeley, London
The legendary Blue Bar at The Berkeley re-opened its doors last month after a six-month restoration. The lavish bar has been extended with a dramatic glass pavilion and a new cocktail menu which pays tribute to the use of colour in the bar, serving an array of sophisticated bespoke drinks for those who like a classy tipple.
Big Poppa’s, Sydney
This late-night Italian restaurant will be playing hip hop tunes until 2am, with plenty of cheese options to go compliment a lengthy wine list. Downstairs has more of a cocktail-bar vibe, enhanced by dim lighting and leather booths. Big Poppa’s, inspired by Biggie Smalls’ 1994 hit, will be bumping all the best hip-hop jams alongside an impressive food menu.
Balans Society Cafe, London
Balans Soho Society has expanded its family with a café in the vibrant Seven Dials, welcoming fellow bon vivants in for breakfast, lunch, supper and late-night dining with a laid back café-style approach. Favoured classics are brought to the fore including breakfast burrito with spiced scrambled eggs and luxurious Eggs Benedict with lobster, avocado and bacon. Guests can enjoy decadent drinks within a slightly edgy décor paying homage to Soho’s past and the area’s theatrical history.
Bar Laurel, Ottawa
The latest offering from Jon Svazas of Fauna, Bar Laurel is a Spanish-inspired bar featuring an innovative cocktail menu with its syrups, bitters, sorbets and shrubs all made in-house. The Spanish chic décor has warm stylish lighting with a beautiful backlit bar and dark walls, perfect to enjoy intimate drinks with close friends whist sharing bar snacks, tapas and small plates all night long.
53 Degrees North, Leeds
Mediterranean restaurant Ricci’s Tapas & Cicchetti and late night lounge 53 Degrees North will offer a unique concept of tapas coupled with a delicious experimental cocktail list, both founded by acclaimed restauranteur and chef Michael Ricci. The lounge is accessible through a sound-scaped lift and features a secret basement gin bar and bespoke artwork from acclaimed graffiti artist Ben Allen.
Kittyhawk, Sydney
The new cocktail bar by the team from the Lobo Plantation opened last month in Sydney with a post WWII theme and cocktails centred around rum and rye. Kittyhawk takes its name from the US fighter plane with inspiration from American soldiers and Parisians partying together during the liberation of Paris in 1944. The elegant space has a mix of French bistro and US bar feel, its brick walls covered in framed wartime paraphernalia and propaganda posters.
UsQuBa, Singapore
The Gaelic word “Usquebaugh” is where this new bar gets its name from. With influences from Edinburgh and Glasgow, UsQuBa not only serves Aberdeen Angus beef and Highland lamb, but a selection of fine Scottish cheeses and enough whisky to keep any dram enthusiast happy.
Peyotito, Notting Hill
Guest are welcomed by a neon sign quoting ‘Tequila is to wake the living, mezcal is to wake the dead’, setting the playful but modern atmosphere. Enjoy light bites at the bar, or dine under retractable lights in the main restaurant, which has industrial touches of exposed brick. Stay long enough and it transforms into a buzzing late night spot, with DJs and plenty of drinks.
