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Hottest bar openings in April 2017
By Nicola CarruthersA rooftop whisky den, a theatre bar combining mixology and magic, and a watering hole with a distinct Viking theme are all included in our latest round-up of hot new bar openings around the world.
Alfresco 64 features on our list of hottest bar openings in April
London bartender Matt Whiley has opened a new cocktail bar with a sustainable menu – championing seasonal ingredients in Shoreditch.
Meanwhile, the capital’s smallest hotel with just one suite has combined three bars in one with a Sherry bar, a whisky den and a sophisticated cocktail bar.
Across the pond in Los Angeles, cocktail enthusiasts Devon Espinosa and Scratch Bar duo Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee, Woodley Proper puts food and drink on equal standings by focusing on the idea of a “proper dining at the bar” experience.
Click through the following pages to discover some of the hottest bars to open across the planet in April 2017.
Missed our newest openings from March? Have a look at the list from last month.
Scout, London
With a cocktail list curated by Matt Whiley (the mixology mastermind behind Peg + Patriot) and co-founder of Purl and Worship Street Whistling Shop, Scout champions seasonal ingredients and ensures very little goes to waste. The drinks menu is the star of the show but favours quality over quantity with just 10 cocktails. In the basement, there is ‘The Lab’, where guests can watch in real-time as new food and drinks menus are developed with a front-row seat.
Lulu’s Lounge, Singapore
Taking inspiration from a 1960’s New York back alley club, Lulu’s is an energetic late night lounge with dancefloor, private patio and retro DJ performances. The lounge offers playful twists on classic cocktails, a hand-picked wine list, and an elegant presentation of bottle service. A garden patio provides a relaxed al-fresco experience with dim-lit fairy lights and vintage-modern furnishings – a hideaway for guests to wind down into the evening.
London Cocktail Club, Monument – London
Rob Roys, whisky fountains and a Rolling Stones soundtrack: in April, London Cocktail Club’s seventh outpost landed in Monument. The bar is inspired by London’s old-school Savile Row style tailors – reminiscent of the building’s former purpose as a traditional men’s suit shop – with suited mannequins fitted with gigantic taxidermy animal heads in the shop window-style entrance. Inside the tailor theme continues throughout with pinstripe, sharks tooth and tweed, juxtaposed with bespoke art-work and a Vivienne Westwood-inspired ‘punk’ feel.
Alfresco 64 – A Chivas Bar, Bangkok
Perched 800 feet in the air upon the 64th floor of Tower Club at The Dome lebua, Alfresco 64 serves up stunning aerial views of the city skyline and the Chao Phraya River, alongside a luxury whisky offering. Chivas and lebua Hotels & Resorts have collaborated to create an exclusive limited edition whisky called Chivas Regal lebua blend, which whisky aficionados will be able to sample at the new bar.
The Napoleon, London
Home to not just one, but three bars including Black Rock, The Napoleon is thought to be London’s smallest hotel with just one suite. Opened by the creators behind Worship Street Whistling Shop, the ground floor is home to Sack, a Sherry bar and The Devil’s Darling (pictured), a decedent hotel-style cocktail bar specialising in classic cocktails. Even the bedroom suite is equipped with its own drinks trolley featuring bottled cocktails from the Aske Stephenson range – and a lift that brings cocktails up from each floor.
Mjølner, Sydney
The Speakeasy Group, the same team behind Eau de Vie, Boilermaker house and The Roosevelt, have finally opened their long-awaited whisky and carvery bar and restaurant in Redfern. Taking its name and inspiration from marvel superhero Thor, who uses a lump hammer called Mjolner as his weapon of choice, the bar features an extensive offering of whisky (around 400) and signature cocktails.
Coup, New York City
Meet Coup – a completely not-for-profit bar from cocktail legend Ravi DeRossi (Death & Co). One-hundred percent of Coup’s earnings will go to organisations that support those oppressed by the current administration. The bar has already lined up an impressive roster of rotating guest bartenders, including Ivy Mix (Leyenda), Jim Meehan (PDT), David Wondrich (Cocktail Historian), and Jamie Boudreau (Canon), plus guests can easily choose what cause they’d like to donate to by dropping a token into a labeled jar.
Woodley Proper, Los Angeles
A collaboration between cocktail maven Devon Espinosa and Scratch Bar duo Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee, Woodley Proper puts food and drink on equal standings by focusing on the idea of a proper dining at the bar experience. Imbibers can begin the evening with boozy amuse bouches before selecting from a menu organised by aromatic, floral, herbaceous, fruit, and “treats” categories. Large parties have the option of large format punch displays and interactive carts, loaded with a full bottle, freshly made mixers, accoutrements, a bartender, and tutorial.
Blackstone Magic Bar, Shanghai
Magic and mixology are combined in this Shanghai drinking den, where visitors can drink Houdini-inspired cocktails while watching world-renowned magicians perform close-up magic tricks. Keeping with the magic theme, cocktail specialist Chris Xi has designed a series of signature cocktails, including The Milk Can, in which coconut cream and sago trap a serving of turmeric-infused gin, inspired by Houdini’s famous escapology tricks – you have to stir the drink thoroughly to get the gin free.
Suzuki, New York City
Sushi legend Toshio Suzuki has opened the doors to a three-in-one dining concept in New York. His new spot is broken down into three different sections: a sushi bar called Satsuki, a cocktail bar called Three Pillars, and Suzuki, a traditional kaiseki restaurant that serves seasonal Japanese food in set tasting menus. Alex Ott is the bar honcho at Three Pillars, and has a resume that includes head bartender at Sushi Samba, as well as serving as brand ambassador. For the bar, Ott has devised an array of drinks using Japanese ingredients which can be enjoy alongside snacky izakaya-style bites to balance the booze.
The Garage, London
Relaunched in April under new ownership and following an extensive refurbishment, The Garage has been transformed into a destination venue, with a large legendary live music main room equipped with new sound system, decor and bar, and revamped intimate gig space ‘Thousand Island’ upstairs. ‘The General Store’, situated on the ground floor, is a sleek all-new day time coffee spot, craft beer and cocktail bar. Expect a great range of contemporary cocktails and a changing selection of American and British craft beer.