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Hottest bar openings in June 2017
The Hong Kong outpost of Employees Only, an Irish-American bar created in collaboration with The Dead Rabbit, and a tiki-themed drinking den are among the hottest bars to open their doors last month.
Employees Only in Hong Kong features in our pick of hottest bar openings last month
British bartender Richie Fawcett has opened a part-bar, part-art gallery in Vietnam, naming cocktails after streets and personalities.
Meanwhile, the group behind Melrose Umbrella Company has opened a tiki bar in Los Angeles, offering tropical-themed drinks and shareable punch bowls in an island-themed setting.
In San Francisco, a husband-and-wife duo have transformed a jazz club into a vintage living room setting with a “funky bohemian rock and roll vibe”, featuring a pool table and classic pinball machines.
Click through the following pages to discover some of the world’s hottest new bars in June 2017.
Missed our top openings in May? Check out last month’s list.
The Aviary, New York
Following the success of The Aviary in Chicago, chef Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas of the Alinea Group have opened a New York outpost, aimed at delivering a distinctive culinary approach to cocktails and service. Guests will enjoy an interactive experience, featuring an open kitchen where inventive cocktails and small food plates that complement the drink experience, will be masterminded by chefs and bartenders.
Employees Only, Hong Kong
Employees Only (EO) co-founder Igor Hadzismajlovic has joined forces with his former mentor, Joshua Schwartz to launch the fourth venue of Employees Only in Hong Kong. The design mimics the original bar in New York City through the Art Deco-inspired aesthetic and hidden entrance. In addition to a selection of the EO’s classic offerings, such as the signature EO Gimlet – navy strength gin shaken with housemade lime cordial with agave and kaffir lime leaves – the new edition will gradually add Hong Kong-inspired cocktails featuring locally sourced ingredients to the menu.
Dickie’s Bar, London
Located in Corrigans Mayfair restaurant, Dickie’s Bar is a late night destination serving drinks using the best of the season’s harvest largely sourced from Richard Corrigan’s garden and farm. The bar, created in collaboration with Gregory Buda from The Dead Rabbit in New York and Richard Ryan, founder of Drinksology, showcases an extensive list of Irish whiskies, with cocktails inspired by the wilds in the 100 acre farm. Cocktails on the menu, include The Professional Stalker, an “earthy, dark and boozy mix” using Power’s Johns Lane 12 Year Old, Pierre Ferrand 1840, fig, allspice and Jerry Thomas Decanter Bitters; and Stage Door Johnny, made with Jameson Black Barrel, peach, bergamot, vanilla and lemon.
Haig Club Bar, Birmingham
David Beckham-backed single grain whisky brand Haig Club has opened its first permanent bar in the UK city of Birmingham. Bartender Jack Spencer has created a menu featuring more than 20 whisky cocktails made with both Haig Club and Haig Club Clubman. Food options include Scotch eggs, aromatic prawns, calamari, macaroni cheese, and halloumi and courgette flowers. Guests can also purchase their own bottle of Haig Club for £200 to keep at the bar, which will be personalised with an embossed name tag.
Nine Lives, London
Drink agency Sweet&Chilli has opened Nine Lives, a Bermondsey-based cocktail bar and music space. The menu will pay particular attention to loop cocktails, reusing ingredients to give them a new lease of life. The drinks menu is categorised by Shorts, Talls, Tarts, Lowriders & Loops. Cocktails on the list include Moby Dick, a combination of coconut oil-washed grain whisky, with a salted caramel syrup; and Ômu Kooler, made with Campari and watermelon and cucumber.
Lono, Los Angeles
From the group behind Melrose Umbrella Company, this new tiki-inspired bar boasts classic cocktails like Pearl Divers and Navy Grogs in an island-themed setting. There’s also a full food menu including Kuai fried chicken and Kung Pao Ribs, with the dinner service running nightly Thursday through Saturday. Try the King Kamehameha cocktail, made with Jamaican and Puerto Rican rums, Aperol, lime, pineapple, passionfruit and honey.
The Studio Saigon, Vietnam
British bartender-artist Richie Fawcett has opened his first bar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The Studio Saigon is unconventionally part-bar and part-art gallery, displaying his intricate fine artworks of landmark streets, districts and bustling markets. The Studio serves original cocktails named after streets and personalities – both respected and notorious. It brings to life cocktails and illustrations from Fawcett’s newly launched book Cocktail Art of Saigon, featuring 41 original recipes.
Evil Eye, San Francisco
This husband-and-wife-owned venue features inventive cocktails and eclectic small plates in a laid-back neighbourhood bar. Its menu consists of 18 cocktails, Punch sharing bowls and bar snacks like upscale toasts, wings, fancy fries, cheese, charcuterie, and ice cream. The former jazz club was transformed into a vintage living room setting with a “funky bohemian rock and roll vibe”. Harking back to the San Francisco watering holes of the 70s, a pool table and two classic pinball machines underscore the casual ambiance while an ornate wood bar anchors the room.
Coupette, London
Opening in the heart of Bethnal Green, Coupette is the latest bar from Chris Moore, the former head bartender at The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar. Taking inspiration from the French focus on locality, the bar aims to showcase regional gems from artisanal categories such as Calvados and Normandy cider. Drinks include ‘Apples’, in which Calvados is mixed with cold-pressed apple juice that will be carbonated in-house daily. Other cocktails on the launch menu include a Truffled White Negroni, made with truffles in season at the time, and the Champagne Piña Colada.