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Hottest bar openings in July 2019

As 2019 ticks past the half way point, SB takes a moment to look back over the hottest bars that opened in July, including a Melbourne mezcaleria and a luxury London hotel drinking den.

Koma features in our list of the hottest bars to open in July

July saw a host of exciting new bars open around the world, including a renovated Two Shmucks in Barcelona and a newly-expanded Black Rock in London.

Drinkers in the world’s cocktail hotspots were spoiled for choice last month, as Made in the Shade Hospitality also opened its latest venue and botanical-inspired Eden launched in Newcastle, UK.

Take a look through our gallery to find out more about the hottest bars that opened in July.

Did you miss our round-up of June’s best bar openings? Take a look here.

Two Schmucks, Barcelona

Created by bartenders Moe Aljaff and AJ White, Two Schmucks reopened last month after an extensive refurbishment.

Visitors to the “five-star dive bar” can enjoy innovative cocktails and great service in a relaxed, “easy-going atmosphere”. Drinks on the refreshed bar’s menu include the Pisco Enfante, made with Palo Santo Pisco, peach, almonds, salt, rose water and citrus, and the Dead Ponies, which combines Empirical Fallen Pony Blend, pisco, Cocchi Rosa Vermouth, citrus, tonic and lime oils.

Two Schmucks featured on our round-up of the top bars to visit in 2019.

Black Rock Tavern, London

London whisky bar Black Rock has expanded, opening a second bar above the basement bar.

After unveiling extensive expansion plans last month, the London bar opened the Black Rock Tavern last month, which boasts reclaimed oak features, bamboo ceiling panels and graffiti wall art by Ryan Gajda.

Designed to be “more informal” than the original Black Rock, the tavern will serve around 40-50 whiskies, plus five draught beers on tap and a range of whisky Highballs. Seating will include bar stools, booths and high tops, both inside and outside of the venue.

Bar Margaux, Melbourne

Made in the Shade Hospitality, the group behind Melbourne bar The Everleigh, opened its latest venue last month.

Bar Margaux is described as “a late night bar and brasserie serving cocktails, wine and French comfort food until the early hours”.

Cocktails on the bar’s menu include the Golden Cadillac, made with cacao, vanilla, orange and cream, and the New York Flip, which combines Bourbon, Port and cream.

The Hansom, London

Opening its doors at London’s St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, The Hansom blends a “modern aesthetic” with the hotel’s “neo-gothic architecture”.

“Set in the heart of the hotel, The Hansom weaves our famed history into the quality cocktails and British menu, offset by a modern, elegant design,” said Anne Legrand, general manager at the St Pancras Renaissance.

The Hansom features a centralised bar elegantly crafted in marble with darkened brass and leather detailing, surrounded by modern furnishings blending with Victorian lamp posts and a palette of gentle greens and blues.

Koma, Singapore

Opening this month in Singapore is Koma, a new concept from restaurant and lifestyle company Tao Group.

The new Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar features a 20m archway lined with orange arches, a one-of-a-kind Japanese-inspired bell and a traditional Japanese foot bridge.

The new venue boasts Japanese-influenced cocktails including the Koma Canary, made with gin, saffron syrup and lemon, and the Dust of Stars, which combines cachaça, Frangelico, lime, palm sugar and pandan earl grey.

The Duck Nest, London

London restaurant Monsieur Le Duck has opened a new bar above its Clerkenwell venue called The Duck Nest.

Located on the venue’s first floor, The Duck Nest has been styled on a “20th-century Parisian boudoir”, and features crushed velvet seating and Art Nouveau flourishes.

Open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the bar features cocktails made with the “UK’s first” duck fat-washed Armagnac.

Kavalan Whisky Bar, Taipei

Taiwan-based whisky brand Kavalan opened its new whisky bar in Taipei, which it says is a “holy grail” for whisky enthusiasts in the region.

The bar was inspired by the Kavalan distillery maturation warehouses, and features stacks of casks lining the walls as well as whisky on-tap straight from the barrel.

Kavalan CEO YT Lee said: “Drinkers can choose which selected cask-strength whisky they want, walk up to the cask with their glasses and start pouring.”

Eden, Newcastle

All-day restaurant and bar Eden has taken over a three-story venue in Newcastle, where the bar is serving up botanical-inspired food and drinks.

The new venue is said to have a “glamorous Garden of Eden” style where drinkers can enjoy cocktails such as the Adam & Eve, made with Midori, Brooklyn gin, lemon juice and honeycomb syrup, and the Original Sin, which combines Buffalo Trace Bourbon, bitter orange and chocolate cookie syrup.

Casa NOM, Melbourne

Opened by brothers Nicholas and Thomas Welch, Melbourne’s Casa NOM is a local mezcaleria serving up the best agave spirits in the area.

Casa NOM champions the spirits of mezcal, serving an extensive menu of the agave-based spirit as well as other spirits from across Mexico and Latin America.

Alongside agave spirits and mezcal-based cocktails, Casa NOM offers a food menu of classic and traditional dishes inspired by the culture and flavours of the Americas.

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