As the on-trade rung in the new decade, New Orleans welcomed its latest underground drinking den and a host of alcohol-free bars opened to support those taking part in Dry January.

Double Dealer in New Orleans opened its doors in January

From the “lush and opulent” Barbary Coast Ballroom in Singapore to the first tasting room from Scottish producer The House of Botanicals, there was no shortage of new openings in January

Last month also saw two new alcohol-free bars open in London, including a site from Scottish brewer and distiller BrewDog that offers 15 taps pouring alcohol-free beer.

Plus, find out more about New York’s latest cocktail lounge and restaurant, and a Japanese-inspired bar and restaurant in Sydney.

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

Barbary Coast Ballroom, Singapore

Singapore’s Barbary Coast Ballroom boasts “lush, opulent interiors” as well as a menu of “thoughtful and creative drinks suited to all palates”.

Inside, the walls are adorned with patterned wallpaper while chandeliers and vintage furniture fill the room. For a more intimate setting, Barbary Coast Ballroom also offers two VIP booths with Champagne on demand at the push of a button.

Highlights on the bar’s cocktail menu include Three Graces, made with Sage Pisco Encanto, Fernet Hunter, Madagascan vanilla acid and rhubarb bitters, and the Tommy Tomate, which combines tomato-infused Mezcal Vida, kaffir-infused agave and lime.

Double Dealer, New Orleans

Opening beneath New Orleans’ Orpheum Theater,  Double Dealer is the city’s latest lively basement-level bar and lounge.

Accessed through an unmarked side entrance of the Orpheum, the Double Dealer aims to pay homage to New Orleans’ ‘counter culture’. The bar is made up of four distinct rooms, each offering innovative cocktails and live entertainment.

The Double Dealer’s cocktail programme, curated by bar director Miki Nikolic, features drinks such as The Shining Pyramid, made with Tequila, prickly pear purée, maraschino, hibiscus syrup and lime juice, and Cables of Cobweb, which combines rum, grapefruit shrub, lemon juice, simple syrup and bitters.

Bergamo’s, New York

Opened by Company You Keep Hospitality, Bergamo’s is a new cocktail lounge serving expertly-crafted drinks and small plates in Midtown New York.

The sprawling 8,530-square-foot space offers seating for 275 guests and was designed by Shop Architects. The bar boasts a “striking” vaulted ceiling with custom-made tiles, jungle-motif wallpaper and “eclectic vintage furniture”.

Drinkers at Bergamo’s can sample the Devil in White, made with Manhattan Moonshine, Dolin Blanc and chocolate bitters, and the Mezcalero, which combines Montelobos Mezcal, Suze, Cointreau and Cocchi Americano Bianco.

Nakano Darling, Sydney

Located in Haymarket, Sydney, Nakano Darling is now serving up Japanese-inspired dishes and drinks to the city’s discerning drinkers.

In its relaxed setting, guests can work their way through the bar’s Highball menu, which includes Ginger, Ichiro’s and Yamazaki-based varieties, as well as a cocktail list that boasts an Umeboshi-infused Sour.

While drinking Japanese beer, sake, whisky and cocktails, guests can sample Nakano Darling’s food offering, which includes karaage and gyoza.

BrewDog AF, London

Scottish brewer and distiller BrewDog opened its first booze-free bar in January, which offers non-alcoholic ‘spirits’, beers and ciders.

The site, which opened in London’s Old Street, boasts 15 taps of draft alcohol-free beer, alcohol-free ‘spirits’, including Seedlip, Aecorn Drinks and Caleño, and the alcohol-free Designated Cider from Hawkes.

The bar will also serve a food menu of burgers, salads and buffalo wings, and guests at BrewDog AF will also be able to enjoy a programme of ongoing activities such as hip-hop karaoke and Dabbers Bingo.

Shaman, London

London hospitality operator The Initiative also opened an alcohol-free venue this month with the launch of Shaman.

Opening its doors in Aldgate, Shaman was developed with “healing, rejuvenation and self care in mind”, and the venue serves a selection of juices, pastries, coffee and a no- and low-alcohol serves.

The space was designed by interior design agency, Grzywinski + Pons and is open to the public from 7am-10pm.

Samsen, Hong Kong

Hong Kong restaurant and bar Samsen Sheung Wan opened in January. 

The second site from Thai street food vendor Samsen, the Sheung Wan venue serves up Khao Soi, curried beef with fresh egg noodles, and freshly made roti.

While serving dishes “that pack a punch”, guests at Samsen Sheung Wan can also enjoy an innovative drinks menu alongside the venue’s signature Thai-inspired plates.

V or V, Sheffield

Following a host of pop-ups last year, Sheffield brothers Matt and Nick Burgess opened the doors to bar and restaurant V or V in the Yorkshire city this month.

Having both worked in mainstream bars across the city for many years, Matt and Nick have now opened V or V in the city’s Wharncliffe Works building.

Offering an “intimate, restaurant feel at night and, by day, more of a coffee bar and meeting place”, V or V will serve locally-sourced vegetarian and vegan food, as well as local beers and low-alcohol drinks.

The Library, Aberdeen

Scotland-based producer The House of Botanicals opened the doors to its on-site tasting room in Aberdeen this month.

The Library, which is situated in the railway arches behind Union Square in the Scottish city, houses a private collection of drinks literature and botanical spirits collected over the last twenty years.

The producer’s new venue will offer guests the opportunity to learn about the decade-long history of the company, while tasting its products – such as House of Botanicals Old Tom Gin and Pietro Nicola Italian aperitivi.