London has a reason to celebrate this month as beloved bar Oriole returns. At a new location in Covent Garden, there’s not only a restaurant downstairs but also the new Bamboo Bar, serving, amongst other drinks, draught cocktails. Over in New York, Clover Club opens its brand new saloon bar and down in Austin, another classic bar springs to life in the form of the latest outpost of Dead Rabbit.
Read on to discover the most exciting new bars to visit this August.
The best new bars to visit in August 2024
Oriole
London, UK
In a plush Covent Garden basement, Oriole returns after the enforced closure of its original site in 2022 due to redevelopment work. In this new location, the signature cocktail list is accompanied by a Latin American food menu and a programme of live jazz, cabaret and world music in the restaurant. The drinks list circles a whole world of possibilities, from pisco to highballs to arrack and asparagus eau de vie. Upstairs, the Bamboo Bar serves drinks for walk-ins from the afternoon onwards. If you’re looking for a bar that never fails to impress, having Oriole back on the map is good news.
Opens 28 Aug, oriolebar.com
Dead Rabbit
Austin, US
New York’s popular Irish bar has struck out south into Austin’s downtown historic district. Irish coffee gets VIP treatment, with its original recipe offered alongside a frozen version, chic Martini and brandy adaptations, and even a non-alcoholic version made with Seedlip Spice 94. Its signature drink is of course the star serve but local bourbons and beers have also been welcomed onto the menu. And for the mornings (or afternoons) after the night before, Belfast baristas Neighbourhood Coffee have set up shop next door.
Open now, thedeadrabbit.com/location/austin
The Saloon, Clover Club
New York, US
Opening weekends before a full launch in the autumn, Julie Reiner’s new venture next door to the Clover Club aims to bring a little casual Wild West to the East Coast. Thankfully, her saloon-style bar promises much more than spit and sawdust: immaculate cocktails pair with beautiful bar snacks, all served up in tiki mugs and Instagrammable Onis glassware. The Saloon takes all the fun of Reiner’s existing Milady bar and puts a stetson on top.
Opens 8 Aug, instagram.com/saloonatclover
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Canto VI
Los Angeles, US
In Chatsworth, northwest LA, comes a new bar with a weekly rotating wine list by the glass. Cheese plates and charcuterie boards are available to accompany the wine list, which leans towards the Old World; look out for the digestif menu and sharing plates too. Canto VI’s founder, Brian Kalliel, was a former wine director at Mélisse in Santa Monica, now in possession of two Michelin stars, so drinkers are in good hands. Food is taken care of by chef Chester Hastings, who focuses on classic dishes from Spain, Italy and France.
Open now, cantovi.com
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The Opposites
Hong Kong, China
This new bar at the Hilltop Plaza is a joint project between Antonio Lai, co-owner of the group behind Origin, Quinary and The Envoy, and bartender Samuel Kwok. The name is a reference to their contrasting approaches to mixology – Lai made his name as Hong Kong’s ‘pioneer of molecular mixology’ and uses modern equipment and techniques, while Kwok is more of a classicist – and the menu reflects their playful collaboration. Drinks are recommended in pairs: inspired by a classic cocktail, one suggestion gives the recipe a contemporary twist – and the other takes a flight of fancy with handmade caviars, airs, and foams.
Open now, theopposites.hk
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Saison Cellar & Wine Bar
San Francisco, US
Chicagoan Mark Bright has been a sommelier all his adult life and co-founded city restaurants Saison and Angler, as well as a Santa Cruz winery, also under Saison. Now a wine bar is joining the family, serving carefully selected wine by the bottle and glass on Townsend Street. The venue aims high – with around a thousand wines available and a caviar service – but there are also wines by the glass under $20 if you want to stop for a more casual drink.
Open now, saisoncellar.com
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Sol
Sydney, Australia
Up on the North Shore, an intriguing new bakery-come-wine-bar promises casual but beautiful drinks with food. The wine list offers an impressive Old and New World options by the bottle (and a dozen by the glass) while the cocktail list is dotted with native Aussie ingredients like lemon myrtle and eucalyptus. In search of an aperitivo? Iced amari and vermouth also feature on the menu, as do local beers.
Open now, solbreadandwine.sydney
