The New Year is upon us and after the indulgence of Christmas, it can be tempting to abstain from alcohol, fine food and most forms of fun for a while in an act of penance. Instead, try the odd visit somewhere special this month for one or two quality drinks – it’s a great way to fend off the January blues.
While it’s certainly not the busiest time of year in hospitality, there are still some exciting new bars to visit. In London, an ice cream and wine bar originally intended for an August launch is finally open, while New York gets a Korean-American wine bar and Washington DC gets a listening bar with a music-themed drinks list. Meanwhile in Osaka, visitors to the city’s new Four Seasons can sip cocktails with a panoramic view in the 37th-floor bar.
Read on to discover the most exciting new bars to visit this month.
The best new bars to visit in January 2025
Bar Bota
Osaka, Japan
The new Four Seasons Hotel Osaka is home to Bar Bota, a cocktail bar on the building’s 37th floor that offers spectacular views over the city along with carefully considered and crafted drinks. Signature serves include the Matcha & Yuzu Highball (pictured), the Smokin’ Chestnut, made from Cognac, smoked Japanese chestnut, Cacao, 20-Year-Old Sherry Cask sake and double cream, and the Sunset Margarita, which incorporates Tequila, mezcal, Kyoho liqueur, Lilet Blanc, Calamansi cordial, mandarin, lime and Kyoho grape salt. To accompany the drinks are snacks such as okonomiyaki, wagyu sliders, beef tataki and spicy tuna. Spirits lovers can also pick from an extensive range of Japanese bottlings at Bota’s centrally located bar.
Open now, fourseasons.com/osaka/bar-bota
Press Club
Washington, US
New for Dupont Circle in DC is this record bar that aims to mix the atmospheres of a ’70s cocktail lounge and a ’90s vinyl shop. The stars of the show are two cocktail offerings based on the concept of the A and B side of a record; the ‘Track List’ is an a la carte list of 12 cocktails that are presented on individual custom record sleeves and includes the White Ferrari, a take on the classic Vesper Martini made with agave spirits, vermouth, smoked pineapple amaro and bitters. The Nights Over Egypt is a riff on a New York Sour with flavours of a parfait created by the combination of bourbon and calvados, yoghurt, Bordeaux and a seasonal fruit syrup. The ‘Play List’ (‘the B side’ of the two offerings) is a tasting menu of cocktails and paired dishes inspired by a single album, each one featuring a flight of four cocktails built on seasonal ingredients sourced from the local farmers’ market. The main basement bar offers space for 22 people, while a patio on an upper level adds 20 outdoor seats when the weather allows.
Open now, pressclubdc.com
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Sinsa
New York, US
Manhattan’s East Village has a new Korean-American wine bar, offering a diverse selection of wines that includes Old and New World bottles, some of which are biodynamic, and cocktails that incorporate Korean rice wine. Food is given equal billing – this is a place for a full meal rather than just bar snacks – and the menu features dishes inspired by classics but inflected with Korean flavours, such as the Galbi Bourguignon that fuses the Korean dish of beef short rib known as galbijjim with traditional French boeuf bourguignon. A small plate called The Boat is a Korean-flavour-infused take on a Caesar salad.
Open 10 Jan, sinsanyc.com
The Dreamery
London, UK
You may not think you want ice cream and chilled wine in winter but you may discover that, in fact, you do, once you’ve stepped into this new bar in De Beauvoir from the team behind Goodbye Horses. Ice cream flavours include gingerbread, fig leaf, oolong, prune, and croissant and custard, but there are also classics like mint chocolate chip. The wines on offer are designed to complement the flavours and textures of the ice cream, so the list includes the like of a sweet Muscato, an acidic Riesling, and Beaujolais with a hint of fizz. The mirrored walls and illuminated artwork that forms the ceiling help create an atmosphere in keeping with the bar’s name. Fun and idiosyncratic, this is a concept that might just work, particularly given the success of Goodbye Horses just over the road. And as one of the owners said at the time of the bar’s rather unseasonal launch date a few weeks ago, ‘people eat soup in summer’.
Open now, instagram.com/dreameryldn
