The glamour of Europe’s historic hotel bars seems to have been the main source of inspiration for a swathe of new bars opening around the world right now. Hallowed watering holes like London’s Connaught Bar and Duke’s Bar are said to be influencing the look, feel and menus of new bars in places like Sydney and New York right now. It’s a big time for hotel bars in general, though, with the recent return of the fabled Chelsea Hotel to NYC – which has just opened its first-ever bar as part of its modern-age revamp.
For more pared-back drinking, it’s been widely reported that the speakeasy trend is thriving once again in New York (if you know which door to knock on, of course). Now, the revival seems to be spreading further afield, with a new bar opening through an unmarked door behind a takeaway counter in the middle of Chicago’s Chinatown district.
And wine lovers are well catered for this July, with new natural wine hangouts and a bar boasting 2,000 of the finest French wines.
Read on for our selection of the most exciting new bars around the world well worth a visit in July 2022.
Hot new bars to visit in July 2022
The Bar at Intercontinental Double Bay
Sydney, Australia
Maurice Terzini has been at the forefront of Italian dining in Australia – most notably at Bondi’s Icebergs – but here he’s making a different nod to his European heritage away from pasta dishes and Negronis by the beach. The reimagined bar at Sydney’s Double Bay hotel is a cosseted, carpeted space said to be influenced by a research trip to Europe’s most famous hotel bars – from Harry’s Bar in Paris to London’s Connaught Bar – and is aiming to echo the decadence he discovered. As with any hotel bar, though, it has a history of its own, and some drinks on the menu – designed by beverage director Ana Page, aka Miss Martini – are inspired by past guests, including a certain Mister Bowie.
doublebay.intercontinental.com
Bar Daskal
London, UK
London Bridge has long been a bit of a mecca for hispanophiles in London – Brindisa’s chorizo rolls doing a strong trade in Borough Market and two of José Pizarro’s restaurants drawing in punters for sherry and croquetas. Visitors can finally contemplate a full tapas crawl in the neighbourhood with the arrival of Bar Daskal to Borough Yards. It’s a new concept from the minds behind Barrafina, famed for its brand of upmarket tapas – but this sounds more personal, modelled on the Mallorcan home of the grandfather of founders Sam, Eddie and James Hart. Daskal will serve a short list of sherries and a spectrum of vermuts, from bianco to tinto, alongside classic cocktails with a Spanish twist – from a Negroni featuring El Bandarra vermouth to a Martini made from gin crafted in Cadiz. Best paired with Gildas and cold tapas plates para picar.
bardaskal.co.uk
Hotel Chelsea Lobby Bar
New York, USA
While plenty of starry names, artistic works and swoon-worthy affairs are linked to New York’s Chelsea Hotel, there’s never been a bar on the premises. But the storied building reopened its doors to the public at the start of the year and following a renovation, and has just launched its first-ever bar. Expect mosaic floors, a marble bar and what they’re describing as a ‘classic, European-style’ menu, filled with Martinis modelled on those served at London’s famed Dukes Hotel and caviar-topped bar snacks. Art from former residents will decorate the walls and no doubt generate some great conversations over drinks.
hotelchelsea.com
Nine Bar
Chicago, US
Through an unmarked, metallic door behind the takeaway counter in Chinatown’s Moon Palace Express you’ll find Nine Bar, a modern cocktail speakeasy lit up in neon and serving cocktails based on a full array of ‘Asian-ish’ spirits. The concept has evolved from pop-up parties to mark the Lunar New Year thrown by Chicago bartenders Lily Wang and Joe Briglio, and it sees the duo launch the first permanent cocktail bar for the district. Cocktails and highballs (including a handful of no-ABV options) feature matcha, Sichuan peppercorn and Chinese five spice among ingredients. On weekends, DJs also bring the fire.
ninebarchicago.com
Pacific Standard at Kex Hotel
Portland, US
Day drinking is on the agenda at this Portland hotel bar from Oregon bar pro Jeffry Morgenthaler (whose lauded bar Clyde Common at the Ace Hotel closed its doors last year): think Bloody Marys and Irish Coffees, plus Micheladas on tap – with ABVs for all cocktails listed on the menu. Although the Kex Hotel has a Nordic aesthetic, the lobby bar is actually taking its own cue from America’s West Coast, where Morgenthaler grew up. Additionally, local Oregonian wines and Portland craft beers will be championed on draught. Plans are also afoot to take over the rooftop space with a slushy cocktail line-up this summer.
kexhotels.com
Supernat
Montreal, Canada
Natural wine on tap means that Supernat lives up to its zeitgeisty name, a café with vibrant orange branding and bright green bar stools in Montreal’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood. It first opened at the end of May, but has recently added its night-time bar offering to the bill. Mostly European and low-intervention wines will be available across 12 lines at the bar, where they’ll also be pouring fruit wines and ciders. All served alongside a menu of Asian-influenced sandwiches – from barbecue pork banh mis to kimchi sandos.
supernatmtl.com
Terroirs by LQV
Hong Kong
‘Terroirs by LQV shines a light on the quintessence of French wine and character,’ claims this Central Hong Kong wine bar’s website. ‘Quintessence’ aside, there are 2,000 bottles on the venue’s weighty list, which spans the regions and includes an abundance of premier crus to boot. It’s not the first outing from LQV (Le Quinze Vins) in Hong Kong, with their French wine, cheese and charcuterie shops first arriving in Asia in 2014 and the company going on to supply many of the region’s best restaurants. But this ambitious opening comprises two terraces, a bar and a dining area, across all of which fine wine is the star of the show.
terroirsbylqv.com
Wiggle Room
New York, US
Disco drinks are back at the Wiggle Room, NYC’s new cocktail-driven bar and dancefloor, which showcases a pink-hued Wiggle‘Tini with cherry blossom vermouth and Champagne vinegar. Tequila– and mezcal-based mixes and Espresso Martinis on tap should help to keep the party going, too – although part of this East Village venue’s charm looks to come from its decorative reveal, with muted tones and organic lines juxtaposing a neon-lit room complete with mirror ball on the floor below. It’s brought to you by the same team behind Mister Paradise, an accessible cocktail lounge that’s also in the East Village and which also ticks the party bar box.
wiggleroom.bar
