Spiritland in London has become something of an institution on the capital’s bar scene, existing as one of the most prominent pioneers of the ‘listening bar’ phenomenon in the UK. Its approach to drinking destinations has now been welcomed in Portugal, where a new hotel in Lisbon has tasked the Spiritland team with overseeing a total of six new bars. The result is an official Portuguese outpost of Spiritland and another listening bar dedicated to whisky.
Elsewhere, a bar in Glasgow is offering its own hi-fi experience, while Sydney has a new spot for carefully crafted classic cocktails, complete with table-side Martini experience should you want one. In London, a Latin American bar opens in Belgravia, while RSA House hosts a luxury cocktail venue.
Read on to discover the most exciting new bars to visit this November.
The best new bars to visit in November 2024
Spiritland Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
Not one new bar but, ultimately, six in Lisbon for the team behind Spiritland in London. They have been given responsibility for the bars at Lisbon’s new Locke de Santa Joana hotel and the most noteworthy of them are the official Spiritland Lisbon and The Kissaten (pictured), a listening bar two floors beneath it. Spiritland in London has built a reputation as a dream drinking destination for music lovers and audiophiles thanks to a bespoke, high-end Living Voice audio system and great cocktails. That same formula is applied to the eponymous bar at the hotel in Lisbon, with 14 signature cocktails and a refurbished vintage JBL sound system offered in a plush environment of marble and dark red leather. The Kissaten features Lisbon’s largest whisky offering (more than 100 different bottles), curated by whisky expert Dave Broom, and another bespoke, high-quality sound system. Drinkers are encouraged to drop in and pick a record to be played in the bar while they enjoy a dram. A Champagne and Martini bar, a wine bar and two pool bars overseen by Spiritland will open at the hotel in due course.
Open now, spiritland.pt; thekissaten.pt
Muse at RSA House
London, UK
Set on the ground floor of RSA House, a Georgian townhouse behind the Strand, is this cocktail bar with a menu overseen by Marcis Dzelzainis, who has previously worked at 69 Colebrook Row, Zetter Townhouse and Satan’s Whiskers. Waiters behind the granite bar at Muse will serve eight ‘core’ cocktails, including the Crimson & Clover, a blend of gin, rose vermouth, raspberry eau de vie, rhubarb and lemon, and The Blackadder (pictured), a mix of bitters, sloe and hawthorn gin, sour cherry, lemon and almond plus a dash of absinthe. Four ‘wild’ cocktails are twists on classics, such as the Wild Carrot Margarita and Pineapple Weed Pisco Sour.
Open now, thersa.org/muse-at-rsa-house
Sebb’s
Glasgow, UK
Inspired by the ‘revered vinyl bars of Europe’, Sebb’s is an underground bar serving batched cocktails, alcoholic slushies, signature house shots and low-intervention wines on draught to the sound of a state-of-the-art hi-fi system. Cocktails include a White Linen Fizz, Apple and Celery Gimlet and Miso Old Fashioned, while the list of slushies features a Strawberry Margarita and Piña Colada. A menu of snacks and sharing plates is available, focusing on food cooked over fire: chicken wings, Jerk-spiced pork neck and lamb shoulder are all given a grilling.
Opens 25 November, sebbs.com
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Bar Tilda
Sydney, Australia
At the Sofitel in the Sydney CBD, not far from the Opera House, is Bar Tilda, a new drinking spot specialising in classic cocktails. Alongside eight takes on the classics, including the house Negroni, Strawberry Yuzu Spritz, Strawberry Vodka Gimlet and Wattleseed Old Fashioned, are five different Martinis, two vintage cocktails and four signature serves. Guests can also choose the bar’s ‘Martini experience’, where the drink is made table-side exactly as you like it. A selection of small plates is available alongside an extensive selection of wines available by the glass.
Open now, bartilda.sydney
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Atomeca
Manchester, UK
New for the Spinningsfield district, Atomeca is run by James Brandwood and Joe and Daniel Schofield, the team behind Schofield’s, a cocktail bar in Manchester that won UK Bar of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Atomeca is more focused on wine with small plates to match; Brandwood has sourced the wine but there will be cocktails on offer too. The food is heavily influenced by continental Europe and includes pasta, cheese boards and plates of charcuterie. Residents in the area will also be glad to learn that Atomeca is also open for coffee and pastries in the morning.
Open now, atomeca.co.uk
Luum
London, UK
19 Motcomb Street in Belgravia, once an arts and crafts warehouse and previously known as the Pantechnicon building, welcomes several new bars and restaurants in 2024, including a cocktail bar called Luum. The theme is Latin America, so many of the drinks will incorporate agave-based spirits, rum and pisco, while tacos and ceviche will be among dishes served on a menu of snacks and sharing plates. The bar will host evenings of live music and DJ sets, and there are four private snugs for groups if you want to book your own space.
Opens 6 November, barluum.com
