Best New Bars in London 2022

Looking for the hottest drinking spots in town? Stay in the know with our guide to the hottest new bar openings in London, from ambient wine bars to quirky speakeasies.

Best New Bars in London 2022

The Little Scarlet Door, Soho

Following in suit of its sister bars, The Little Scarlet Door is opening in Soho this June. Head here for the ultimate house party without the hassle of neighbours or the dreaded tidy up. Expect chic New York loft apartment-style interiors of exposed brickwork and raw plaster with plush cosy furniture. Designed to feel like a home, spend your night in the Kitchen, gather around The Breakfast Table or head to The Laundry Room for a gossip. Fancy an exclusive night? The Warhol’s Factory-inspired vault is available for private hire, with sharing cocktails, light bites, live DJs and a dancefloor. thelittlescarletdoor.co.uk

Sweeties at The Standard

Love cocktails, but dread the hangover? Enter Sweeties: a new bar launching at The Standard hotel in King’s Cross which will offer the UK’s first cocktail menu dedicated to ‘energising adaptogens and nootropics’. That means tipples will be laced with ingredients that have been used in herbal medicine for centuries – from reishi mushrooms to ashwagandha herb – which some believe help boost wellbeing and cognitive function. The jury’s out on this one though, as others cite a lack of scientific evidence on the topic. If you’re keen to banish all risk of a fuzzy head the next day, most cocktails will be available as non-alcoholic versions. standardhotels.com

Silverleaf

Julian Abrams

The recently opened Pan Pacific London is already home to a stylish bar, Ginger Lily, but this February the sleek city hotel is expanding its cocktail offering with the launch of Silverleaf. It’s the brainchild of three of London’s top bartenders: Martyn ‘Simo’ Simpson, owner of Milroy’s in Soho, his former director of bars Chris Tanner, and Callooh Callay alumni Liam Broom. In-keeping with the wellbeing theme of Pan Pacific, the new bar is inspired by ‘naturalism and the elements’, with interiors courtesy of British designer Tom Dixon – think charred timber and bespoke tables carved from solid marble blocks. Drinks will follow the same theme, with each cocktail championing two or three core ingredients – some created in-house – and presented in a minimalistic style with pops of colour and edible garnishes. Opening February 2022. panpacific.com

The Black Horse

Back in 2011, one of Fitzrovia’s most historic pubs, Black Horse, closed its doors after 200 years of pulling pints. Ten years on, the space has been given a new lease of life by Urban Pubs & Bars – the group behind Paradise in Kensal Green and West End stalwart Salt Yard Group. Spread across two floors, the downstairs houses a modern British pub, while upstairs you’ll find a cocktail bar complete with sumptuous velvet furnishings and an impressive drinks menu. theblackhorselondon.com

Seed Library

One of the world’s most talked about bartenders of the moment, Ryan Chetiyawardana, sprung onto the drinks scene back in 2013 after opening White Lyan, the first cocktail bar in the world to use no perishables, fruit or ice. He went on to scoop up a whole host of awards, plus launch other London bars like Dandelyan, Cub and Lyaness. This spring, Ryan – also known as Mr Lyan – will open Seed Library within One Hundred Shoreditch, formerly Ace Hotel. Offering a ‘lo-fi, analogue approach to bartending’, the venue will serve up a short, frequently changing list of cocktails featuring new takes on classics. Alongside this, there will be a curated list of low-intervention wines alongside beers from craft brewers. The vibe will be relaxed, with panelled wood interiors and bespoke upholstered furniture in orange and red tones, with an eclectic, warm playlist providing the soundtrack. Opening March 2022. mrlyan.com

La Goccia Bar

As if we needed another excuse to go to Petersham Nurseries, the Covent Garden branch is launching a brand-new cocktail bar. Tucked away behind a dark red curtain, La Goccia Bar – tied to the venue’s Italian restaurant of the same name – will focus on botanical-inspired drinks, in-keeping with the group’s horticultural heritage. Naturally, drinks will be seasonal, with cocktails featuring warming spices and garnished with herbs and edible flowers: The Pear Tree combines rum with pear juice, tonka bean and cloves; while the Smoked Orange features herbal notes from Aperol and amaro, with Mexican mezcal giving a smoky undertone. The bar itself is also inspired by nature, with handmade stools featuring metal legs shaped to look like knobbly branches alongside leopard print cushions. Guests can also enjoy contemporary artworks from Petersham Nurseries founder Francesco Boglione’s personal collection, which includes pieces from Madrid-born painter Jorge Galindo and American figurative artist Alex Katz. Opening 10 February 2022. petershamnurseries.com

Roxanne

London has no shortage of speakeasy bars – yet new Shoreditch opening Roxanne brings something new to the table. Tucked away on a side street and accessible via a secret door, the bar is a celebration of hip hop music, with an intimate stage for DJs and live performances. Aiming to recreate the laid-back feel of ’80s loft parties in New York, Roxanne is named after The Roxanne Wars – a musical battle between two famed artists of the same name, and the bar champions the same spirit of female power. A drinks menu will feature a mix of classic tipples and new twists such as Call Me Clementine, mixed with Tanqueray Gin, kumquat liqueur and rosemary, to be enjoyed alongside smashed burgers and fries. Opening February 2022, initially Wednesday to Sunday evening.

Main image: The Black Horse

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