The Best New Bar Openings: July

The Berkeley, Knightsbridge

This landmark five-star hotel has just unveiled The Berkeley Bar & Terrace, its second bar. The space has been created by top Irish designer Bryan O’Sullivan – key features include a half-moon marble bar, a central fireplace and a modern colour palette of soft corals, creams and pinks. Set away from the main bar is the nine-seat Snug, which has been designed for secluded occasions. This slick space features a spectacular mural, painted by New York-based artist TM Davy, and comes with its own sound system and call-for-service button. The main bar offers a menu of rare wines, champagne and dark spirits from under the radar producers such as Japanese whisky maker Ichiroa and tequila producer Fortaleza, alongside a capsule menu of nine old-time and modern classic cocktails such as ‘Sazeracs’ and ‘Corpse Revivers’. The menu also includes small plates such as Cornish crab and lobster beignets, Iberico ham toastie with manchego, apricot and salsa verde, and camembert chicken tulips. On nicer days, the bar opens out onto an intimate four-table terrace, overlooking St Paul’s Church.

Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL

Visit The-Berkeley.co.uk

MEATliquor, Mayfair

Firmly established as one of London’s best burger joints, MEATliquor has opened the doors to ‘W1MK II’, its newest late night bar and diner. The flagship site – just four minutes from the original MEATliquor W1 – is fun personified: picture ‘Poke for Jäger’ buttons on every table, an 8ft illuminated giant pickle, neon signs designed by Gods Own Junkyard and a ‘Photaloo’ – a Portaloo-turned-photobooth. Music is all part of the MEATliquor experience: the ‘Secret Jukebox iPad’ app allows customers to control the tunes from their table, there’s a dedicated space for live music and DJs, plus a 3am late licence. You don’t have to eat to enjoy the new location (although we defy you to resist a ‘Dead Hippie’ cheeseburger), as the new bar serves an impressive selection of cocktails including ‘The Radlerita’, ‘Hard Shandy’ and ‘Cider Car’, all available in half, one, two or three litres, plus the team’s take on classics like ‘The Full English Martini’, ‘New Cross Negroni’ and ‘MEATjito’, alongside craft beers, wines and spirits.

37-38 Margaret Street, Mayfair, W1G 0JF

Visit MeatLiquor.com

Nolita Social, Knightsbridge

Nolita Social is a stylish cocktail lounge and live music bar located beneath the recently opened Sette restaurant on Knightsbridge Green. Nolita Social is named after one of NYC’s most charming neighbourhoods (North of Little Italy) and aims to brings the energy of a night out in the Big Apple to London. Downstairs, guests will find an after-hours drinking spot – an intimate lounge furnished with opulent, jewel-toned furniture and decorated with eclectic artworks created by contemporary artist Domingo Zapata. All cocktails are named after famous songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s. We love the sound of sharing cocktail ‘Sympathy for the Devil’. Served in a glass decanter, the drink is poured into glasses as the smoke from the barrel pours up and out of the bottle. A selection of light bites are available to order at the bar, including tuna cones with avocado and marinated red onion; samosas with smoked mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes, and Pata Negra iberico ham with black mission fig and ciabatta.

4 Knightsbridge Green, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7QA

Visit NolitaSocial.com

Simmons Piccadilly Circus, Soho

Fresh from launching on Oxford Street, Simmons have opened its next newest bar, Simmons Piccadilly Circus. Given its 3pm opening time, the bar is made for after-work drinks. Happy hour lasts for five hours – deals include two cocktails for £10, cocktail teapots for £15 and glasses of wine for £3. As per the rest of the Simmons group, the bar has a retro feel with old-school games consoles, kitsch wallpaper and a huge selection of fun cocktails. Presented in a school textbook, drinks include the ‘Juice Box’, a tropical juice box with Bacardi white rum, Passoa, passion fruit syrup and a pineapple wedge and the ‘Strawberry Blonde’, Bosford pink gin, strawberry puree, apple juice, elderflower presse and soda. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, DJs will be on hand playing the best contemporary hits, 80s, 90s, funk, soul, hip hop and party tunes. Come weekends, the team will also serve bottomless afternoon tea, which includes two hours of bottomless cocktail teapots and prosecco, plus a selection of sandwiches, sweets, popcorn and biscuits for £35pp.

4 Golden Square, Soho, W1F 9HT

Visit SimmonsBar.co.uk

Little Faith Taproom, Deptford

Little Faith has launched a two-bar taproom in Deptford. Here, the team pours an ever-changing selection of Little Faith’s own beers, brewed in Bermondsey and Lewes in East Sussex, plus a handful of guest lines selected by head brewer Alex Woods. To accompany the drinks, the team has selected food from its favourite local suppliers: think charcuterie from Cannon and Cannon, raw milk cheese from Borough Cheese Company, sourdough from SE8 neighbour Bread & Butler and pickles from Vadasz Deli. Sun-seekers should take advantage of the bright beer garden, an industrial hideaway in the Artworks Creekside development which can fit up to 100 people. The yard also plays host to a rotating offer of street food from the likes of Jerk Off BBQ, Tangy’s Tasty Things and LeBun. This atmospheric bar is also home to a weekly stand-up night from Strange Brew Comedy each Wednesday, as well as DJs every Friday and Saturday night.

3 Creekside, Deptford, SE8 4SA

Visit LittleFaithBeer.com