Best New Bars: March 2019

Cloud 9, South Bank

This month Skylon introduces Cloud 9, a menu full of pink-hued treats including cocktails and a dessert, all served beneath a cloud installation – picture rose gold hot air balloons, ivory and pale pink paper peonies, gold and white lanterns, and glowing suns and moons suspended above the central bar. The South Bank restaurant has collaborated with Laurent-Perrier to design three sparkling cocktails: guests can choose from the ‘Cotton Cloud’, served in a champagne coupe with a pink candy floss ball, wild berry cordial, rose perfume and Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée; ‘Lucid Dream’ with truffle honey syrup, Armagnac and Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée, served under a glass dome bell jar with a floral aroma; and ‘Up & Away’: candied ginger, orange bitters, Mandarin Napoleon and Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée finished with a sugar nest. We predict an Instagram hit.
 
Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, SE1 8XX; until 31st March
 
Visit Skylon-Restaurant.com
 

Gosnells Upstairs At Coal Rooms

London’s only meadery has launched a honey-focused bar – the perfect spot to show off its wares. Located in the old ticket office of Peckham Rye station, Gosnells has partnered with acclaimed restaurant Coal Rooms (located below) to create a selection of seasonal small plates to complement the drinks. The new space will focus on Gosnells’ ferments, including the ‘original’ and ‘vintage’ meads, alongside a roster of experimental meads including pink hibiscus, salted, hopped, barrel-aged, gooseberry and non-alcoholic. Owner Tom Gosnell will use this new spot for a variety of honey and bee-based activities, including mead tastings and mead-paired suppers. We like the sound of the week tours of the meadery, held every Saturday at 1pm, which includes a tasting flight back at the bar.

11a Station Way, Peckham, SE15 4RX; open Wednesday-Saturday only
 
Visit Gosnells.co.uk
 

Rotate, Shoreditch

Rotate is an independent, multi-purpose venue serving speciality coffee by day and cocktails by night. As its name suggests, the venue hosts a rotating residency of food and drink takeovers from up-and-coming companies, starting with Asian-fusion street food brand Tiger Bites, who will serve an all-day menu alongside Rotate’s ever-changing drinks menu. Housed on Shoreditch’s Rivington Street, the venue is split across two floors. Its minimalistic design has an industrial aesthetic courtesy of local designers Buster & Punch: picture wooden ceiling panels and polished and exposed fittings. The ground level features a long bar and communal table, designed to be a co-working space the day. The basement contains the restaurant and is the spot for DJs to take centre stage in the evening.

1 Bath Place, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3DA

Visit RotateShoreditch.com
 

The Cutting Room, Fitzrovia

The Cutting Room is a bar, restaurant and gallery space in Fitzrovia. The restaurant's menu focuses on organic, sustainable small plates, but when it comes to drinks, the bar serves up prescription cocktails in vintage medicine bottles alongside classics, house creations, shots, beer and a sizeable wine menu. As per the kitchen, the bar also operates a minimal-waste policy – there’s no bottled mineral water and spirits are bought in reusable plastic bags. Both the restaurant and bar are housed in The Woolf Gallery, so there’s an ever-changing backdrop of art to see. Late-night DJ sets will take place every Thursday to Saturday.

95 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 4PZ
 
Visit CuttingRm.com
 

W12 Studios, White City

W12 Studios has set up shop in the former home of the BBC in White City, offering two rotating kitchens, one long bar and an extensive music programme. Partnering with Feast-it, there’s set be an ever-changing line-up of food (this month, the two kitchens have been taken over by Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen and Cheeky Burger), drink and music. With space for 450 guests, the venue consists of large sharing tables and communal seating, set among a backdrop of neon signs and hanging plants. The drinks menu focuses on bottles from innovative and emerging brands, such as The East London Liquor Company, while live entertainment – from acoustic sessions to open mic, gigs and club nights – is set to be a real draw.

White City Place, 195 Wood Lane, White City, W12 7TU

Visit W12StudiosLondon.com