Best New Bars in 20 Cities
Condé Nast Traveler has come up with its list of the best new bars in 20 cities. Have you ever been to one of these? Which is your favorite bar?
1. WTF, Bangkok, Thailand: Nope, the name doesn’t mean what you think it does — in this case, it’s Wonderful Thai Friendship which inexplicably combines a cozy bar and two floors of gallery space for art, poetry readings or dancing.
2. Zajia, Beijing, China: Old-school Houhai. Built as a temple a half-millennium ago, it’s now a bar and music venue.
3. Kater Holzig, Berlin, Germany: So much more than “just” a bar.
4. El Bembé, Bogotá, Colombia: A bar (think: mojitos) with salsa dancing (of course).
5. Oasis Clubhouse, Buenos Aires, Argentina: A lounge, terrace, two bars, pool and garden in a former four-story residence.
6. Tjing Tjing, Cape Town, South Africa: A rooftop terrace bar.
7. Butler, Hong Kong: A Japanese cocktail bar pouring meticulously mixed drinks.
8. Ca’D’oro, Istanbul, Turkey: On the entrance floor of Garanti Bank’s Cultural institution SALT Galata.
9. Worship Street Whistling Shop, London, England: Combining the charm of Victorian squalor with the elegance of grand gin palaces.
10. Harvard & Stone, Los Angeles, California: Shiny shirts, shorts, sports gear, logos, flip flops, most hats and loud colors are highly discouraged.
11. Big in Japan, Montréal, Québec, Canada: Sushi plus classic cocktails, sake and Japanese whiskey.
12. Gipsy, Moscow, Russia: Über-trendy bar in the über-trendy Red October Chocolate Factory.
13. Booker & Dax, New York, New York: The bar at Momofuku’s Ssäm restaurant, it’s open late serving drinks made with new techniques and technologies (think: molecular gastronomy applied to spirits).
14. Silencio, Paris, France: Yes, you need to become a member to get in.
15. Q, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Q is as much about the food as it is the drinks.
16. Animal Social Club, Rome, Italy: Another private club (membership fee).
17. Malt Fun, Shanghai, China: A bar with a singular purpose: whisky.
18. Gardel’s Bar, Surry Hills (Sydney), Australia: Won awards not only for its bar design but also for its bar food.
19. Mizlala by Meir Adoni, Tel Aviv, Israel:
A minimalist a wine bar and small-plates kind of place.
20. Anjin, Tokyo, Japan: A bar that plays second fiddle to a bookstore.
(Photo of a Horse’s Neck — bourbon, bitters, ginger ale, lemon — courtesy of WTF)