highlightCategory: Drink

Creative cocktails, cool brews and local haunts

Go screen-free at LUCA

No, you didn’t misread. LUCA restaurant in London has had just about enough of its zombie-fied customers staring at their phones while drinking a hot choc or a soy cap. So, they’ve transformed their Clerkenwell bar space into ‘The Reading Room’, banning all mobile phones, tablets, and laptops (and any other digital devices you can think of) in collaboration with lifestyle mag, Monocle.
It might sound a little radical (like, what if there’s an emergency?!), but we kinda like the idea of starting our day with a little less screen time (and a lot more socialising).

Operating on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from now ‘til we don’t know when, the bar-turned-cutest-café-ever will be handing out complimentary coffees, pastries that’ll go perfectly with the almond latte you order every morning, and the latest issue of Monocle (no surprises there), The Forecast or the Alpino Newspaper.

But this place’s charm doesn’t just stop at breakfast.

While you won’t be made to put your phone away, LUCA’s Michelin-star restaurant will make you forget all about how many views (or lack thereof) your latest Tiktok vid got with its superb Italian cuisine, served from midday.

At the hands of masterchef Rob Chambers, the menu will instantly have you salivating with thoughts of pork sausage rigatoni, creamy burrata and parmesan fries. And don’t get us started on the décor. One look at the dark wooden floorboards, comfy booth seating and moody colour palette are enough to have us booking a recurring reservation.

Sip on sustainability at Scribe

We reckon nothing tastes stronger than a cocktail with a side of conscience and lucky for everyone, the geniuses over at FCC Angkor by Avani and Herbal Kulen Gin have come up with a bottle that’s as good for the planet as it is for your palette.

It’s at Scribe Bar, a place where you can easily embark on a sensory journey while also immersing yourself in the rich, diverse and downright mouthwatering flavours of Cambodia.

But Herbal Kulen Gin is no ordinary gin. Crafted by the eco-visionary Unn “Pari” Sophary, this planet-saving spirit will only be produced in a small batch (we hear that, and we think exclusive) and offers sippers the chance to taste the soul of Cambodia – think lemongrass and citronella.

You might be thinking, ‘But where does sustainability come into this?’ and we’re so glad you asked. Pari has a deep commitment to reforesting the land at the foot of the Kulen Mountains, and so this special gin pays homage to the country’s vibrant ecosystem and sustainable practices. And now you get to taste that commitment in every cocktail at Scribe.

Try the Cambodian Negroni – a spicy, citrusy twist on the classic – or wet your lips with an Apsara Sour full of regional botanicals such as butterfly pea tea, lemongrass syrup and lime juice. No matter what drink you choose, this collaboration gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘responsible drinking’. We’ll cheers to that.

Party it up at SIN

Get ready to elevate your nights in Bangkok – literally. The newest, coolest, and one of the highest (26 floors high to be exact) rooftop bars is almost here and we simply can’t wait for its private lift doors to open in mid November.

SIN, perched atop the Avani + Riverside Bangkok Hotel, is a place where mischief meets a little magic, serving up jaw dropping 360-degree views of the pulsating city’s sparkling skyline and the nearby Chao Phraya River. But this isn’t your average rooftop lounge.

The vibe at SIN is equal parts glitz and grit with neon-lit corners, plush seating and an aesthetic that influencers will surely lust after. And we haven’t even mentioned the cocktails yet, although we’re sure they’ll end up on more than one said influencer’s Instagram feed.

Every cocktail is a masterpiece and has been expertly crafted by award-winning mixologist, Brian Gonzalez Fernandez. Forget espresso martinis and spicy margs, SIN promises alcoholic beverages inspired by themes of sin (go figure) and desire with a Thai twist.

Embracing your cravings is easy when you have a choice of 10 signature cocktails including ‘Forbidden Nectar’, a bourbon caramel delight, and the ‘Kiss of Euphoria’, a crafty concoction combining tequila with kiwi and Cointreau. And let’s not forget the curated menu of light, contemporary bites to ensure the drinks go down way easier than they should – think oysters served with wasabi mayonnaise and wagyu beef tartare.

But there’s a cherry on top (if you still have room). The bar will also play host to a number of regional and international DJs including British DJ of Thai descent, Tek Harrington, and techno mastermind, Sunday Sundae, to keep the place buzzing until the early hours. Bangkok’s really showing the world how to do rooftop bars properly with this one.

The 411

Swap your Time To Go Home Tuesdays for the way more satisfying Wall Street Wednesdays at the 411 – the perfect mid-week pick-me-up.

Sure, it looks like your average London hot spot on the outside, but on the inside, the prices of drinks go up and do in the same way the stock market does. We’re travel nerds, not finance bros, but this concept is something we can definitely get behind.

It works on popularity. If a drink is being ordered by everyone who walks through the door, its price will go up. If a drink is being neglected as much as your house plants, then the price goes down. And there are screens positioned throughout the bar so you can track exactly how high a pornstar martini is climbing (choose a different cocktail), or just how low it’s falling (double park it).

Just like in real life (hello 2008), the market can ‘crash’ where drinks hit an all time low, with some only setting you back a couple of dollars. And if you need something a little more solid to go with all your discounted drinks, the 411 serves comfort dishes full of big flavours – think seriously spicy hot wings and juicy smash burgers.

But don’t expect to be here for an hour or two, this is definitely an all night kinda place with vinyl DJs playing the bar’s signature sound (R&B, Classic Hip-Hop and Soul) all night long. You can even challenge your friends to a chilled game of pool or a rowdier midnight round of beer pong. Bottom’s up!

*Images via The 411 Instagram.

Handshake Speakeasy

Forget the usual bar-ridden hotspots of London, New York and Tokyo. The best bar in the world, as crowned by The World’s 50 Best Bars, is a clandestine gem in Mexico City called Handshake Speakeasy. But you won’t easily find it.

This bar isn’t on full display, it’s hidden behind an unmarked door tucked away on an unassuming street in the country’s bustling capital. But once you get inside, the place is anything but subtle.

Handshake Speakeasy screams old-school sophistication thanks to the 1920s art deco building it’s in – the kinda place where all the bartenders wear suits and there’s high-concept cocktails on offer that’ll blow up your tastebuds with a flavour combination you didn’t even know existed. Probably featuring some liquid nitrogen.

But while you might feel as though you can’t let your hair down properly here, this isn’t a pretentious bar. Yes, it’s sleek and intimate, but it’s also cool and relaxed. And it might only just be getting the worldwide recognition it deserves, but Handshake Speakeasy’s been shaking (and stirring) the globe’s cocktail elite for years.

It’s just that now, everyone knows about it. Which is great for the bar, but bad for you considering there’s almost certainly going to be a very big line to get in. We can’t tell you how to to pass the time, but we can say this bar is definitely worth the wait. Salud.

The Newsroom

Welcome to The Newsroom in New York, where gossip swirls around the space quicker than the bartenders can whip up their intoxicating cocktails. Located just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the city, this salacious bar is the perfect blend of classy, quirky, and chaotic—much like your favourite Daily Mail headline.

As you walk through a 1920’s newsstand (the entrance), you’re immediately transported into a world that feels like a cosy yet scandalous press conference. There’s vintage newspaper clippings strewn around, a neon-lit bar ready to serve up some piping hot tea (your new favourite cocktails) and aerialist performances starting from 7:20pm for those able to drag themselves away from the writing desk.

Try “The Front Page” where the vodka/matcha combo packs a punch strong enough to knock your socks off. Or how about a “Columnist Quencher”, a botanist gin and chambord concoction that’s way too easy to drink. Of course they have classic cocktails too but who wants a cosmopolitan when you can have an “Editors Punch”?

And we haven’t touched the snack menu yet. Straight from the brilliant culinary mind of celebrity Yankees chef Ricardo Cardona, these Latin-European fusion dishes could easily make the front page of your tastebuds— think filet mignon taquitos, chickpea dusted sautéed-shrimp and triple pork pizza.

Okay, we’ve flogged the news angle to death but this place is so cool. Which is really saying something given New York City is home to more cool bars than Times Square has LED lights.

So, whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day in the office or are just in the mood for some spirited banter, The Newsroom has got you covered.

A Bar with Shapes for a Name

No, we’re not trying to be funny. This Bauhaus-inspired London hotspot actually has shapes for a name: a yellow triangle, a red square and a blue circle.

There’s not a single word on the bar’s exterior to help tell it apart from the dry cleaners on its left and the public library on its right and it’s that creative mystery that sees A Bar with Shapes for a Name (or Shapes for short) sitting at number 61 on The World’s 50 Best Bars extended list.

Its love for primary colours aside, this bar’s focus on all things functionalist and minimalistic makes it a pretty cool spot to hang out – think long communal style seating, a stripped-back studio-esque design and only 20 bottles that make up the bar’s 12 cocktails on offer.

Out of those 12, there’s a few must-drinks. The ‘Pastel’ is an obvious choice thanks to its carbonation, vodka base and complex flavours of lime, rhubarb and raspberry but if gin’s more your thing, try the ‘Loop Light’. A nod to the bar’s artistic roots, this cocktail has only three ingredients (gin, citra hops and pipacha oolong tea) and is dangerously easy to drink.

You know what else is dangerous? The prices. The cocktails range between 8 – 12 pounds, and when you couple that with the bar’s closing time of 4 am, you might find that you and your bank account aren’t on speaking terms when the sun comes up.

Amaro in London’s west and Viajante87 in Notting Hill also make the annual list, sitting at 90 and 99 respectively, so who’s up for after-work drinks?

Valiant Bar

In an unassuming car park is Melbourne’s newest, and definitely glitziest bar – with no less than 200 disco balls to prove it.

To reach The Valiant from Collins Street you’ll cruise down a little laneway which goes past Melbourne’s oldest pub, and onto Little Collins. Here you’ll find one of those extortionate car parks which charge a small house deposit for a car park each day, which seems as mundane as the rest of them until you clock the painting of Mona – a beautiful AI-inspired woman surrounded by disco balls.

Follow her longing gaze and head up the stairs, and you’ll find a glitzy cocktail lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows.

There’s incredible cocktails, including get lost’s favourite, the Mona’s Secret: gin, muscat, orange blossom, strawberry, raspberry, lemon and pink pepper. It’s pink, its sweet, and it’s got a V for Valiant .  smoothed into the top layer of the cocktail…and it’s god damn delicious.

Others included the Butter Dill Martini – Grey Goose vodka, noily prat, butter and dill – and the Marine Martini – voir, gin, white vermouth and tonic.

If you’re looking to hedge your bets, there’s a bunch of half-cocktail, half-shots, which is an interesting concept. It’s probably less hedging your bets – our own bet is you’d get absolutely obliterated doing this.

The food is great – unique dishes like burrata and mortadella with crushed pistachio focaccia; poached prawn with fennel celeriac remoulade and Saucisse en Croûte, which is essentially a sausage roll with a fancy name.

We were stoked with bumps of Siberian caviar – a refreshing change from doing bumps of something else in a cocktail bar – served straight off the back off your own hand.

And there’s disco balls…there are apparently 200 on the roof. You’re more of a 400 disco ball or more sort of operator? Say no more – apparently there’s another 200 on the way.

Valiant is an upmarket, centrally located place ideal for date nighters, promotion celebrators, after-work drinkers and disco ball and car park enthusiasts.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SHOEY

Roses are red, violets are blue, to have a drink at this pub, you’ll need to give up a shoe.

That’s right. Dulle Griet, located in Ghent’s famous Vrijdagmarkt square, demands beer-seekers take off one of their shoes in exchange for a 1.2-litre glass of their house beer, the Max.

To stop you from doin’ a runner with the glass, they hold your shoe hostage, place it in a basket and hoist it to the ceiling. They only give it back to you once you’ve drained every last drop of the flavourful frothy stuff.

Don’t get too carried away though. If you break the glass, it’ll set you back 90 euros (AU$146). That’s one expensive beer. And they only take cash.

We’re used to putting our best foot forward, but this isn’t the place to debut the new shoes you just spent your hard-earned pocket money on. Or to care about the germs and general stickiness that usually grace the floor of any decent drinking establishment.

It’s still worth a visit though. More than 500 different types of beer line the pub’s dusty shelves, from traditional blonde abbey ales and full-bodied quadrupels to dark Trappist beers you’ll definitely feel in the morning.

Not a huge beer drinker? Go for the vibes.

The pub’s delightful décor features wooden beams, beer barrels, church decorations, old alcohol ads, dolls, cart wheels and pig bladders (not weird at all). They even have outdoor seating for those brew-tiful sunny Belgium days. See what we did there?

GABS is back, baby!

Time to get your paddle out. Not that kind of paddle, we’re talking about a beer paddle. Specifically, one at the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular. A much-loved fixtured for ale enthusiasts since 2011, it is one of the best ways to enjoy the craft beer you love and discover some new favourites. With about 120 ish unique beers, you won’t be able to get through all over them (don’t take that as a challenge – it won’t end well) but keep an eye out for Banana Blueberry Pancake Smoothie beer, Sushi Beer, and possibly one for Eminem fans – Spaghetti Beer.

The world’s oldest brewery, Weihenstephan, will be out in Australia joining in on the fun and showcasing why their brewery has been at the top of the beer game for over 1,000 years. You can even enter a competition while there that could see you winning a trip to Weihenstephan, Germany to check out one of the most renowned beer festivals.

It’s not just beer that you can enjoy at GABS, there’s also cocktails, wine, whiskey and plenty of food bars at the three locations. With all this and over 500 beer taps under one roof, it’s no wonder that GABS is globally acclaimed as one of the best beer festivals in the world.

You might even be able to take part in a new World Record attempt in Melbourne with Stomping Ground Brewery looking to have the most amount of people in a beer tasting. Barcelona currently has the title, so if you want to be part of the 1,400 beer-strong crew, make sure you get a ticket.

All ticket purchasers will receive a GABS Beer Safaris booklet with over $250 in post GABS beer offers. T&Cs apply.

We’re giving away some tickets to subscribers, so make sure you’re signed up to be in the running. Must be subscribed to get lost by Sunday 27th May 11:59pm AEST