Enjoy the glut of new openings near the City
This Month has seen an unprecedented number of openings across the capital, particularly in the City. The first that warrants attention is NeNe, which is located nearby the lovely, and formerly lonely, Eight Club Moorgate and in the same building as L’Anima. NeNe adjoins Chrysan, the first international venture from the Japanese visionary Yoshihiro Murata. Opened by the Hakkasan Group, it features an understatedly elegant design, utilising natural woods and clean lines and an intense, Asian-inflected cocktail menu.
Close by, one of the five openings by D&D is The Old Bengal Bar on New Street. Located in a storied East India Company warehouse, the bar’s design pays homage to the building’s past, with timber flooring, columns from old ship masts and etched mirror panelling. Enjoy historic and classic cocktails either inside or on the secluded terrace. Fleet Street institution Lutyens recently opened an impressive wine bar, where they will be offering over forty different wines – available by the glass – divided into “Young & Exciting” and “Fine & Rare”.
After 5pm, non-members will be allowed to visit the debonair nautical-cum-Mad Men members’ area, where they are spicing up classic cocktails with molecular treatments – opt for creations that are smoked, blowtorched or blasted with liquid nitrogen. Leadenhall Market has recently given birth to Factory House, whose cocktail list was overseen by Fluid Movement (Purl, Worship Street Whistling Shop). Descend their helical staircase surrounding a glass lift for some incredibly well thought-out cocktails amongst quirky Victorian industrialist decor.