Hot new London bar openings: June

The Rascal Room is possibly London’s most fleeting drinking den. Housed in a secret 1930s ballroom revealed to guests two days before the event, the club will open its doors for one night only on Saturday 18 June. Aiming to recreate the glamour of the ‘30s among the rich and famous, and the splendour of café society, on arrival, guests will be greeted by white-suited staff who will whisk them to tables surrounding the stage.

A plethora of live acts will perform, from French swing singer Benoit Viellefon, 12-piece band Alex Mendham and his Orchestra, and showgirl troupes. Classic cocktails come courtesy of mixology legend Brian Silva, while Alan Bird, former executive chef at The Ivy, is in charge of food, meaning both the libations and the grub are set to be spectacular. Future Rascal Rooms will pop up later this year.

The only thing better than a Negroni bar is a floating Negroni bar. The clever people at the House of Peroni have catered to this whimsical whim by creating one on Haggerston canal, which popped up mid May and will run until 1 July. Maestro mixologist Simone Caporale, formerly of Artesian, will be making Negronis five ways, including the classic serve, white, sweet and extra bitter.

He’ll also be shaking up Aperol Spritz’ served with orange sorbet and a green olive, and Italian cocktails like the Città della Seta featuring fig liqueur, Chinotto and bergamot. Head to the flower garden for floral-inspired cocktails and flowerpot selfies while you gorge on wood-fired pizzas whipped up by Sartoria’s Francesco Mazzei.

Truffleseco in Camden is the brainchild of sisters Irina and Lana Bondar. Shining a light on the popular Italian sparkler, the menu focuses on black and white truffles and the flavours of Florence. Interiors are a mix of industrial and rustic, and feature open brickwork, green shutters, mismatched wooden chairs and metal wine racks.

Proseccos from the likes of Ca’ di Rajo, Col di Rocca and Sorelle Bronca, are designed to act as a refreshing accompaniment to the decadent dishes. The bar will serve a selection of Italian wines, classic cocktails like the Bellini and Rossini, and truffle grappa for brave imbibers.

While it sounds like something they sip on in Star Wars, Panther Milk is in fact a pop-up cocktail bar at French stalwart L’Escargot in Soho. Running from 8 June until early August, the bar will be serving three versions of panther milk. Also known as “leche de pantera”, the libation originated in the 1920s and is linked to the Spanish Foreign Legion. Twists over the years have included everything from gunpowder to marijuana

Sadly neither of these explosive ingredients will be on offer at L’Escargot. Instead, recipes are inspired by 82-year-old Catalan Chimo Oliver, who learnt to make panther milk while serving in the Spanish Foreign Legion under Franco. Blending gin and condensed milk, the cocktail comes white, pink or green, the latter two getting their pastel hues from Grenadine and Crème de Menthe.

Soho diner Top Dog has opened an uber cool upstairs bar boasting cocktails by the king of puns and Jason Atherton’s drinks man Gareth Evans, who has cherry picked some of the best cocktails in London for the menu, including his own, super fresh Dill or No Dilll, blending gin, elderflower cordial, lemon, cucumber, dill and smoked sea salt.

Also making a cameo is the Green Park, created by Erik Lorincz of The Savoy, which features Jensen Old Tom gin, lemon, sugar, celery bitters, egg white and basil. Those seeking a punchier drop can get their lips around El Chapulin, created by Ian Mcintyre of Nola, which marries Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila, Tio Pepe, Briottet Cacao and Briottet Menthe Blanc.

Harvey Nichols has teamed up with design and lifestyle magazine Wallpaper* to create a new all-day dining restaurant and cocktail bar as part of a new concept space within its menswear department in Knightsbridge. The bar is housed within the department store’s Project 109, an experimental space within its new menswear department boasting the latest in lifestyle brands and gifts and host art installations and pop ups.

From its menu and uniforms to artwork and furniture, particular attention has been paid to the design of the venue, which incorporates Wallpaper* magazines and Wallpaper* City Guides. Turning from a bistro into a bar at night, its cocktail menu includes serves crafted by some of the world’s best bartenders, such as the Grocery & Grog Old Fashioned by Jack McGarry of Dead Rabbit in New York; the Scented Negroni by Javier de las Meulas of Dry Martini in Barcelona; and the Paper Anniversary by Rémy Savage of Little Red Door in Paris.

Searcys has turned its popular Champagne bar at One New Change into a “vermouteria” and meatball mecca. Capitalising on a growing thirst for vermouth in the capital, the bar will sell a range of vermouths alongside a selection of vermouth-based cocktails.

The bar’s colour scheme has changed from orange to teal and gray. Inspired by Italian street food, the venue also serves beef and pork meatballs with pasta or ciabatta and an array of sauces. If the revamp proves successful, Searcys will turn its other London Champagne bars into similarly on-trend venues offering sharing plates and cocktails in addition to the French fizz.

We’ve had Roald Dahl-inspired cocktails, now D&D London has turned its Old Bengal Bar in Liverpool Street into a leafy jungle in honour of Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book. Forming part of D&D’s group-wide #BlossomCity campaign, the bar’s roof terrace has been turned into a jungle for the summer months.

Housed in a warehouse once owned by the East India Company, the bar will serve a trio of cocktails inspired by characters in the book, from the gin-based Mowgli and the fruity Father Wolf, to the Baloo, a cherry red blend of strawberries, rose water and Ketel One vodka. Bargain hunters should take advantage of ‘Flower Hour’, which runs every weekday from 5-7pm.

Our second dog-themed bar this month is The Dog House, a basement drinking den beneath Italian restaurant Bernardi’s in Marylebone – cue calls from errant boyfriends late at night explaining that they’re “in the dog house”. The tongue-in-cheek bar, which has its own entrance, feature banquette seating and a hidden “snug” seating up to eight people.

Dovetailing with Bernardi’s food offering, Italian cocktails are the order of the day, from classics like the Negroni and Bellini, to lesser-known libations like the Lotta in Salita, made with vermouth, Carpano, Bulleit bourbon and Evangelista Ratifia; and the Amante, featuring Stellacello, brandy and fresh grapefruit, which can be washed down with cicchetti, pizzette, and antipasti.

In time for summer, if it ever graces us with its presence, Camino Bankside has opened a Gin Garden, which will run throughout the warmer months until September. Boasting terracotta tones and patterned tiles, the garden includes a dedicated gin bar serving Spanish-style “gintonics” in goldfish bowl glasses with an array of fruit garnishes, from strawberry and blood orange to lemon and lime.

Sports fiends can keep on top of the action via a big screen in the garden, which will be showing all of the summer’s top sporting events including Wimbledon and Euro 2016. Those keen for a cocktail can enjoy the Road to Pepito, a twist on a sour made with Sherry.

Camden has a new hip hangout in the form of Boho, whose kooky interiors channel antiques shop chic. With regular live DJ sets, cocktails include the Fig Capirinha, which blends Cachaca, crème de fig, gomme, lime and fresh fig; and the Killer Zombie, featuring Havana Club, Sailor Jerry, Captain Morgan, absinthe, almond syrup, grenadine, lime and passion fruit juice. On the food front, expect the likes of pulled pork croquettes with BBQ mayo and comforting classics like sausage and mash.