The first round-up of the latest openings across food and drink from around the world - we highlight six of the new establishments to open their doors this January, from our longer list of new openings on tfp trendhub.
The January 2024 list features venues from San Francisco, London, Singapore, New York and more. In no particular order, here's six highlights from our new openings reports.
Wacky Wombat, London
Wacky Wombat is the new bar from world renowned bartender Nico de Soto and marks his return to London since he helped launch Experimental Cocktail Club. Located beneath the newly opened restaurant Daroco Soho, the space is colourful with a range of hanging plants and furniture in a variety of fun and wacky prints. As for the cocktails, the menu has been created by de Soto and his team and takes inspiration from his travels to Australia with the first menu drawing on native ingredients, with them brought directly from Australia and including the likes of lemon myrtle, pepperberry and fermented caju.
Find out more here.
Yingtao, New York
A Chinese fine dining spot has opened its doors in Hell's Kitchen. Called Yingtao, this is the brainchild of restauranteur Bolun Yao who pays homage to his late grandmother in its cooking whilst looking to Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants for inspiration. European-style plating is cleverly blended with dishes that originate in places like Xi'an, Shanghai and Guangzhou and the result is stunning. In charge of the kitchen is Jakub Baster who has experience of fine dining thanks to his time at Michelin-starred La Dame de Pic in France. It opens with a tasting menu but will eventually include a la carte dining.
Find out more here.
Left Door, San Francisco
The owners of Bus Stop Saloon, one of San Francisco's oldest bars, have opened Left Door, located just upstairs but with a very different vibe to the rowdy sports bar that is Bus Stop Saloon. Instead, it is a cosy cocktail lounge with a large couch, velvet chairs and a fireplace that makes it feel just as if you are in a friend's sitting room. Drinks are classics with local touches like a gimlet with wasabi or a Manhattan with TCHO chocolate bitters. There is also an entire section given over to martinis with the dirty martini made salty with Monterey Bay seaweed, olive brine and Hog Island sea salt brine. There's a menu of snacks too with the likes of Wagyu beef bites with miso butter and a caviar sauce.
Find out more here.
King Clarence, Sydney
The highly anticipated restaurant King Clarence from the duo behind Bentley and Monopole has opened its doors. In a departure from their normal focus on European cuisine, King Clarence is Asian-inspired, influenced by the cuisines of Korea, Japan and China whilst executive chef Khanh Nguyen brings his Vietnamese Australian background to the party too. Nguyen comes from Aru where he built a reputation for innovative food mash-ups and this is reflected in the opening menu. Dishes include a 14-day aged duck served with black cabbage, Davidson plum and radish and wood-roasted pork belly ssam which includes an oyster cream emulsion and house-made kimchi.
Find out more here.
Purple Pit, Melbourne
Hospitality veteran Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room and Bar) has teamed up with Joe Jones to open Purple Pit in Melbourne's CBD, taking over the underground space at Queens and Collins where Reine & La Rue has recently opened. The bar, which will be open late into the night, will serve Euro-centric cocktails and "champagne food" which is described as small aperitivo-style dishes such as tuna loin made specifically to be paired with a dry martini. Jones has worked his magic on the cocktail list which includes his Ticket to Red creation which includes a half-serve of martini taken straight from the freezer and a 90ml glass of champagne, paired with caviar and kochu creme fraiche.
Find out more here.
The Butcher's Tap and Grill
Celebrated chef Tom Kerridge has opened the doors to The Butcher's Tap and Grill in London's Chelsea. Described as a local pub designed for locals, the space has had a compete makeover with a new hardwood bar, vintage flooring and lots of booth seating. Primarily a drinking pub, Kerridge has created a concise menu that features favourites such as butcher cuts, burgers and hot dogs whilst Sundays will feature a roast. As for drinks, there's a great range of lagers and ales as well as a carefully curated wine list by Gavin Hills from The Hand & Flowers.
Find out more here.
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Every month we compile more comprehensive lists of the most noticeable openings in both food and drink from around the world over on the tfp trendhub. Subscribers can see these lists for January 2024 in full over on our foodwatching and drinkswatching reports. If you're not yet subscribed but are interested in receiving our regular reporting service then get in touch using the form below.