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27 October, 2014

World's 50 Best Bars editor Hamish Smith picks out the most important bar openings of the month. This time it's Artesian Hong Kong, Balderdash in Copenhagen and Dandelyan in London. 

Artesian Hong Kong

Artesian Hong Kong

Artesian, three-time winner of The World’s 50 Best Bars, now has a sister venue in Hong Kong. Artesian Hong Kong will be run by Rajendra ‘Rush’ Limbu, who has spent time at restaurants Otto e Mezzo, Il Milione and Ping Pong. The bar adjoins the Langham Hotel’s Palm Court and is described as a combination of “nostalgic romance of Art Deco, with alluring contemporary touches”.

Drinks encompass the gamut of classics but are created with house-made infusions and bourbon is a house speciality. The bar features live jazz from afternoon to evening.

Balderdash, Copenhagen
Balderdash Copenhagen

Geoffrey Canilao’s eagerly anticipated Balderdash opens in November in Copenhagen. The ex-Employees Only and The Union bartender is taking over a space that once housed the bar Kontoret and will have a drinks lab connected to the kitchen.

The lab will boast the latest sensory equipment, catering for flavour innovation and collaborations with local restaurants and international bartenders. The building that houses Balderdash was built in 1732 and lends itself to the style of the bar. Canilao tells DI: “The place has elements of old history, a modern atmosphere, Danish furniture and a forward-thinking approach to American cocktail classics. The music is ’70s jazz, French and also Danish folk singers. We wanted a local feel to Balderdash but with an international touch.”

Dandelyan, London

Last month Iain Griffith and Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Dandelyan opened its doors in the Mondrian London at Sea Containers on London’s South Bank. With views of the Thames River, it is the first Mondrian hotel site to appear outside of the US. 

The bar’s drinks programme is centred on seasonal ingredients, with the menu divided into ‘cereal’, ‘vegetal’, ‘mineral’ and ‘floral’. Décor-wise, the bar is cloaked in green, with a green marble bar running the length of the room with brushed gold and brass accents.





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