New Venue Openings: Dundee, June 2019

Underworld Cafe

This recreation of the original Underworld Cafe, last open to the Dundee public in the 1960s, can be found in the city’s trendy West End area. Styled with vintage decor, by day the cafe offers a varied selection of vegetarian and vegan-friendly breakfast and brunch dishes from all over the world. By night, the venue draws back its tiki-inspired bamboo doors, revealing the subterranean layer of Underworld’s bar and dancefloor area where the venue comes to life.

This step into the underworld has welcomed an array of live music events. The venue’s DJ line-up also features weekly and monthly residents, such as Millhouse Collective and DJ RussoRosso. Underworld’s community spirit is not forgotten too, with the cafe holding a free soup kitchen every Wednesday; an idea inspired by an age-old Dundee tradition from the 1800s, where wealthy merchants in the city distributed free soup to poor and struggling students of the newly-formed university. 204 Perth Rd, facebook.com/underworldcafedundee

3 Session Street

Located, funnily enough, on 3 Session Street and less than five minutes from various attractions in Dundee’s city centre, this aptly-named cocktail bar is proving to be a much talked about hotspot by punters from Dundee and beyond. Previously known as Sessions Bar, the building itself is steeped in musical history, with the likes of Supergrass and even Oasis having played gigs at the venue in years gone by.

With no signage outside, emphasis on a word-of-mouth approach has been key to the venue’s notable rise in popularity since opening late last year. A must visit for locals and newcomers to the city alike. 3 Session St, 3sessionstreet.co.uk

Capone’s

As you’ve probably worked out by now, this new speakeasy, situated underneath 172 At The Caird, is based around the infamous American gangster Al Capone. Features throughout the venue, such as its rich 20s decor and Capone’s own jail cell, offers punters a unique, memorable escape into prohibition America – as long as you abide by the house rules.

Delectable, 20s-inspired cocktails are the main attraction at Capone’s, and you can sample some of the concoctions while the cell doors are open, but mind the barkeep – his word is final. 172 Nethergate, facebook.com/caponesunder172

The Giddy Goose

Run by the team behind Dundee’s The White Goose on Dock Street, their second restaurant venture, The Giddy Goose is a bohemian-style wine and pizza bar in the city’s West End, which has received rave reviews for its laidback, welcoming atmosphere. Ideal for a light lunch or dinner, their stonebaked pizzas, which can also be made vegan, are the star dish here. What’s more, there are plenty of craft beers and ethically-sourced wines for washing down the edible delights. 2 Perth Rd, facebook.com/TheGiddyGooseDundee

Dynamo

Part of the Six Degrees North family, Dynamo is the latest outpost from the community-focused craft brewers based on Union Street – a stone’s throw from the V&A Dundee. Modern, artisanal beers driven by Belgian brewing tradition are at the heart of all of Six Degrees North venues across Scotland, with each offering new and unique collaborations with local and international breweries almost every week.

Dynamo’s continental feel is further enhanced with its minimal, understated decor, which helps to create its perfectly relaxed environment while you ponder over the extensive selections on offer. 42 Union Street, sixdnorth.co.uk/dundee

Le Freak Records

Fronted by brothers Jack and Tom LeFeuvre, Le Freak Records has risen from strength to strength since first opening at the tail end of 2017. With other notable independent record shops in the city, including Assai Records in Broughty Ferry and Groucho’s, just a five minute walk down Perth Road, Le Freak pride themselves upon offering a unique hub to customers who are encouraged to relax, listen to some records and, most importantly, have a good blether about all things music.

Le Freak’s dynamic duo frequently host a range of events, with regular live in-store performances where BYOB is encouraged, along with the notable escapades of Le Freak & Friends, which has seen the LeFeuvre brothers team up with various local DJs to perform across Scotland. It’s easy to see why Le Freak have already made their presence noticed in Dundee and beyond. 159 Perth Rd, lefreakrecords.co.uk