dublin

what to drink & where to drink it

 INTRODUCTION
hat is the key to a great night out? Is it the company, the drinks, or the location? As a

W long-time cocktail enthusiast, for me the quality of the liquor is absolutely crucial, and
my drink of choice is the Natural Daiquiri. I was first introduced to the delights of the
Daiquirí in 1997 when I used to stop in at Covent Garden’s Cafe Pacifico on my way home from
work at CLASS Magazine’s first office in Gower Street.

The Natural Daiquirí is a delightfully simple recipe just calling for rum, lime and sugar. However,
these three ingredients combine with such complexity that subtle variations dramatically affect
the character of the finished drink, thereby allowing great expression of both bartender and
personal taste. As well as becoming my favourite drink, it has also become my acid test of a bar
and a cocktail bartender.
I believed I had understood and conquered the Daiquiri years ago. However, last year I had
something of an epiphany where the recipe is concerned while attending what Bacardi call La
Legacia de Don Facundo. At this event an eye-opening, honest and heartfelt presentation on the
true heritage and production of Bacardi rum was followed by Daiquiris made by Richard Gillam
and David Paskins. They were made using Bacardi Superior rum and to my surprise they tasted
fabulous – zingy, fresh and enlivening with that characteristic Bacardi taste profile combining
wonderfully with the fresh lime and sugar.
This is now my benchmark for the perfect Natural Daiquiri, and also for a great bartender
and a great cocktail bar. Made properly with the original, authentic Bacardi Superior rum the
Natural Daiquiri is a wonderfully light and refreshing cocktail that appeals to drinkers as diverse
as the young secretary out with her mates and the middle-aged rugby playing builder.
Since its creation in Santiago de Cuba in 1862, Bacardi Superior rum has played a unique role
in the development of cocktail culture, firstly in the revolutionary lightness and harmonious
complexity of the liquid itself, which represented the perfect base for the new style of crisp,
balanced aperitif drinks that characterise what we recognise as the Golden Age of Drinks (from
the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth), and secondly in the glamour and sophistica-
tion that the brand name evoked, bringing a touch of exotic Latin magic to the streets of America
and Europe. Cocktail pioneers and the great master bartenders of the time were inspired by
Bacardi Superior rum to create drinks like the Daiquiri, the Mojito, and Cuba Libre, which have
become the world’s favourite rum cocktails.
Aside for their innovative rums, the Bacardi family were also renowned in Cuba for their
unparalleled hospitality. The family hosted legendary parties at their home in Santiago de Cuba
and also in Havana at their beautiful art deco offices, entertaining the cream of Cuban and
American society including such celebrities as Charlie Chaplin, Errol Flynn, Mary Pickford,
Douglas Fairbanks, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Ernest Hemingway.
It is in the spirit of both the Bacardi family’s sense of hospitality and their ground-breaking
rum that I have embarked on a quest to tour the country and identify the best bars and pubs, and
the best Bacardi cocktails. The venues have been recognised for delivering excellence in either
atmosphere, drinks quality or service, and I have visited each one of them at least once over the
last year. As you will see in the following pages, Bacardi Superior rum continues to inspire
leading bartenders to create great drinks: I can personally recommend all of those listed here. If
you are planning a night out in this city, you cannot make a better start than right here with these
bars and these drinks. Enjoy yourself!
Enjoy BACARDI rum Responsibly drinkaware.co.uk
www.bacardi.com
BACARDI and the Bat Device are registered trademarks of Bacardi & Company Limited for the facts
 ublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It has

D developed around the wide sweep of Dublin Bay. It is

divided in two by the River Liffey and was originally
founded as a Viking settlement, indeed, the name comes from
‘Dubh Linn’, meaning ‘Black Pool’, a reference to a lake once
connected to Liffey which was used by the Vikings to moor
their ships.

Traditionally, the Liffey has acted as something a social divide

with the north side of the river traditionally regarded as working
class, while the south side with its Georgian squares was affluent.
Dublin postal districts are also divided by the Liffey with odd
numbered districts on the north side and even numbers on the
south side. The exception being Dublin 8 - which straddles
the river.
From the late 1990s until the recent economic contraction,
Dublin was at the centre of phenomenal economic growth which
led to Ireland being nicknamed the ‘Celtic Tiger’. In 2008,
Dublin was listed as the fifth-richest city in the world. Sadly the
recession the country is now experiencing is amongst the
deepest in Europe and its affects have not spared the city’s bar
and restaurant scene.
My Irish relations call their climate “moderate”, to me it has
always seemed on the moist side, but apparently Dublin enjoys
mild winters, cool summers and even moderate rainfall. Dublin
has less than half the average rainfall as the west of Ireland, and
although I find this hard to believe, has fewer rainy days than
London, New York City and even Dallas.
The city’s many famous pubs have helped make Dublin one
of the world’s most renowned drinking cities with hoards of
exuberant tourists enjoying the bars around the pedestrianised
Temple Bar area. Iconic brands such as Guinness and Jameson
have also contributed to the city’s drinking notoriety and have
helped drive the Irish pub export phenomenon.
Pretty much exactly 250 years before this issue went to press
on 24th September 1759 Arthur Guinness took over a disused
brewery at St. James’s Gate, Dublin. His stout and the city are now
virtually intertwined as a brand and you’ll be pushed to find a
Dublin bar that doesn’t sell Guinness – most will claim that theirs
is the best pint in town.
It’s almost rude to visit Dublin and not order at least a half of
Guinness but if it is only a half-pint you desire then simply ask
for “a glass please”, and not “a half pint”. Novice Guinness
drinkers should also be aware of the essential settling time
between the first and second top up pour. Busy bars will line up
pints ready to be topped with the second pour to save waiting
time, otherwise be patient and don’t think the bartender has
forgotten you.
The other great Irish drinks export, whiskey (with an ‘e’), has
many different incarnations and fittingly we have reviewed
recently. Irish whiskey tends to be un-peated and triple distilled
but there are notable exceptions. For bottles to take home you
should visit The Celtic Whiskey Shop at 27 Dawson Street, near
St Stephen’s Green. This carries has a huge range of Irish
whiskey and other spirits.
Over the following pages we have featured those pubs which
we enjoyed the most and thought were glorious examples of a true
Irish boozer. Also, as you’d expect, with the help of our friends at
Bacardi, we have sought out the city’s very best cocktails bars and I
am happy to report enjoyed some great Daiquiris.

2

John Kehoe
ehoe's as its better known is another of Dublin’s
K heritage pubs, unchanged for generations. Its charm
and location on a key pedestrian route just off Grafton
Street ensures it is always packed with locals and tourists alike.
First licensed in 1803 this corner pub was refitted towards
the end of the 19th Century and still retains the wooden
dividing panels, grand mahogany counter and bar fittings
installed then. Even the subdued Victorian fawn and brown
colour scheme survives. The mahogany drawers behind the
low grocery counter once held rice, tea, coffee and snuff from
a time when patrons could slip in for provisions and enjoy a
4 5
Doheny & Nesbitt
oheny & Nesbitts is a legendary bar and classic example
D of Dublin pub in both patrons and decor. Its front bar
boasts original Victorian snugs, bare wooden floors,
carved woodwork and whiskey branded mirrors.
First established in 1867 by William Burke it was over a
century later before Ned Doheny and Thomas Nesbitt took
over the premises and applied their names to its frontage.
Three decades on they sold to Tom and Paul Mangan who
renovated the interior and later dramatically increased its
size by extending backwards. It may look small from the
street but it goes back a long way.
The large back sports lounge is plastered with
memorabilia and on rugby days is packed and the
atmosphere electric. It’s also busy late week evening when
politicians, civil servants, sports fans and office workers pile
in from the government buildings just around the corner. In
the late '80s a journalist satirically attributed Ireland's
economic success to 'The Doheny and Nesbitt School of
Economics'. 3/5
4-5 Lower Baggot Street (Nr St Stephen's Green) Dublin 2, County Dublin,
Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 676 2945 Hours: Mon-Thu 10:30am-12:30am,
Fri-Sat 10:30am-12:30am, Sun 12:30-11pm Type: Traditional Irish pub
Food: Toasties & other bar grub
pint in the snug. From here they could use the buzzer
to summon another pint to be delivered through the
serving hatch.
When the owner John Kehoe died the bar was sold for 2.3
million punts and the new proprietors opened the floor
above where Kehoe lived, adding a bar and a little parlour.
Guinness dominates this bar but Kehoe’s also has a good
range of spirits and no matter how busy, retains a relaxed easy
ambience. 3/5
9 South Anne Street, Dublin 2, County Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 677 8312
Hours: Mon-Thu 10:30am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 10:30am-12:30am, Sun 12:30-
11pm Type: Traditional Irish pub Food: Bar snacks
 Horseshoe Bar Venu Brasserie
his secluded hotel bar lays claim to being the first place ungry? Then this is a great place to stop even

T to pour Guinness over champagne in a tall glass to

create the Black Velvet cocktail. The hotel’s menu
quotes early 1870s for the drinks invention but others credit
London’s Brook’s Club in 1861. Whatever the origin I am sure
that more Black Velvet cocktails are poured in this hotel than
anywhere else in the world.
The hotel has expanded since the 19th century a now boasts a
second much larger bar on the left as you walk in the hotel’s
entrance. Ignore this head to this quieter, more intimate bar off
to your right. Aptly named, its horseshoe-shaped counter juts
out into the centre and dominates the high ceilinged room with
moldings picked out in white against its towering maroon walls.
It is a quiet retreat where an older clientele sit at the
leather banquettes and tables that line the room’s perimeter
and chat over cocktails lovingly made by the smiling Andreas.
This is a reassuringly staid place with spirits on optic,
old-school standards and where they frequently sell the
bottles of Krug at €420 a pop. 3.5/5
The Shelbourne Hotel, 27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, County Dublin,
Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 663 4500, www.marriott.com Hours: Mon-Sun
3pm-11pm Type: Hotel bar Food: Full menu available in hotel
H though the entrance may be a little off putting.
Descend the two flights of wide stairs to a depth
deeper than some tube stations but don’t fear - a signal
booster ensures you won’t miss a call or text and once in the
basement your reward will be great food and drinks.
The decor of this subterranean space is contemporary and
a little on the bold side. The copper top bar counter with is
glowing and ever colour changing front occupies the
centre of the high ceilinged room with a towering, and also
illuminated, back bar. Built-in, high backed, burgundy
banquette seating, tables overhung with rainbow light
shades and a tiled floor adds to room’s austereness.
Don’t let the above put you off, Venu has a vibrant
atmosphere and great food based on classic European
cooking served by friendly and attentive staff. Best of all is
the book-like drinks menu and well made cocktails. 3.5/5
Annes Lane (Off South Anne St. near Grafton St.), Dublin 2, County
Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 670 6755, www.venu.ie Hours: Tue-Fri
6pm-11pm, Sat noon-11pm Type: Restaurant with bar Food: Full
modern European menu Recommended: Food

John Kavanagh’s
etter known locally as ‘The Gravediggers’,

B Kavanagh’s owes its nickname to being located next

door to the gates to Glasnevin Cemetary. Kavanagh’s
appears in James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’, in an episode in which the
funeral party of Paddy Dignam retires to this pub.

Originally built as a residence in the early 1800s it was Latino Lady

converted it to a public house by John O’Neill in 1833. Two By Gareth Lambe
years later he gave the business to his son-in-law, John @ VENUE BRASSERIE
Kavanagh, and it has been owned by a Kavanagh ever since.
In the late 1800s a small shop was added and although Glass:Martini
the pub stopped selling provisions in the 1950s the partition Garnish: Mint leaves & raspberries on stick
in the Western Bar that once separated the grocery section Method: MUDDLE lime, sugar and raspberries in base
from the drinking area remains. of shaker. Add other ingredients, SHAKE with ice and
This most traditional of pubs is a taxi ride away from the fine strain into chilled glass.
centre of town but well worth the fare. Walking into this
functional rustic pub for the first time can be daunting but 2 quarters Fresh lime
after a couple of drinks later you’ll fit right in. The 1 spoon Caster sugar
Gravedigger’s is the closest you’ll get to an authentic old 4 fresh Raspberries
Dublin pub. 3/5 2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
1 shot St Germain elderflower liqueur
1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, County Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1
830 7978 Hours: Mon-Thu 10:30am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 10.30am-midnight, ‘The Gravediggers’ 1 shot Freshly pressed pineapple juice
Sun 12:30-11pm Type: Traditional Irish pub Food: Typical bar snacks ½ fresh Egg white

6 7

The Porter House
P
orterhouse may lack the heritage and old world charm
of other Dublin pubs but it remains an institution, one
which has grown from this original brew pub into a
chain of branded pubs with branches as far afield as London.
Porterhouse remains unashamedly a beer pub with 20 brews
on draught, including three of the Porterhouse’s own stouts,
and over 180 of the world’s best bottled beers.
The folk at Porterhouse continue to operate their own
brewery, now a larger off-site affair which supplies all of their
pubs. They still brew using traditional techniques and
despatch their beers unpasteurised. It is noticeable that of
the many pubs there are in Dublin, you will find this is one of
the few that dispenses traditional ale by hand pump.
You will find an international crowd here all united by a
love of beer, good times and appreciation of the live bands
which play here on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. You
are pretty much assured a good time. 3.5/5
16-18 Parliament Street (just off Dame Street), Temple Bar, Dublin 2,
County Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 679 8847, www.theporterhouse.ie
Hours: Daily 11.30am- midnight Type: Contemporary pub Food: Bangers
& Mash, pies, wings, steaks, burgers etc.
8
O’Donoghues
’Donoghues sits at the St. Stephen’s Green end of what
O locals refer to as the ‘Royal Mile’ of traditional Dublin
pubs. It is famous for the live traditional Irish music
enjoyed here seven nights a week.
The Dubliners started their career here and were regular
performers in the cramped space just inside the front window.
Other famous groups to occupy the same hallowed spot include
Christy Moore, The Fureys and Phil Lynott.
The building dates back to 1789 and was originally a grocery
store until purchased and converted by the O’Donoghue family in
1934. The narrow frontage makes this appear a small pub and
even when you enter the wonderfully gloomy front bar, the
deception continues. Don’t be fooled, this place stretches right
back and then there’s the side alley. The pub and its patrons have
literally spilled over into Golden Lane which is now partially
covered and heated.
Photographs of the famous musicians who have played here
plaster the walls. You could find yourself watching the next group
to be added to the wall. 3/5
15 Merrion Row (nr St Stephen's Green), Dublin 2, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 660 7194, www.odonoghuesbar.com Hours: Mon-Thu
10:30am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 10:30am-12:30am, Sun 12:30-11pm Type:
Traditional Dublin pub Food: Ham & cheese rolls Recommended: Music
The Long Hall
t first glance, the red striped blind over the doorway and
A painted window might suggest an American bar, but
inside lies a real palace of an Irish pub. The interior is a
forest of carved mahogany embellished with ornate cornices,
globe lamps, cut glass chandeliers, polished brass and gilding.
The Long Hall takes its name from the long hallway that that
once ran the length of the left-hand side of the building. Until
1951, the bar was for men only with the women seated along
the hallway and served through hatches.
Built by Lockwood and Mowson in 1877, the Long Hall
occupies the ground floor of a four storey listed building. The
two halves of the pub are separated by an elaborate arched
partition crowned by an antique Wekler & Schlegel clock
while an even grander old mantle clock known as the ‘old
regulator’ is the centrepiece of the back bar, confidently
declaring the “correct time”.
The Long Bar is something of a working museum but has
visitors and an atmosphere like no museum in the world. 3/5
31 South Great George's Street, Temple Bar, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 475 1590 Hours: Mon-Wed 4pm-11:30pm, Thu 1pm-
11:30pm, Fri-Sat 1pm-12:30am, Sun 3pm-11pm Type: Traditional Irish pub
 KOH
oh is a large modern Thai and Asian restaurant which is

K subdivided into three: dining room, terrace and a fine

cocktail lounge. It is this stylish lounge which greets you
when you walk into Koh from the Millennium Walkway, a pedes-
trianised street which is a continuation of the Millennium
Rumble by Darren Costello footbridge across the Liffey.
@ SOLAS
A long pressed concrete bar which has the appearance of granite
Glass: Collins stretches the entire width of the substantial room. This is lined
Garnish: Basil & lemon zest twist with high, comfortable bar stools and you can eat and drink right
Method: SHAKE first 4 ingredients with ice and strain into here if you want to be in the centre of things. Behind this is a large
glass filled with crushed ice. DRIZZLE crème de mûre on lounge area with lines of low banquette seating.
top of drink. The a la carte restaurant lies on the other side of a tunnel-like
doorway and boasts both booths and a private dining room. The
4 fresh Basil leaves food here is fabulous and I can definitely vouch for the quality of
2 shots Bacardi Superior rum the bar snacks. The excellence of the kitchen is matched by the
1 shot Freshly squeezed lemon juice bar team and their rounded cocktail list.
½ shot Brown sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water) Koh oozes with style but being in Dublin you’ll also find a
¼ shot Crème de mûre liqueur friendly, unpretentious welcome. 4/5
Comment: A Bramble but with basil and based on rum
7 Jervis Street, Millennium Walkway, North Quays, Dublin 1, County Dublin,
instead of gin. Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 814 6777, www.koh.ie Hours: Sun-Thu noon-11pm, Fri
noon-11:30pm, Sat noon-midnight Type: Restaurant & lounge bar Food: Great
modern Thai / Asian cuisine Recommended: Cocktails, Food

Solas
aelic for ‘light’, Solas is a cafe lounge bar with a reputation

G for great DJs – as soon as you walk in you’ll be struck by

the quality of the sound system. You will also be taken by
the quality of the cocktails in this wonderfully laidback bar.

Laid out over three floors, Solas is long and narrow. The bar
counter runs most of the length of the ground floor lounge with
photos on the wall opposite tracking the path of the river Liffey.
Upstairs lies another smaller lounge and bar with a popular
rooftop terrace.
During the day Solas is a relaxing cafe bar with soulful Latin
tunes. As day turns to night the DJs move in and the music and Mary Pickford by Fred Kaufman
atmosphere gradually notches upwards with a play list that tends circa 1920
towards jazz-funk. At weekends the atmosphere is almost festival- @ KOH
like and negotiating your way through the crowd is difficult.
We were impressed by a beer range that includes the likes of Glass: Martini
Chimay, Duval and Leffe. A populist cocktail list errs towards Garnish: Maraschino cherry
the crowd pleasers such as Mojitos but also includes classics Method: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine
such as my beloved Daiquiri. In our experience cocktails are con- strain into chilled glass.
sistently well made. 4/5
2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
31 Wexford Street, Camden Quarter, Dublin, 2, County Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353
(0)1 478 0583, www.solasbars.com Hours: Sun-Wed noon-12:30, Thu-Sat noon- 1½ shots Pressed pineapple juice
2:30am Type: DJ bar/cafe lounge bar Food: Chicken Goujons and garlic bread to ¼ shot Pomegranate (grenadine) syrup
steak sandwiches Recommended: Music, Cocktails ⅛ shot Luxardo maraschino liqueur

10 11
 THE STAG’s HEAD
his is quite possibly Dublin’s best preserved Victorian

T pub. Carved mahogany covers the walls, dividing panels

and even the ceiling. Skilled Victorian craftsman made
this a spectacular pub. Original mosaic marble floors, granite
tables, ornate stained glass, cut glass lamps with the Stag’s
Head seemingly embossed, or carved on every surface.

A tavern has stood on this site since the 1780s but the present
incarnation dates from 1894 when George Tysen, owner of a
successful menswear business took over the premises and
commissioned leading architect J.M. McGloughlin to build
Dublin’s most distinctive and advanced pub. It was the first
to have electric lights. Tysen’s name can still be seen on the
large clock outside the building.
Don’t miss the little parlour hidden behind the far end of
the long red Connemara marble topped bar counter. On the
wall there is a clipping from The Daily Express on the day
the pub opened on 2nd October 1895.
The drinks may be of a fairly standard pub offering but
they taste all the more satisfying in such spectacular sur-
roundings. 3/5
1 Dame Court (off Dame Street), Dublin 2, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 679 3687, www.thestagshead.ie Hours: Daily 10:30am-
11pm Type: Traditional Irish pub Food: Traditional pub fare: Irish stew,
bangers & mash etc. Recommended: Friendly landlord

12
 Sangaree Milk Punch
by Rafael Agapito
@ KELLEY’S HOTEL BARS
Glass: Coupette
Garnish: Dust with ground coffee
Method: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain
into chilled glass.

1½ shots Bacardi Superior rum

½ shot Illy coffee liqueur
1 spoon Condensed milk
½ shot Espresso coffee
1 dash Angostura aromatic bitters

Kelley’s Hotel Bars

he two entrances to this upstairs venue can be tricky

T to spot so look for the carved wooden snail over the

door at No.3 Fade Street. Once inside you will find a
fabulously unpretentious bar spread over a series of first
floor rooms.

The interior design is rustic, almost unfinished in feel with

bare floor boards, exposed brickwork and RSJs. Original cast
iron fireplaces and an old safe are juxtaposed by boldly
coloured modern artwork. A large terrace is covered with a
big top-style tent to shelter smokers.
This place is currently very popular and attracts a
younger crowd. The advertised drinks offering is basic and
like so many other bars, Mojitos are the big seller here.
However, there are some skilled bartenders on hand who are
able to make pretty much any classic.
There is a second hidden and so quieter bar, which opens
late week. This follows the same raw design with steel
industrial style tables and chairs on a polished pine floor
with exposed brickwork. 3.5/5
36 South Great Georges Street (corner Fade St), Dublin 2, County Dublin,
Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 677 9277 Hours: Mon-Wed 4pm-11:30pm, Thu
4pm-1am, Fri 4pm-2:30am, Sat 1pm-2:30am, Sun 1pm-1am Type: Lounge
bar Food: Plates & snacks

14 15
 The Oval Office
ou may be in Dublin, Ireland but you could just as

Y easily be in Boston for this is the most American of

American bars. The eponymous Mr Shanahan is a
wealthy American who loved travelling to Dublin and
staying at the Shelbourne Hotel but bemoaned the lack of a
good steak house. So he opened his own, Shanahan’s,
complete with this American bar below.

The Oval Office is so named due to the walls of this

rectangular basement room being hung with framed letters
from sixteen former US presidents with Irish heritage,
Clinton’s being one of those actually addressed to Mr
Shanahan. Polished mahogany and leather club chairs help
give this place the air of a gentleman’s club. In pride of place
behind the bar, safely behind glass, is JFK’s Rocking Chair
from Air Force One. The president had a bad back and found
the rocking chairs therapeutic.
Of the nine cocktails on the menu, I’d recommend the
Shanahan’s Bloody Mary, made with house infused pepper
vodka and “secret ingredients”. My Bacardi Daiquiri was also
excellent. 4/5
Shanahan’s Restaurant, 119 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, 2, County Dublin,
Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 407 0939, www.shanahans.ie Hours: Daily noon-
11pm Type: American bar below steakhouse Food: Fabulous Angus steaks
upstairs Recommended: Bloody Mary’s, Food

Julep Superior
by Derek Byrne
@ THE OVAL OFFICE
Glass: Flute
Garnish: Mint sprig & raison
Method: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain into
glass filled with crushed ice.

7 fresh Mint leaves

2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
¼ shot Sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)

16
 DYLAN BAR
he Dylan Bar lies within the five-star hotel of the

T same name, a hotel which bills itself as being "

the finest luxury boutique hotel in Ireland".
The hotel sits between Victorian houses in Dublin’s
leafy suburbs and looks perfectly prim and formal
from outside. However, the bar inside is wonderfully
ostentatious.

BLACK INSIDE This place oozes fashion and style in a Laurence

by Szabi Sandor Llewelyn-Bowen meets Alice In Wonderland kind-of-
@ THE OCTAGON BAR way way with luxurious blue velvet stools and purple
high chairs set in front of a shapely polished pewter bar.
Glass: Flute It reeks of glam Celtic Tiger.
Garnish: Chocolate powder Times have changed but The Dylan still boasts some of
Method: Stir chocolate powder and hot water. Add other the trappings with A-list guests - the wealthy and
ingredients and the heat using the steam wand of an simply gorgeous drawn here by a restaurant and
espresso machine. Pour into pre-warmed glass. cocktail bar held in high regard.
Although slightly on the bling side, this is a very
1 shot Hot water pleasant place to relax while the outside patio with its
2 spoons Chocolate powder tent-like roof is a smoker’s haven. 4/5
1 shot Bacardi Superior rum
The Dylan Hotel, Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 4, County Dublin, Ireland
¾ shot Port
Tel: +353 (0)1 660 3000, www.dylan.ie Hours: Sun-Wed noon-11pm,
1 pinch Cinnamon powder
Thu 11:30pm, Fri-Sat noon-12.30am Type: Hotel lounge bar Food: Full
modern Irish menu in adjoining restaurant Recommended: Cocktails

The Octagon Bar

wo of the most famous hoteliers in the world make

T this hotel and its bar impossible to ignore. The

Clarence is owned by Bono and The Edge of rock
group U2. On our two mid-week visits it has been more old-
man-reading-the-Irish Times than Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty but
we enjoyed sitting at its octagonal island bar nonetheless.

An impressive octagonal-shaped domed window sits directly

above the 8-sided bar in the centre of an otherwise unremark- Flying Angel
able oak-panelled room. The adjoining room is also oak by Csaba Henter
panelled and plainly appointed with original square-paned @ DYLAN BAR
windows. A small snug lies between the two rooms but to me
feels more like a place to send naughty drinkers than a cosy Glass: Martini
place for an intimate drink with mates. Garnish: Lime zest twist & Smint sweet
Being an island bar with little storage space the range of Method: Scoop flesh of kiwi fruit into base of shaker.
spirits available is surprisingly extensive and it was here that Add other ingredients, SHAKE with ice and fine strain
an elderly drinker at the bar introduced me to the delights of into chilled glass.
Green Spot Irish whiskey. I have also enjoyed some great
cocktails here but I’d steer clear of the Clarence Signature 1 fresh Kiwi fruit
cocktail. 3/5 2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
½ shot Galliano liqueur
The Clarence Hotel, 6-8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2, County Dublin, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 407 0800, www.theclarence.ie Hours: Mon-Wed 11am- 2 spoons Caster sugar
11:30pm, Thu-Sat 11am-12:30am, Sun 12:30-11pm Type: Hotel bar ⅛ shot Freshly squeezed lime juice
Food: Snacks & plates available 1½ shots Cold spearmint tea
 HAVANA TREE
BY Paul Macdonald
@ THE MORRISON CAFE BAR
Glass: Collins
Garnish: Mint sprig & half passion fruit
Method: SHAKE first 5 ingredients with ice and strain into
glass filled with crushed ice. TOP with drizzle of liqueur.

½ fresh Passion fruit

8 fresh Mint leaves
2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
½ Freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ shot Sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
¼ shot Chambord liqueur.

Morrison Cafe Bar

he Morrison Hotel’s own website proudly boasts,

T “probably the hippest and coolest luxury hotel in

Dublin city centre.” It goes on to proclaim this to be a
“haven of calm & designer luxury” and yup, we’d have to agree.

Situated in a purpose-built modern building close to the

Millenium Bridge on the north bank of the Liffey, The
Morrison Hotel’s interior was designed by John Rocha and
has an ‘East Meets West’ theme. The Café Bar with its lines
of boxy leather armchairs is located at the front of the hotel
and overlooks the river. By day the large windows fill the
room with natural light but by night, desk-style lamps
between the chairs glow in the dimly lit room.
The semi-circular bar is manned by some of the friendliest
bar staff in Dublin with cocktail making skills to a similar
order. The back bar is weighed down with premium spirits
and both wine and beer drinkers are also well catered for.
Stylish luxury with great service sums up the Morrison.
Our only fault was that Dan considered the chips were
slightly too fat. You can’t please everyone... 4/5
The Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, North Quays, Dublin 1, County Dublin,
Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 887 2400, www.morrisonhotel.ie Hours: Mon-Thu
10:30am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 10:30am-12:30am, Sun noon-11:30pm Type:
Hotel lounge bar Food: Full menu available Recommended: Cocktails

20 21
 Clementine
by Connor Brennan
@ THE SOUTH WILLIAM
Glass:Old-fashioned
Garnish: Slice of ginger & orange slice
Method: Build in glass filled with crushed ice and
CHURN to mix.

2 shots Bacardi 8 year old rum

Juice of two fresh Clementines
Grated ginger
Sugar syrup to taste (2 sugar to 1 water)  

THE SOUTH WILLIAM

arc and Conor Bereen, the two brothers who own

M The South William, advertise their bar as being,

“Dublin's friendliest and funkiest urban lounge.” It
most certainly is a casual and relaxed place with affable staff
while Khaki-coloured walls and utilitarian furnishings fit in
with the ‘urban lounge’ theme.

‘Swilly’, as the bar is better known to regulars, is set over three

floors and attracts a style conscious, music loving crowd,
partly due the quality of the DJs and the bars connection with
music promoter, Alex Wood. Things kick off here after 9pm
and on Friday and Saturday nights it’s common to have
different DJs playing the main bar and the basement.
The bar is laden with beer pumps, which dispense an
impressive range of Euro lagers alongside the inevitable stout.
The back bar fridges also hold some interesting bottled options.
The cocktail menu is reassuringly old-school, (Mint Julep, Old
Fashioned etc.) and in our experience reliably well made.
Gourmet pies are made on the premises “fresh as a daisy
every day” and very tasty they are to. 3.5/5
52 South William Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, County Dublin, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)1 672 5946, www.southwilliam.ie Hours: Mon-Wed noon-
11:30pm, Thu-Sat noon-2:30am, Sun 3pm-1am Type: “Urban lounge”
Food: Gourmet pies Recommended: Music

22
The Carousel Bar
ome readers will be familiar with the famous Carousel Bar at the

S Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. This Vegas meets Irish pub

copy perhaps offers better cocktails and is a whole load of fun.

The Leopardstown Inn sits in its own large car park like an out of town
megastore twenty minutes from central Dublin, off the N11 on route
to Wexford. Known to its regulars as the Lepp Inn this place surely has
the most over the top decor of any bar in the world, as well as boasting
Ireland’s only revolving bar.
The vast interior is divided into different themed areas including Rum & Raison
an off-licence, a traditional Irish pub, a restaurant, a lounge bar – by John Paul Keeting
complete with a tree house, glass flooring, waterfall bronze statues and @ SABA
the Carousel bar. Like the original New Orleans version this is
modelled after an ornate vintage fairground ride. Drinkers seated at Glass:Martini
the bar gently revolve passing flamboyant decor including Arthur’s Garnish: Spray with Auchentoshan 3 Wood
stone complete with sword, Asian palm trees, pipe organ tubes and Bar Method: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain
Manager, Alan Kavanagh’s cocktail trophies. These awards rightly give into chilled glass.
you an idea of the high standard of cocktails served here. 4/5
2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
The Leopardstown Inn, Brewery Road, Stillorgan, South Dublin, Co Dublin, Eire
Tel: +353 1 288 9189, www.leopardstowninn.ie Hours: Tue-Sat noon-midnight, ¾ shot Freshly squeezed lime juice
Sun noon-midnight Type: Cocktail bar (within themed Irish pub) Food: Substantial 2 spoons Caster sugar
meals & snacks all day Recommended: Cocktails 2 spoons Pedro Ximénez sherry

Saba
aba, meaning “Happy meeting place” in Thai, is a contem-

S porary restaurant and bar serving traditional Thai and

Vietnamese cuisine. The bar at Saba has a reputation to
live up to as its executive chef, Taweesak Trakoolwattana,
previously cooked for the King and Queen of Thailand.

The bar itself backs onto the restaurant, separated by an ebony

slatted wood screen. Spun wicker light shades hang over the long
bar in a contemporary space with polished concrete floors, dark
wood, leather and antique mirrors. The walls are hung with
Natural Daiquiri striking Hanz Kemp photographs of Vietnamese scooter riders
@ THE CAROUSEL BAR laden with provisions and pinion passengers.
Saba’s drinks selection is extensive with 22 wines by the glass,
Glass: Martini a good range of premium spirits and Asian beers such as Tiger
Garnish: Lime wedge on rim and Singha. The cocktail menu features reassuring classics such
Method: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine as Sazerac, Aviation and ‘Classic Daiquiri’ with Bacardi but also
strain into chilled glass. has numerous Saba creations, many using sherry and sake.
The food here is, as you would expect, excellent and along
2½ shots Bacardi Superior rum with signature dishes includes favourites such as Pad Thai, green
¾ shot Freshly squeezed lime juice chicken curry and tuk tuk soup. 4/5
½ shot Sugar syrup (2 sugar to1 water)
26-28 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2, County Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 679 2000,
½ shot Chilled mineral water (omit if wet ice) www.sabadublin.com Hours: Mon-Sun noon-11pm Type: Thai restaurant & bar
Food: Excellent Thai and Vietnamese cuisine Recommended: Food, Cocktails
No. 23
his bar lies within The Merrion five star hotel which itself

T occupies four meticulously restored Grade I Listed

Georgian townhouses. No.23 is a reference to the number
of the house in which this bar lies.

The houses were built in the 1760s for wealthy Irish merchants and
nobility and No. 24 was the birthplace of Arthur Wellesley, the 1st
Duke of Wellington. The hotel’s grand interior features restored
intricate plasterwork, fine antiques and one of the most important
private collections of 19th and 20th Century art in Ireland. Classic Daiquiri
The bar itself serves a series of luxurious lounges with grand old by Jennings Stockton Cox
armchairs and crackling peat fires. The friendly Irish save the @ THE AVIATOR’S LOUNGE
atmosphere from feeling too old-school while delivering the
attentive service one would expect of such an establishment. Glass:Martini
A comprehensive wine list includes Krug by the glass while the Garnish: Lime wedge on rim
range of spirits and liqueurs is equally impressive. There is a choice Method: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain
of over 30 cocktails, all listed with a short history including the into chilled glass.
Duke of Wellington cocktail at €45. I opted for a more affordable
Bacardi Daiquiri, which was superb. 4/5 2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
¾ shot Freshly squeezed lime juice
The Merrion Hotel (opp. Government Buildings), Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, ½ shot Sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
County Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 603 0600, www.merrionhotel.com Hours:
Mon-Sun 10am-11pm, later for residents Type: Hotel lounge bar Food: Full menu
available Recommended: Cocktails

The Aviator's Lounge

rish celebrity chef Richard Corrigan bought the famous

I Bentley’s Oyster bar in London in 2005 and subsequently

opened this Irish outpost within a 1791 townhouse turned
boutique hotel overlooking St Stephen's Green. The Aviator’s
Lounge is hidden up on the first floor, but don’t be shy as it is
open to both non-diners and non-residents.

The splendid Georgian house was formally the headquarters of

the ‘Ancient and Most Benevolent Order of the Friendly Brothers
Lady Marmalade of St Patrick’ (only in Ireland) and the building retains much of its
by Tanya O’Leary original features. The bar itself has an upmarket gentleman’s club
@ NO.23 feel with baize green walls, polished wide floorboards and antique
model First World War planes suspended from the high ceiling.
Glass:Collins The Red Barron’s plane flies over the bar counter with an RAF
Garnish: Physalis (cape gooseberry) plane hot on its tail.
Method: POUR ingredients into ice-filled glass Comfy sofas and armchairs sit in front of a small corner bar
and stir. with the terrace a constant lure for smokers. The two dozen
Orange Marmalade syrup (strained marmalade cocktails listed on the menu are made by very able and, as is typical
diluted with water) of Ireland, hospitable bartenders. 3.5/5
Bentley’s Restaurant, 22 St Stephen’s Green (nr Dawson St.), Dublin, County
1½ shots Bacardi 8 year old rum Dublin, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 638 3939, www.bentleysdublin.com Hours:
¾ shot Triple sec Daily 5pm-11pm Type: Restaurant bar Food: Full restaurant menu available
Top up with Tonic water Recommended: Food, Wine, Cocktails
The Exchequer Mr Exchequer
by Darren Geraghty
lthough inhabiting a corner site, the footprint of this @ THE EXCHEQUER
A gastro pub-come-cocktail bar is long and narrow and
divided into three different areas. Glass:Old-fashioned
Garnish: Orange zest twist
From Exchequer Street you enter a cafe-style bar area with a stunning Method:SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain
undulating ceiling resembling a vintage motorbike’s cooling fans. into ice-filled glass.
Beyond is the main bar area where you’ll find Darren Garreghty,
a gentle giant who turns out some tasty cocktails. Lastly, is the rear 2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
dining room. The decor throughout sees hard industrial surfaces ½ shot Homemade lime & clove syrup
balanced by dark leather couches and bright iridescent fabrics. 3 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
In true, affordable, gastro pub style The Exchequer offers a ⅛ shot Amaretto liqueur
monthly changing ‘Pie & Pint’, available all day long at just €15. Each
month sees a different seasonal pairing, when I visited, a wild Irish
venison pie with forest mushrooms, thyme and shallots was served
with a pint of a pale, clean hoppy Hilden Belfast blonde.
More substantial meals include signature dishes such as potted
Clogher Head brown crab with soda bread and Doran’s smoked
chowder with potatoes & leeks. A dozen reds, the same number of
whites and a rose are all affordably priced and available by the glass.
3-5 Exchequer Street (corner Dame Court), Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 670 6787, www.theexchequer.ie
Hours: Daily midday - late Type: Gastro pub Food: A pie & pint through to
traditional homely Irish dishes Recommended: Food & cocktails
The Morgan Bar
he contemporary interior of The Morgan sits in stark

T contrast to the Irish pubs and cobbles of its location on

Dublin’s famous pedestrianised Temple Bar. However,
this street is the centre of Ireland’s nightlife and The Morgan
offers a party, almost nightclub atmosphere.

The large space is sleek and modern with communal high tables,
chandeliers and shaded lamps. Towards the back the lower tables
and sheer drapes are more nightclub VIP room. An outside heated
courtyard with teak wood furniture and cushion strewn daybeds Raspberry Mojito
provides a deluxe smokers area. @ THE MORGAN BAR
Those seeking a quiet Martini should beware that DJ’s play
Thursday to Sunday with the resident bongo player usually accom- Glass:Collins
panying. Then there’s the “Noche Latina Fridays! Every Friday 9pm - Method: Lightly MUDDLE mint (just to bruise) in
late! Experience Funky House Music with a Latin Twist!” At all other glass. POUR other ingredients into glass and half fill with
times expect up-tempo disco beats. crushed ice. CHURN (stir) with barspoon. Fill glass
Although the atmosphere is night club and the cocktail menu with more crushed ice, churn and serve with straws.
contains many crowd pleasers, requests for classics are well received
and often well executed. Grab a Daiquiri and retreat to day bed. 3.5/5 12 fresh Mint leaves
2 shots Bacardi Superior rum
The Morgan Hotel, 10 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland Tel: +353 1 643 ¾ shot Cuarenta y Tres (Licor 43) liqueur
7000, www.themorgan.com Hours: Mon-Wed noon-2:30am, Thu-Sun noon-3am 2 shots Raspberry puree
Type: Lounge bar Food: Full menu 1 shot Freshly squeezed lime juice
 Memorial R

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23
Leopard

YOUR ROUTE AROUND DUBLIN

1. Koh 13. Saba
7 Jervis Street, Millennium Walkway, North Quays, Dublin 1
26-28 Clarendon Street (behind Westbury Hotel), Dublin 2
2. The Morgan Bar 14. The Long Hall
The Morgan Hotel, 10 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
31 South Great George's Street, Temple Bar, Dublin
3. Kelley’s Hotel Bars 15. The Stag's Head
36 South Great Georges Street (corner Fade St), Dublin 2
1 Dame Court (off Dame Street), Dublin 2
4. Venu Brasserie 16. The Exchequer
Annes Lane (Off South Anne St. near Grafton St.), Dublin 2
3-5 Exchequer Street (corner Dame Court), Dublin 2
5. Solas 17. The Porter House
31 Wexford Street, Camden Quarter, Dublin, 2, County Dublin
16-18 Parliament Street (just off Dame Street), Temple Bar, Dublin 2
6. Doheny & Nesbitt 18. The Aviator's Lounge
4-5 Lower Baggot Street (Nr St Stephen's Green) Dublin 2
Bentley’s Restaurant, 22 St Stephen’s Green (nr Dawson St.)
7. The Octagon Bar 19. John Kehoe
The Clarence Hotel, 6-8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
9 South Anne Street, Dublin 2
8. Morrison Cafe Bar 20. The South William
The Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, North Quays, Dublin 1
52 South William Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
9. Horseshoe Bar 21. The Carousel Bar
The Shelbourne Hotel, 27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
The Leopardstown Inn, Brewery Road, Stillorgan, South Dublin
10. O’Donoghues 22. John Kavanagh’s
15 Merrion Row (nr St Stephen's Green), Dublin 2
1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
11. No. 23 23. Dylan Bar
The Merrion Hotel, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2
The Dylan Hotel, Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 4
12. The Octagon Bar
The Clarence Hotel, 6-8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
Enjoy BACARDI rum Responsibly drinkaware.co.uk
www.bacardi.com
32 BACARDI and the Bat Device are registered trademarks of Bacardi & Company Limited for the facts