CHAR: 10 cocktail spots to try in Dublin

10 cocktail spots to try in Dublin

Photo by George Voronov

Yamamori Tengu, Great Strand Street

Attached to a Japanese restaurant, like its sister Izakaya on George Street, as you’d expect the cocktails here are luxurious, delicate and many include sake. The bar is dark and atmospheric with a range of lovely light Japanese beers. I recommend the tangy-sour Nama Lychee [if we’re calling cocktails after the National Asset Management Agency, does that mean the boom is back?]. yamamori.ie

Drop Dead Twice, Francis Street

This is a novel concept in Dublin, a BYO cocktail bar. You book in for a sitting and bring your own naggin or shoulder of booze. The bartender leads guests through options before mixing up drinks. Vodka could lead to a White Chocolate Espresso Martini, and a popular outlet for gin is the Raspberry and Balsamic Martini. dropdeadtwice.com

Hang Dai, Lower Camden Street

Hang Dai always did boozy brilliance downstairs in the restaurant-come-late bar but now they’ve opened up their super luxe Gold Bar with a smoking terrace upstairs, so it’s going to be even more A. They confidently play with adult flavours like smoky mezcal, marzipan-scented amaro and the finest vermouth. hangdaichinese.com

The Yarn, Lower Liffey Street

The Yarn do pizza and booze. Very well. They are strong on slightly savoury, herbal ingredients like tarragon and orange bitters. The choice is curated and carefully done. Their gin, vermouth and Campari Negroni is sharp and strong. If your tooth is sweet try the passion fruit, pineapple, rum, vanilla vodka and whites options. Pop! theyarnpizza.com

Delahunt, Lower Camden Street

Entering the Delahunt cocktail bar [upstairs to the main restaurant] is like finding platform 9 ¾. It’s a super stylish, mid-century modernist drawing-room with a bay window looking out to the mayhem below. Cocktails by bar manager Martin Holec are intelligent, creative and unusual. Try the Little Bird with Tequila, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse and marmalade flavours. delahunt.ie

Zozimus, Anne's Lane

Zozimus is a busy spot just off Grafton Street with a team of bar dynamos powering through large orders of attractive and appealing cocktails. They have a large menu with the usual suspects and a curious selection of their own inventions. Their Marshmallow Ramos contains their homemade pink marshmallow infused Ketel One vodka with Baileys and white chocolate tastes. zozimusbar.ie

Capitol, Aungier Street

You probably won’t find cheaper cocktails in Dublin than this buzzing bar. Capitol do Happy Hour on Thursdays and Fridays and it’s always heaving, with lots of uncomplicated, sweet and fruity flavoured drinks. This is the perfect place for pre-payday Porn Star Martinis, and their fruity Mojitos will get the minty party started. capitol.ie

Peruke & Periwig

Dawson Street This is a decadent Victorian-feel, threestorey establishment, perfect for lounging and eating. It gets a mixed crowd and can feel a little contrived, but their cocktail menu is thoughtful and fun: themed by music genres like pop, soul, blues, rock ’n’ roll and so on. Lots of sweet and rich, creamy options. Try the Pretty Fly for a Mai Tai for the name alone. peruke.ie

Drury Buildings, Drury Street

Expect a stylishbar with a great derelict(e) “could be New York” smoking garden out the back. Serious cocktails with classic and signature options which are strong on herbal and aromatic flavours. Friendly bar staff. The Salt Caramel Martini comes highly recommended. drurybuildings.com

The Liquor Rooms

The speakeasy-style cocktail bar is now common-place in Dublin city, but when pockets started getting a little looser it was The Liquor Rooms who were instrumental in starting that wave of decadent boozers. The surroundings are lush and their best cocktails are the wellcrafted versions of the classics. theliquorrooms.com