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Great places for a cocktail

Before dinner? After dinner? With dinner? There’s no right time for a cocktail but here is our selection of the right places

The best places for cocktails in Ireland. Photograph: iStock
The best places for cocktails in Ireland. Photograph: iStock

1824 Bar at the Shelbourne,

27 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, D02 K224. theshelbourne.com

Head to the top of the grand staircase in Dublin’s Grand Dame of hotels for a cosy, book-lined cocktail experience.

Bar 1661, off Capel Street in Dublin 7, is a must-visit spot for cocktail lovers
Bar 1661, off Capel Street in Dublin 7, is a must-visit spot for cocktail lovers

Bar 1661

1-5 Green St, Rotunda, Dublin, D07 YT6H. bar1661.ie

An innovative leader in the Irish cocktail scene and a champion for Irish spirits, Bar 1661 is “staunchly Irish and fiercely independent. A must visit for cocktail lovers.

Cask is an extravagantly decorated cocktail bar on MacCurtain Street in Cork. One of its bartenders, Linda O’Flynn, was named Irish Bartender of the Year
Cask is an extravagantly decorated cocktail bar on MacCurtain Street in Cork. One of its bartenders, Linda O’Flynn, was named Irish Bartender of the Year

Cask

48 MacCurtain Street, Victorian Quarter, Cork, T23 F104. caskcork.com

Another great innovator in the Irish cocktail world, Cask’s menu changes regularly with the seasons, incorporating local and foraged ingredients.

Hawksmoor – pair its martini with a plate of Irish oysters for the classic experience. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Hawksmoor – pair its martini with a plate of Irish oysters for the classic experience. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Hawksmoor

34 College Green, Dublin 2, D02 C850. hawksmoor.ie

A quest for the ultimate martini led to use of ultrasonic techniques and insulated flasks. Pair it with a plate of Irish oysters for the classic experience.

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Kinara Kitchen. Photograph: Kinara Kitchen/Facebook
Kinara Kitchen. Photograph: Kinara Kitchen/Facebook

Kinara Kitchen

17 Ranelagh Rd, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, D06 FP82. kinarakitchen.ie

A newly revamped bar area is the perfect spot for elegant cocktails, either pre-dinner or with a plate of spicy bar bites.

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Paladar, Cork 
Picture: Miki Barlok
Paladar, Cork Picture: Miki Barlok

Paladar

6 Bridge St, Victorian Quarter, Cork, T23 DP94. paladar.ie

Latin American-inspired cocktails and eats brighten up this lively spot on Cork’s Bridge Street.

Parlour at Haddington House. Photograph: Haddington House/Facebook
Parlour at Haddington House. Photograph: Haddington House/Facebook

Parlour at Haddington House

9-12 Haddington Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, A96 F2R9, haddingtonhouse.ie

Pass through the luxurious green velvet curtains and enjoy a beautiful cocktail menu that shares a little history of Haddington House.

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Rare

3/4 Pearse St, Sleveen, Kinsale, Co. Cork, P17 NA72. rare1784.ie

Enjoy classic and creative cocktails before dinner, made using hyperlocal ingredients, mirroring Rare’s food ethos.

Santeria. Photograph: Santeria/Facebook
Santeria. Photograph: Santeria/Facebook

Santeria

19 Fountain St, Belfast BT1 5EA. santeriabelfast.com

An Afro-Caribbean vibe permeates this unique Belfast spot, serving coffee during the day and excellent cocktails at night.

The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant Hotel

16 Skipper St, Belfast BT1 2DZ. themerchanthotel.com

Relax under antique Baccarat chandeliers in this impeccable cocktail bar that mixes period elegance with creative cocktails.

The Sidecar bar in Westbury Hotel – there's a martini trolley and a cosy terrace overlooking Clarendon Street
The Sidecar bar in Westbury Hotel – there's a martini trolley and a cosy terrace overlooking Clarendon Street

The Sidecar at the Westbury

The Westbury, Balfe St, Dublin, D02 CH66. doylecollection.com/hotels/the-westbury-hotel

Named after one of the great classic cocktails, this art-deco-inspired spot offers a martini trolley and a cosy terrace overlooking Clarendon Street.

Three Storey

10 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, D02 FW63. threestorey.ie

Modern fresh cocktails in a relaxing first-floor Georgian room overlooking St Stephen’s Green.