For a summer debrief with friends, these cocktail bars and haunts top our list …
The Roses, starring Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch, is a new take on 1989 cult film War of the Roses and, like recent hit The Materialists with Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, it’s all about how money and success is the root of so many evils. Both are showing at Stella Cinema in Rathmines, Dublin 6. Cinephiles will find an interesting new cocktail menu at Stella Cocktail Club in the beautifully restored 1920s ballroom. The Art Deco-style menu begins with The Imperfect Lover – the first film screened at Stella in 1923 – and others inspired by iconic movies like Love Actually, La La Land, The Godfather and more.
Spice-Up Sunday at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel is an elevated way to end summer at The Rooftop Bar & Terrace. This indulgent dining and cocktail event features Asian-inspired small plates including waygu beef with Korean pear and teriyaki, prawn wontons and Flaky Shore oysters, along with signature cocktails. In case of bad weather, it will be hosted at the stylish Forbes St by Gareth Mullins.
Since opening last year, Old Town Wine Bar in Le Pole Square, Dublin 8 has made its mark with its wine list and small plates menu. In fact, it’s just been awarded Silver in the Best Wine Bar category at the Bar of the Year Awards 2025. Pop in for one of its noted wine flights from an extensive list of more than 70 wines with a strong emphasis on sustainable, organic, vegan, biodynamic and natural varieties. These complement the menu where dishes such as Dingle Bay crab, confit Skeaghanore duck, and indulgent Gildas and lobster rolls are further draws.
The Collins Club at The Leinster has always been much more than just a bar with its opulent interiors and innovative approach to cocktail making. Tucked away in a quiet corner is The Lab where science and artistry collide in limited edition cocktails. A new cocktail menu includes tasting journeys such as The Six Seats of Discovery and The Flight Unknown – the latter a trio of miniature cocktails to delight your taste buds.
The Amalfi Terrace at InterContinental Dublin will evoke evenings in the Med in both taste and setting. I recommend the Malfi Gin experience followed by authentic Italian dishes created by chef Alberto Rossi and pastry chef Orna Larkin, inspired by the scenery of the south coast. The good news is that the terrace is open until the end of September.
One of my favourite post-work haunts is Roly’s Terrace in Dublin 4 where a new small plates and sharing menu is complemented by delicious sundowner cocktails from Angie’s Bar. Nibble on Castletownbere crab croquettes or Roly’s famous Dublin Bay prawn scampi while watching the world go by in Ballsbridge. Don’t leave without an After Eight Cocktail with Five Farms Irish cream liqueur, dark chocolate liqueur and crème de menthe, served with dark chocolate shavings.
Kaldero is a must-visit for Filipino flavours where a new menu by Irish-Filipino chef Richie Castillo is as enticing as the surroundings. You’ll find a dynamic selection of artworks by local Southeast Asian artists, plus a great playlist of soul and Tagalog slow jams. The cocktail menu reflects the same thinking as the food where Calamansi, pandan, native labuyo chilli, muscovado, Pinakurat vinegar and mango are key ingredients. Try the sweet and spicy grilled pineapple labuyo-spiked margarita or smoky old-fashioned.
Harcourt Bar & Garden is a discreet hideaway in the city centre for a sundowner where its cocktail selection includes exclusive blends. Indulge in a refreshing Raspberry Clover with gin, raspberry purée, lime juice and egg white with one of its special pizzas – a lovely addition to the garden.
Do you want a slice of heaven with your G&T? Shutters Lounge Bar recently opened at Dromquinna Manor in Co Kerry, and is everything you would expect from owners Gwen and John Brennan. It’s an idyllic spot for an aperitif before or after dinner in the Boathouse Bistro where watching the sun set over Kenmare Bay ensures peace comes dropping slow, as Yeats would say. While you’re there, peruse the interesting edit of books, and appreciate the art by Kerry natives Paul Hughes and Norman McCloskey, among others.
The Merchant Hotel Belfast’s annual Prosecco Festival runs throughout September with a sparkling series of new events including a Prosecco Passeggiata – a collaboration with Taste & Tour – which encourages guests to step into the Italian tradition of an evening stroll after drinks. The Festa del Prosecco at Berts Jazz Bar comprises a four-course dinner paired with exceptional Valdo Proseccos, all set to the sounds of live jazz.
SEE MORE: The Cool Girl’s Guide To Belfast
