With the party season in full swing, gather your nearest and dearest in one of these cosy wine bars for a Christmas get-together …
Le Petit Renard, Dublin
Brought to us from the team behind Artybaker, Le Petit Renard was an instant hit when it opened its doors in Kimmage earlier this year. Since then, the menu has expanded to offer lunchtime options while still keeping its popular evening menu for impromptu catch-ups. The chocolate mousse with olive oil and hazelnuts is addictive and, of course, given its pedigree the bread is top-notch. It would be fair to say the area is not well known for an abundance of restaurants, so the arrival of Le Petit Renard from husband and wife team Romain Tessier and Suzanne Hodgkinson has certainly been a welcome addition. @lprwinebar
Excuse My French, Dublin
Ranelagh has always needed a proper wine bar. It turns out that if you say something enough, it can come true! For months, I pondered the lack of a wine bar in one of Dublin’s dining hubs. While The Exchequer places itself in the wine bar category, it feels more like a restaurant. Excuse My French just opened a couple of months ago, but so far reviews have been stellar. With daily specials and nibbles galore, this is one for the Christmas list. @excusemy.f
Conlon’s Wine Bar, Bray
Let’s face it, the entire wine and small plate concept is here to stay, which makes me happy. Grazing on small plates and sipping wine by flickering candlelight is an immensely pleasurable way to spend an evening, especially over the festive period. From peppers to pickles, parmesan to pâté, Conlon’s has nailed wine bar dining with a great choice of wines by the glass to accompany said diminutive plates. There is also a nice selection of spirits and cocktails from Dublin Cocktail Lab. The neighbourhood wine bar of dreams, it’s enough to make a move to Bray seem like a very good idea indeed. www.conlonswinebar.ie
Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
Less than two years since opening its doors, Daróg Wine Bar in Galway’s Dominick Street has garnered quite the following, plus a few awards to boot. The kitchen is led by Hungarian chef Attila Galambos, a three-time finalist in Euro-Toques Ireland and former sous chef at Aniar. Expect a concise menu of exquisite small plates, plus a selection of carefully curated meat and cheese boards, showcasing Ireland’s finest seasonal produce. The Dexter beef tartare with smoked anchovies and pickled mustard seeds calls out to me. Oh, and there’s wine too! www.darogwinebar.com
MacCurtain Wine Cellar, Cork
With a selection of rotating choice of wines by the glass, MacCurtain Street Wine Cellar is an oenophile’s dream. In the evenings, there is a short menu of sharing plates and light snacks designed to accompany the finest wines. Think smoked almonds, Nocellara olives, anchovy tins with bread, plus a selection of cheese and charcuterie. Wines run the gamut from everyday drinking to a small fine wine collection in the cellar, with a focus on organic and biodynamic, natural wine. There is a nice selection of Vermut and sherry, plus homemade lemonade for the designated drivers. https://maccurtainwine.ie