From special occasion to second nature, the Irish cocktail scene has found its stride …
There was a time when ordering a cocktail in Ireland felt like a performance. Nowdays, it’s simply part of how we go out. A quick Margarita midweek, Negroni before dinner: no fuss, no fanfare. Standards have risen and so have expectations.
Which is why the Best Cocktail Experience shortlist at this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards reads less like a roll call and more like a snapshot of a culture that has come into its own. More than 70 bartenders took part in the live final at the Dublin Bar Academy, working to the theme “Carnival of Colour”. In lesser hands, it could have been anonymous industry picks. Instead, competitors were nominated by the public with more than 150,000 submissions, which tells you something about how invested we’ve become in what is in our glass. It’s a reminder that technique, balance and a sense of fun can happily coexist.
With over 150,000 public nominations behind it, this list is shaped as much by drinkers as by industry insiders. The winner will be announced at the All-Ireland Awards on May 18 before heading to the World Cocktail Championships in Macau, China, in October. Not bad for a country that once thought a Cosmopolitan was the pinnacle.
The 10 Best Cocktail Experiences In Ireland
The Merrion Hotel Dublin
A refined classic with a subtle twist thanks to Michele Lentini. Polished, precise and exactly what a grand hotel bar should deliver. @merrionhotel
The Garden Room At The Merrion Hotel
Light, garden-led drinks by Adrian McFadden. Florals, fresh herbs and a sense of quiet luxury.
Cantina Valentina | Dublin
Visit The Hoxton for something tequila-led mixed by Alex Anita, ideally a creative riff on Peru’s greatest export, the Pisco Sour. @cantinavalentina.dublin
La Maison | Dublin
Indulgence à la Simon Larragy. A Champagne cocktail or a spirit-forward drink with a French accent. @lamaisondublin
Vintage Cocktail Club | Dublin
Classic territory with Roge Austin in Temple Bar. Order an Old Fashioned or Martini and expect it to be done properly. @vintagecocktailclub
Woodfire & Wings | Dublin
Go bold. Christopher McDwyer’s smoky or spice-driven cocktails can hold their own against big flavours. @woodfireandwings
Kinara | Dublin
More spice-forward cocktails with Simon O’Connor. Aromatic, layered and oh so satisfying. @kinara_group
Parrilla | Dublin
Matthew O’Connor’s Margaritas and Micheladas forever, built for late evenings and lively tables. @parrilla_ranelagh
Gregans Castle Hotel | Clare
For a seasonal spritz or herbaceous aperitif that suits the setting. Elegant and strained by Dylan Atkinson. @greganscastle
Some names you will recognise immediately, while others speak to a broader shift. Hotel bars have sharpened up, neighbourhood spots have stepped forward and cocktails are no longer an afterthought. They are central to the experience and, increasingly, the reason you book in the first place.