Dublin is a vibrant capital city renowned for having a great nightlife. There are hundreds of Dublin restaurants, pubs and bars to choose from, so the hardest part is often knowing where to start. If you like your drinks tall and refreshing and the ambience buzzing, then you need to check out the best cocktail bars in Dublin. You can guarantee great craic when you hit up these bars on your next night out.
Head to Temple Bar to discover the best hidden cocktail bar in the city, paying homage to the roaring twenties, speakeasy-style. In Rathmines, there’s a gorgeous cocktail bar and cinema in one, situated in a former grand ballroom and retaining all that charm. In South City Centre you can find unique cocktail creations from expert mixologists, while Dundrum brings you all that is pink and glittery with drag brunches and bottomless cocktails.
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Discover 10 of the best cocktail bars in Dublin to make your night go off with a bang
For seductive cocktails in a cosy speakeasy hidden in the heart of Dublin – visit 9 Below in South City Centre
Chic, seductive and beautifully designed, 9 Below is a real hidden gem in the heart of Dublin’s South City Centre district. Nestled in the basement of what was once Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club, this adorable speakeasy oozes history and charm. Refurbished lovingly to modern standards, the building still retains much of its historic prestige, dating back to 1756. Choose from one of four intimate spaces, where you can drink and make merry to your heart’s content. The cocktail menu is impressively innovative, with each drink named for a popular film. Perhaps take a sip of the tangy Pretty Woman, featuring Tanqueray, rhubarb cordial and coconut tea, or sample a sweet and fluffy Boogie Nights with Ketel One, vanilla and passionfruit. Add some tasty nibbles or, for large groups, you can pre-order a charcuterie board for the table when you book.
For drag brunches and bottomless drinks at one of Dublin’s best cocktail bars – hit up Doll Society Bar in Dundrum
If you like your nights out to be raucous, rowdy and rambunctious with great entertainment to boot, then Doll Society Bar is the venue for you. One of the best cocktail bars in Dublin for drag brunches and bottomless drinks, the fun simply never stops. Perfect for hen parties, glam nights out, post-work drinks and more, Doll Society will quickly become your new favourite hotspot. Think drag queens and other performers dancing on the tables, neon pink decor and bottomless cocktails served in disco balls – if it’s pink and glittery, you can probably find it here. What’s more, there’s a real suntrap of a beer garden, perfect for weekend brunch, and a photo booth so you can get your Insta on with perfect polaroids to document your night out.
For one of Dublin’s best cocktail bars for a fun group night out – try Zozimus Bar on Dame Street
Lurking behind the famous umbrella structure on the ground floor of Centenary House you’ll find Zozimus Bar, bringing you everything you could possibly want from a cocktail bar and more. The gorgeous circular bar fills the centre space for an immersive experience, where you can watch the expert cocktail waitstaff prepare your drinks with panache. Vibrant, artistic, sophisticated and incredibly stylish, with live DJs to keep the night swinging. The signature cocktails include Frosty No 2 with tequila, Malibu, watermelon and cranberry, and the Sour – Das with vodka, apple liqueur and cinnamon, topped with prosecco and lime juice. Or opt for a classic, such as the pornstar Martini with passionfruit and lime. To soak it up, add bar bites ranging from garlic dough balls to freshly baked pizza, burgers and salads. The sharing platter with beef sliders, buffalo wings and waffle fries with dips is perfect for two.
For chilled neighbourhood vibes at one of the best cocktail bars in Dublin – visit the Americana Cocktail Bar in Ranelagh
The award-winning Americana Cocktail Bar at the Devlin brings you innovative modern cocktails with a retro twist, in a welcoming neighbourhood atmosphere. Staffed with a crack team of Ireland’s best bartenders – which is to say, some of the best bartenders in the world – Americana promises a wild and wonderful night out. Voted Best Hotel Bar in Ireland at the Irish Craft Cocktail Awards, this hotspot serves breakfast, afternoon pastries and evening snacks and tapas alongside creative cocktails. Check out the original artwork and visit on jazz night for something a little different. Favourites with the locals include the majestic cocktail with 12-year-aged Chivas, ginger and apple, the Prometheus with Beefeater and chamomile, and the aranciata with Malfy Arancia, Cointreau and Campari. Add tapas dishes such as crispy salt cod croquettes, Tuscan meatballs with tomato nduja sauce or simply homemade crisps to round off the evening.
For stellar Irish whisky – don’t miss Roe & Co Distillery in The Liberties
Based in the former Guinness Power Station, today Roe & Co Distillery is a leading name in modern Irish whisky and cocktails. Enjoy bespoke cocktails, internationally inspired cuisine and award-winning dining experiences in the Power House Garden (fully heated and covered for all-weather al fresco drinking and dining). Book an Experience to learn how to make perfectly crafted cocktails or discover the ideal way to blend whiskey, or simply pop in for drinks and food in delightful surroundings. Try a signature Roe & Co single malt Solera whiskey or learn how to use it to make a Basil Bramble cocktail with sugar syrup and crème de mure. The food menu in the garden changes with the seasons, but could include dishes such as tender sea bass with carom seeds, chilli mayo and pickled vegetables, or Kolkata Kathi street kebabs and parantha bread.
For unforgettable cocktails and small plates ideal for a romantic date night – book at Pen & Player in South City Centre
Pen & Player has a long-standing reputation as one of the best cocktail bars Dublin has to offer. Staffed by expert mixologists, each drink tells its own story. Evocative, exciting and with exemplary service, this is the place to be for a fantastic night out. Sample expertly crafted cocktails or something from the vast selection of spirits and fine wines, and complement your refreshments with gourmet light bites. The signature cocktail creations range from a light and fruity magic glass with Seedlip Garden, jabuticaba, cherry soda and a toasted coriander seed cordial, to a deep and complex green fairy café, featuring Hennessy VS, absinthe, cold brew coffee and pain au chocolat. On the side, a plate of cod tacos with pico de gallo and crushed avocado, confit duck rillette with carrot pickle, or whipped goat’s cheese cannoli with pecan crumb and cranberry jam.
For live jazz and blues – visit Eleven in Loughlinstown
If you like live jazz and blues, meat and seafood cooked on a wood grill and creative cocktails all in one venue, then Eleven is the place for you. The service is friendly and welcoming, the decor is quirky and offbeat, and the drinks menu is innovative and extensive. Pair all this with a food menu revolving around fresh pasta and quality meat and seafood cooked on the signature wood-burning grill, and you have yourself the perfect night out. Steak is the house specialty served with sauteed spinach and caramelised onion, but there’s much more than that on the menu. Perhaps try scallops with beetroot and a hazelnut velouté, or slow-cooked beef cheek with a bean cassoulet. Wash it all down with a mescal, wild Irish honey and lime cocktail, or a concoction of butter-washed bourbon, sage and celery bitters.
For one of Dublin’s best cocktail bars with rooftop views – book your table at Fade Street Social – The Cocktail Bar and Rooftop Terrace in South City Centre
Fade Street Social – The Cocktail Bar and Rooftop Terrace offers some of the finest views in all of Dublin. Sit back and gaze over the cityscape while sipping a perfectly chilled cocktail. Complementing the downstairs restaurant, this picturesque, heated terrace is the ideal spot for pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap. And if you haven’t yet eaten, you can grab some delicious flatbreads and bar bites to go with your drinks. This unique space is a great addition to Dublin’s outdoor nightlife, with funky tunes guaranteed. Great for private parties and corporate events as well as just a fab spot to chill with friends. Try the Raspberry Bon-Bon with pink gin, pink lemonade and infused vodka for a post-work pick-me-up, or a Fade Street sour with Roe & Co whisky, red wine syrup, grapefruit bitters and egg white to start your weekend. Add a delicious flatbread with truffle cheese, pulled pork or spinach and brie for the complete package.
For a multi-award winning 1920s style cocktail experience – head to Vintage Cocktail Club in Temple Bar
Step back in time to the roaring twenties with a unique cocktail experience at Vintage Cocktail Club in trendy Temple Bar. One of the best cocktail bars in Dublin, also serving a delectable menu of bar bites. The ideal venue for any great night out, from that much-needed post-work catch-up to pre-theatre drinks and nibbles, a cosy date night or a late-night party. In homage to the clandestine speakeasies from a century ago, VCC bows to the golden age of silent movie starlets, flappers, bootleggers and swinging jazz bands. Try a VCC sharing platter featuring duck spring rolls, ham hock croquettes, arancini, fried brie and more for the table, to complement your innovative cocktails. The bittered sling is a must-try, with cognac, angostura bitters, fine sugar and ginger ale. Or for something fruitier, perhaps the Southern passion, featuring pink grapefruit gin, apple and passionfruit with egg white and raspberry dust.
For Dublin’s best cocktail bar inspired by the silver screen – take a seat at Stella Cocktail Club in Rathmines
Situated in what was once a grand 1920s ballroom and retaining the same element of glitz and glamour, Stella Cocktail Club has a real old world charm. Nestled on the mezzanine floor of what is now a cinema complex, this gorgeous cocktail bar is one of Dublin’s best. For the complete experience, book a table for dinner and drinks before heading into the auditorium to take in a film on the big screen. And don’t worry, you can take your cocktails in with you so there’s no need to rush. The cinema menu is packed with delicious finger food you can eat without having to take your eyes off the screen – thing burgers, hotdogs, enchiladas, chicken wings and nachos. The cocktail menu focuses on the classics, with an occasional cheeky wink to one of the movies playing – perhaps try a Not So Cosmo or a Charlie Chaplin with sloe gin and apricot brandy.
People come from all over the world to enjoy a night out in Dublin, knowing the city is great craic. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy great food alongside your drinks, or just the best cocktail bar in Dublin, these 10 stellar hotspots should get your night off to a great start.
Book a table at one of the best cocktail bars in Dublin on OpenTable right now
If you’re heading out into Dublin but want something more than a great cocktail, check out some of these guides to find the best pubs and restaurants in Dublin:
- The 10 best restaurants in Dublin for a memorable meal out
- The 10 best beer gardens in Dublin for pints in the sun
- The 10 best romantic restaurants in Dublin for any kind of date night
- The 10 best rooftop bars in Dublin for great drinks, food and views
- Dublin’s best brunch restaurants to check out now
- Editor’s Choice: 15 must-visit restaurants from a Dublin local
- Dublin’s best bottomless brunch restaurants to check out now
- The 10 best pubs in Dublin for outstanding food and beers
