Winner of the Irish Bar of the Year Awards 2025 revealed
The Northside spot, which opened in 2019, has been praised for its inventive cocktails, many of which are dedicated to the revival of Ireland's traditional spirit: poitín.
Located on Green St, Rotunda, the establishment was named after the year the drink was banned, with the team branding themselves as "staunchly Irish and fiercely independent".
The extensive menu, which pays homage to local community heroes, also earned the bar the 'Best Cocktail Bar of the Year' and 'Innovative Bar of the Year' awards at this year's ceremony.
Hosted at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin 4 on Monday, 18 August, the 2025 awards celebrated businesses across the country through a rigorous selection process, including judging panels and blind site inspections.
With over 1,000 entries from over 300 entrants, this year was the most heavily entered awards to date.
You can find the full list of winners below:
BAR OF THE YEAR
BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
5-STAR HOTEL BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Rooftop Bar & Terrace, Marker Hotel, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Prince of Wales Bar at Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
Bronze Winner - The Guinness Bar at Cashel Palace Hotel, Co. Tipperary
BAR FOOD OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Blue Haven Kinsale, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - Blake's Bar Galway, Co. Galway
Bronze Winner - Moody Cafe Vin, Co. Cork
BAR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - Darren Geraghty, Hawksmoor Restaurant, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Ashley O'Reilly, voco The Club, Co. Kildare
Bronze Winner - Akram Bendjeddou, Paladar, Co. Cork
BEST BAR TO WATCH THE MATCH
Gold Winner - Searsons of Baggot Street, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Slattery's of Beggars Bush, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Woolshed Baa & Grill, Co. Cork
BEST DESIGNED BAR / BEST INSIDE SPACE
Gold Winner - Pig's Lane, Co. Kerry
Silver Winner - K Sixty Seven Bar and Grill, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Laura's Restaurant @ Old Fashioned Sam's, Co. Dublin
BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BAR
Gold Winner - Canty's Bar, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - Backstage Bar at Gleneagle Hotel, Co. Kerry
Bronze Winner - Dwyers of Cork, Co. Cork
BEST NEWCOMER
Gold Winner - The Monks Well, Co. Clare
Silver Winner - Ciss Maddens, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Pitch Ireland, Co. Dublin
BEST WINE BAR
Gold Winner - Old Brennans Wine House, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - Old Town Wine Bar, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Flannery's Bistro, Co. Mayo
CITY BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - Garavan's Bar, Co. Galway
Silver Winner - Disndat, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - r.i.o.t., Co. Dublin
COCKTAIL BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Cask, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - Pig's Lane, Co. Kerry
COCKTAIL BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - David Taylor, Sackville Lounge, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Maroje Milosevic, The Sidecar, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Luka Breskovac, Collins Club, Co. Dublin
CRAFT BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - Mo Chara, Co. Louth
Silver Winner - Franciscan Well Brewpub, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar, Co. Waterford
GAIL COTTER SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Patrick McGowan Sr., McGowans Group
GASTRO BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - Arthur Mayne's, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - JP Clarke's, Co. Clare
Bronze Winner - Left Bank, Co. Kilkenny
GIN BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - 101 Limerick, Co. Limerick
Silver Winner - Conor's Bar & Lounge at Castle Leslie Estate, Co.Monaghan
Bronze Winner - Tigh Nora, Co. Galway
HOTEL BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - Cask, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - NORTH at The Address Connolly, Co. Dublin
HOTEL COCKTAIL BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Sidecar, Westbury, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - The Collins Club, The Leinster, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Brownes at Great Southern Killarney, Co. Kerry
INNOVATIVE BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Flight Club Dublin, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Soho Bar, Venue & Space, Co. Dublin
LATE BAR / NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - 37 Dawson Street, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - 4 Dame Lane, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - The Front Door Pub Group,
LOCAL BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Laurels Clondalkin, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Molloy's Pub Dublin, Co. Dublin
Bronze - Peggys Bar & Restaurant, Co. Galway
OUTSIDE SPACE OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Anglers Cork, Co. Cork
Silver Winner - House Dublin, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - J.M. Reidy's, Co. Kerry
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Gold Winner - Lock 13 Brewpub, Co. Kildare
Silver Winner - Paladar, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - The Hideout Pub, Co. Kildare
PUB GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Redmond Fine FoodsWinner - Cork Heritage Pubs
RESTAURANT BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Gables Foxrock, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - The Grayson, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - The Brooklyn, Co. Dublin
TOURIST BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Quays Bar Temple Bar, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - The Locke Bar, Co. Limerick
Bronze Winner - An Púcán, Co. Galway
TRADITIONAL BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - The Porter House, Co. Mayo
Silver Winner - The Becks, Co. Meath
Bronze Winner - Francie Sheahan's Bar, Co. Kerry
VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - Celtic Nights Dinner & Show, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Durty Nellys, Co. Clare
Bronze Winner - Rascals Brewing Co, Co. Dublin
WHISKEY BAR OF THE YEAR
Gold Winner - Mother Macs Public House, Co. Limerick
Silver Winner - The Horseshoe Bar, The Shelbourne Hotel, Co. Dublin
Bronze Winner - Sonny Molloy's Irish Whiskey Bar, Co. Galway
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Leinster - Left Bank, Co. Kilkenny
Dublin - The George, Co. Dublin
Munster - Costigans Pub, Co. Cork
Connacht / Ulster - Mc Hughs Bar, Co. Leitrim
Overall Winner - Mc Hughs Bar, Co. Leitrim
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