Irish Bar of the Year Awards 2025 announced

Bar 1661 in Dublin was recently named Bar of the Year, Cocktail Bar of the Year, and Innovative Bar of the Year at the Bar of the Year Awards 2025 ceremony.

The event, which took place at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin on August 18th, celebrated the most outstanding bars in the country, with over 1,000 entries from 300 entrants. It was the most heavily entered awards to date.

The winners were announced at a gala awards ceremony hosted by Anton Savage.

Amid a stellar field of contenders, the most outstanding bars have been honoured for their remarkable impact on the hospitality scene. These venues have redefined excellence in mixology, atmosphere, and guest service, leaving lasting impressions on all who visit.

Some notable winners from the evening included:

• Canty's Bar from Co. Cork, which won Gold for "Best Live Entertainment Bar"
• Garavan's Bar from Co. Galway, which was honoured as "City Bar of the Year".
• The Rooftop Bar & Terrace, Marker Hotel in Co. Dublin won Gold for "5 Star Hotel Bar of the Year"
• Searsons of Baggot Street in Co. Dublin was awarded Gold for "Best Bar to Watch the Match"

Jill Thornton, Senior Event Manager for the Irish Bar of the Year Awards, said: "This year’s winners have not just excelled in mixology and service, but have done so while navigating an exceptionally challenging landscape."

Trish Murphy, Head of Sales & Sponsorship, Irish Bar of the Year Awards said: "In an environment of rising costs and evolving consumer demands, these venues have demonstrated incredible resilience, innovation, and passion. Their success is a testament to their dedication to creating truly unforgettable experiences for their patrons, and we are proud to recognise their achievement." 

Bar of the Year 2025 Winners:

5 STAR HOTEL BAR OF THE YEAR

Sponsored By London Essence

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

Sponsored By Coca Cola

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

BAR OF THE YEAR
Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin

BEST BAR TO WATCH THE MATCH

Sponsored By Sky Business

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

Sponsored by Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream

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

Sponsored by Classic Drinks

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

Sponsored by Schweppes

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

Sponsored by Maker's Mark

Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Cask, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - Pig's Lane, Co. Kerry

COCKTAIL BARTENDER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Edward Dillion

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

Sponsored by Mad March Hare

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

Sponsored by Bunzl

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

Sponsored by Brockmans Gin

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

Sponsored by Poacher Drinks

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

Sponsored by Gifford Premium Liqueurs

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

Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

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 Foods

Winner - 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

Sponsored by Sullivan's Brewery

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

Sponsored by Simpli Finance

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

Sponsored by Excel Recruitment

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

Sponsored by Roe & Co

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