‘’On the 21st of August at a gala awards ceremony hosted by Anton Savage at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, where over 600 were in attendance, Paladar in Cork City was named Ireland’s Bar of the Year.
Other winners on the night included Bar No 23 at The Merrion Hotel which won gold in the Five Star Hotel Bar of the Year category, sponsored by London Essence, and Bar 1661 which took home Gold for Innovative Bar of the Year, sponsored by Istil 38.
The Bar of the Year Awards recognise and reward Ireland’s most exceptional bars, celebrating their extraordinary contributions to the hospitality industry. These establishments have elevated the art of mixology, ambiance and service, impressing patrons with unforgettable experiences.
Opening the award ceremony, Trish Murphy, Sponsorship Director of Bar of the Year Awards, thanked the award sponsors, without their support and commitment to the sector, the award would not be possible Alliance Ireland, Barry & Fitzwilliam for their brands Cointreau and Tia Maria, Beam Suntory with Makers Mark, Britvic with London Essence, Classic Drinks, Coke for Schweppes, Coole Swan, Diageo with Roe & Co, Excel Recruitment, I Still 38, New Payment Innovation, Quick Tips, Sky Business, Xin Gin. We are very grateful for their support of the Awards which are viewed as the ‘Oscars’ for the drinks trade.
The Bar of the Year Awards recognise and reward Ireland’s most exceptional bars, celebrating their extraordinary contributions to the hospitality industry. These establishments have elevated the art of mixology, ambiance and service, impressing patrons with unforgettable experiences.
Bar of the Year 2023 winners
Bar of the year
Winner - Paladar
Sponsored by Licensing World
5 star hotel bar of the year
Gold winner - Bar No 23. at The Merrion Hotel, Dublin
Silver winner - The Courtyard Bar at Carton House, a Fairmont managed hotel, Co Kildare
Bronze winner - The Sidecar Bar at The Westbury, Dublin
Sponsored by London Essence
Bar food of the year
Gold winner - Blake’s Bar, Galway
Silver winner- The Blue Haven, Kinsale, Co Cork
Bronze winner - The Hideout, Kilcullen, Co Kildare
Best bar to watch the match
Gold winner - Woolshed Bar & Grill, Cork
Silver winner - Dignam’s Bar, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan
Bronze winner - Buskers On The Ball, Dublin
Sponsored by Sky Business
Best designed bar/inside space
Gold winner - The Montenotte Hotel, Cork
Silver winner - The Gables, Foxrock, Co Dublin
Bronze winner - Paladar, Cork
Best live entertainment bar
Gold winner - The Porter House, Westport, Co Mayo
Silver winner - The Blue Haven, Kinsale, Co. Cork
Bronze winner - O’Donoghue Public House, Killarney, Co Kerry
Best newcomer
Gold winner - Paladar, Cork
Silver winner - Kodiak, Rathmines, Dublin
Bronze winner - The Gables, Foxrock, Co Dublin
Best value pub
Gold winner - Oasis Bar, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Silver winner - The Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh, Dublin 12
City bar of the year
Gold winner - Left Bank, Kilkenny
Silver winner - Lemon & Duke, Dublin
Bronze winner - The Front Door Pub, Galway
Sponsored by Schweppes
Cocktail bar of the year
Gold winner - BAR 1661, Dublin
Silver winner - Paladar, Cork
Bronze winner - 9 Below, Dublin
Sponsored by Maker’s Mark
Craft bar of the year
Gold winner - Caribou, Galway
Silver winner - Lock 13 Brewpub, Sallins, Co Kildare
Bronze winner - Impala, Cork
Gastro bar of the year
Gold winner - The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse, Kill, Co Kildare
Silver winner - Monks, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
Bronze winner - Russells Seafood Bar, Doolin, Co Clare
Sponsored by Classic Drinks
Gin bar of the year
Gold winner - Andy’s Bar, Monaghan
Silver winner - Tigh Nora, Galway
Bronze winner - Hyde Bar & Gin Parlour, Galway
Sponsored by Xin Gin
Hotel bar of the year
Gold winner - Hyde Bar, Galway
Silver winner - The Montenotte Hotel, Cork
Bronze winner - Dunes Bar & Bistro at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Co Cork
Sponsored by Tia Maria
Innovative bar of the year
Gold winner - Bar 1661, Dublin
Silver winner - Nevins Newfield Inn, Newport, Co Mayo
Bronze winner - Cask, Cork
Sponsored by Istil 38
Late bar/nightclub of the year
Gold winner - 37 Dawson Street, Dublin
Silver winner - Riot, Dublin
Bronze winner - 1314 at Jerry Flannery’s, Limerick
Local bar of the year
Gold winner - Dignam’s Bar, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan
Silver winner - Peadar’s Bar, Moate, Co Westmeath
Bronze winner - The Railway Tavern, Fahan, Co Donegal
Sponsored by New Payment Innovation Limited
Outside space of the year
Gold winner - House, Dublin
Silver winner - Kenny’s of Lucan, Co Dublin
Bronze winner - Nevins Newfield Inn, Newport, Co Mayo
Outstanding customer service award
Gold winner - The Landmark, Dublin
Silver winner - Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium, Dundalk, Co Louth
Bronze winner - Harrigan’s Bar & Grill, Newbridge, Co Kildare
Sponsored by Cointreau
Restaurant bar of the year
Gold winner - Fire Steakhouse & Bar, Dublin
Silver winner - The Club at Goffs, Kill, Co Kildare
Bronze winner - Mama Yo, Dublin
Sponsored by Coole Swan
Tourist bar of the year
Gold winner - The Brazen Head, Dublin
Silver winner - The Locke, Limerick
Bronze winner - Brass Fox, Wicklow
Sponsored by QuickTips
Traditional bar of the year
Gold winner - The Stag’s Head, Dublin
Silver winner - Gracie’s Bar, Sligo
Bronze winner - The Brazen Head, Dublin
Visitor attraction of the year
Gold winner - Roe & Co Distillery, Dublin
Silver winner - Lock 13 Brewpub, Sallins, Co Kildare
Bronze winner - The Black Forge Inn, Dublin
Sponsored by Excel Recruitment
Whiskey bar of the year
Gold winner - The Shelbourne Bar, Cork
Silver winner - Sonny Molloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar, Galway
Bronze winner - Costigan’s Pub, Cork
Sponsored by Roe & Co
Pub group of the year
Gold winner - Nola Clan
Sponsored by Alliance Ireland
Staff personality of the year
Ian Murray
Bar manager of the year
Conor Moloney of of An Púcán, Galway
People’s choice awards
Dublin - The Black Forge
Leinster - The Hideout, Kilcullen, Co Kildare
Munster - The Locke, Limerick
Connacht/Ulster - McHughs Bar, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co Leitrim
Overall winner - The Locke, Limerick
Judges’ Choice
Winner - Jimmy Rabbittes, Dublin
Gail Cotter special recognition award
Winner - Mary Kerrigan, Clayton Hotel Burlington Road