Dublin spots dominate at 2023 Bar of the Year awards

By Katy Thornton

While a Cork location was crowned Bar of the Year, Dublin spots cleaned up at the 2023 award ceremony.

Last night (Monday, 21 August) the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road hosted the Bar of the Year 2023 awards ceremony that celebrates the very best bars all over the country. And while a Dublin bar did not take home the top Bar of the Year Award for 2023 as it did last year with Bar 1661 (that honour this year went to newcomer Paladar, which is based in Cork), nevertheless there were a lot of fine establishments in the capital winning gold, silver and bronze in other categories. In fact, some Dublin bars took home multiple awards in different categories. The Gables in Foxrock was awarded silver for Best Designed Bar/Inside Space as well as bronze for Best Newcomer. Bar 1661 still featured with a gold award for Innovative Bar of the Year as well as a gold for Cocktail Bar of the Year. Dublin 8's Brazen Head cleaned up with a gold award for Tourist Bar of the Year and a bronze for Traditional Bar of the Year, while the Black Forge Inn won silver for Best Value Pub, bronze for Visitor Attraction of the Year and was the people's choice for best bar in Dublin. You can see all the 2023 Bar of the Year winners right here: 5 Star Hotel Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - Bar No 23. at The Merrion Hotel, Co.Dublin
• Silver Winner - The Courtyard Bar at Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, Co.Kildare
• Bronze Winner - The Sidecar Bar at The Westbury, Co.Dublin

Bar Food of the Year

• Gold Winner - Blake's Bar Galway, Co.Galway
• Silver Winner - The Blue Haven Kinsale, Co.Cork
• Bronze Winner - The Hideout, Co. Kildare

Best Bar To Watch The Match

• Gold Winner - Woolshed Baa & Grill Cork, Co.Cork
• Silver Winner - Dignam’s Bar, Co. Monaghan
• Bronze Winner - Buskers On The Ball, Co. Dublin

Best Designed Bar / Inside Space

• Gold Winner - The Montenotte Hotel, Co. Cork
• Silver Winner - The Gables, Co. Dublin
• Bronze Winner - Paladar, Co. Cork

Best Live Entertainment Bar

• Gold Winner - The Porter House, Co. Mayo
• Silver Winner - The Blue Haven Kinsale, Co. Cork
• Bronze Winner - O’Donoghue Public House, Co. Kerry

Best Newcomer

• Gold Winner - Paladar, Co. Cork
• Silver Winner - Kodiak, Co. Dublin
• Bronze Winner - The Gables, Co. Dublin

Best Value Pub

• Gold Winner - Oasis Bar, Co. Donegal
• Silver Winner - The Black Forge Inn, Co. Dublin

City Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - Left Bank, Co. Kilkenny
• Silver Winner - Lemon & Duke, Co. Dublin
• Bronze Winner - The Front Door Pub, Co. Galway

Cocktail Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - Paladar, Co. Cork
• Bronze Winner - 9 Below, Co. Dublin

Craft Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - Caribou, Co. Galway
• Silver Winner - Lock 13 Brewpub, Co. Kildare
• Bronze Winner - Impala, Co. Cork

Gastro Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse, Co. Kildare
• Silver Winner - Monks, Co. Clare
• Bronze Winner - Russells Seafood Bar, Doolin, Co. Clare

Gin Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - Andy’s Bar Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
• Silver Winner - Tigh Nora, Co. Galway
• Bronze Winner - HYDE Bar & Gin Parlour, Co. Galway

Hotel Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - HYDE Bar, Co. Galway
• Silver Winner - The Montenotte Hotel, Co. Cork
• Bronze Winner - Dunes Bar & Bistro at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Co. Cork

Innovative Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - Nevins Newfield Inn, Co. Mayo
• Bronze Winner - Cask, Co. Cork

Late Bar / Nightclub of the Year

• Gold Winner - 37 Dawson Street, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - r.i.o.t. Dublin, Co. Dublin
• Bronze Winner - 1314 at Jerry Flannerys, Co. Limerick

Local Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - Dignam’s Bar, Co. Monaghan
• Silver Winner - Peadars Bar Moate, Co. Westmeath
• Bronze Winner - The Railway Tavern, Fahan, Co. Donegal

Outside Space of the Year

• Gold Winner - House Dublin, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - Kenny’s of Lucan, Co. Dublin
• Bronze Winner - Nevins Newfield Inn, Co. Mayo

Outstanding Customer Service Award

• Gold Winner - The Landmark, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium, Co. Louth
• Bronze Winner - Harrigan’s Bar & Grill, Co. Kildare

Restaurant Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - FIRE Steakhouse & Bar, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - The Club At Goffs, Co. Kildare
• Bronze Winner - Mama Yo, Co. Dublin

Tourist Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - The Brazen Head, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - The Locke, Co. Limerick
• Bronze Winner - Brass Fox Wicklow, Co. Wicklow

Traditional Bar of the Year

• Gold Winner - The Stag’s Head, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - Gracie’s Bar, Co. Sligo
• Bronze Winner - The Brazen Head, Co. Dublin

Visitor Attraction of the Year

• Gold Winner - Roe & Co Distillery, Co. Dublin
• Silver Winner - Lock 13 Brewpub, Co. Kildare
• Bronze Winner - The Black Forge Inn, Co. Dublin

Whiskey Bar Of The Year

• Gold Winner - The Shelbourne Bar Cork, Co. Cork
• Silver Winner - Sonny Molloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar, Co. Galway
• Bronze Winner - Costigan’s Pub, Co. Cork

Pub Group of the Year

• Gold Winner - Nola Clan

Staff Personality of the Year

• Ian Murray

Bar Manager of the Year

• Conor Moloney

People's Choice Award

• Dublin - The Black Forge, Co.Dublin
• Leinster - The Hideout, Co.Kildare
• Munster - The Locke, Co.Limerick
• Connacht / Ulster - McHughs Bar, Co.Leitrim
• Overall Winner - The Locke, Co.Limerick

Judges Choice

• Winner - Jimmy Rabbittes

Gail Cotter Special Recognotion Award

• Winner - Mary Kerrigan, Clayton Hotel Burlington Road

Bar of the Year

• Winner - Paladar

This article originally appeared in Lovin Dublin

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