Bar 1661 in Dublin has been named Bar of the Year, Cocktail Bar of the Year and Innovative Bar of the Year at the 2025 Bar of the Year Awards.
Organised by Ashville Media Group and hosted by Anton Savage, the event celebrated the country's most outstanding pubs, with the winners being selected from over 1,000 entries from 300 entrants.
Other notable winners recognised at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin last night (August 18) included Canty's Bar in Co Cork, which won Gold for Best Live Entertainment Bar.
Garavan's Bar in Galway was awarded City Bar of the Year while The Rooftop Bar & Terrace at the Marker Hotel won Gold for 5 Star Hotel Bar of the Year.
Searsons of Baggot Street in Dublin was awarded Gold for Best Bar to Watch the Match. The full list of winners can be seen below
"This year’s winners have not just excelled in mixology and service, but have done so while navigating an exceptionally challenging landscape," said Jill Thornton, senior event manager for the Irish Bar of the Year Awards.
Trish Murphy, head of sales & sponsorship for the Irish Bar of the Year Awards added: "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."
| 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 |
Photo: The Bar 1661 team celebrated their award for Bar of the Year. (Pic: Paul Sherwood)
