Poitín cocktails have put Dublin firmly on the international drinks map, with Bar 1661 named among the world’s best bars for 2026. The Dublin 7 venue has secured No. 98 on the respected annual ranking, marking a landmark achievement for Ireland’s hospitality industry.
Located just off Capel Street, Bar 1661 is the first bar or restaurant in the Republic of Ireland to appear on the list. The venue has also been nominated for a potential place in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, with the awards ceremony due to take place in Milan on 7 October.
Bar 1661 makes history for Ireland’s cocktail scene
The World’s 50 Best Bars ranking is selected by an independent academy of more than 800 drinks specialists, writers, bartenders and hospitality experts from around the globe. First launched in 2009, it has become one of the most closely watched bar industry rankings worldwide.
For Irish drinkers and visitors researching food Ireland and Dublin’s nightlife, Bar 1661’s recognition is a significant moment. It highlights the creativity developing across the capital’s cocktail scene while placing a distinctly Irish spirit at the centre of global conversation.
Owner Dave Mulligan described the result as a huge honour for the team and an important achievement for Irish hospitality. Since opening in 2019, the venue has built its identity around poitín, using bottles from independent producers across the island.
The bar’s drinks have featured poitín from makers including Bán, Mad March Hare, Micil, Killowen and Ardara. Its wider selection also includes artisan Irish products such as Valentia Island Vermouth and Kinsale Mead, creating a menu that showcases modern Irish ingredients and producers.
A menu built around poitín
More than half of the drinks on Bar 1661’s acclaimed “We Call This Power” menu are made with poitín. The bar says its upcoming menu will take that focus even further, continuing its mission to present Ireland’s traditional spirit in inventive and accessible ways.
That approach has already earned the venue substantial recognition. Bar 1661 is the only venue in the Republic of Ireland to hold two “Exceptional” PINS from The Pinnacle Guide. It has also been named among the world’s top cocktail menus by the Spirited Awards in each of the past two years.
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Closer to home, the Dublin venue has twice won Ireland’s Bar of the Year and has taken Cocktail Bar of the Year seven times at the Bar of the Year Awards. It has also won Best Cocktail Experience twice at the Food & Wine Awards.
Explore more: planning a Dublin food guide?
For anyone building a Dublin dining guide, Bar 1661 offers a memorable alternative to conventional restaurant experiences. Its location makes it a convenient choice for visitors exploring Dublin city centre restaurants, Temple Bar restaurants or places to eat near the city’s cultural attractions.
The recognition also underlines the breadth of the Irish food scene, where traditional Irish food, contemporary cooking, craft drinks and locally sourced produce increasingly sit alongside one another. From casual pubs to Michelin restaurants Ireland visitors can discover, the country’s hospitality reputation continues to grow.
Bar 1661’s No. 98 ranking is more than an award for one Dublin bar. It is a celebration of poitín, independent Irish producers and the ambition of the country’s cocktail community. For anyone seeking the best food in Ireland alongside outstanding drinks, this historic result gives Dublin another compelling reason to raise a glass.
Article/Image Courtesy: EVOKE
