2night february 2011 - dublin

8/7/2019 2night february 2011 - Dublin

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PUBLISHER: 2night Entertainment LtdSALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR:

Ether Simoncini ([email protected])EDITOR: Derek Owens ([email protected])

COVER: Daniele VianGRAPHIC DESIGN 2night

PRINT: Chinchio Industria Grafca - Rubano - Italy.

N12 - GENUARY 2011

Welcome to 2nights 2011 guide. Over a year o publishing this

magazine, weve seen plenty o venues appearingon the Dublin scene, some old avourites changingwith the times as others shut their doors, and even

the odd rebirth or two witness the reappearance oboth Bang and Renards. Against so much uncertain-ty, one thing has held true: passionate, hard-working

restauranteurs and venue owners are working theirsocks o to make going out in Dublin better than

ever.Thats why weve decided to celebrate their e ortsin this guide, rounding up 40 o the best venues in

the city and explaining why theyre a little bit special.Youll fnd all manner o places here, rom the high-

end eateries to distinctly old school bars, and thatspart o what makes Dublin a great city: or such a

small city, we have unparalleled variety to o er ood-ies and party animals alike.

Indeed, these reviews are just the tip o the iceberg weve dug up in ormation o hundreds o places

or our website, www.2night.ie. I youre fnding thisguide help ul, check out 2night online or download

our iPhone app or the inside track on eating out,clubbing, drinking, flms, gigs and more in Dublin.

This is a 2night Entertainment Ltd publication, all rights are reserved.2night is copyright o 2night Spa and it is licensed to 2night Entertainment Ltd.

Reproduction o the 2night Magazine, in any orm, is strictly prohibited.For urther in ormation email: in [email protected]

contents

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After workGet the party started with these great spots orearly birds.

DinnerNeed to re uel? You cant go wrong with these toprestaurants.

After DinnerYoure well- ed and raring to go grab a ew drinkshere when it gets dark.

Late nightWhen things are really kicking o , these late-nightplaces will amp up the action even more.


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Bowes Bar31, Fleet Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016714038The phrase old world charm, for several years now, has been seri-ously overused: by now, many peo-ple just see it as a euphemism for decrepit. This is a shame, becausefew words better describe this sister pub to Doyles around the corner better than old world or charm-ing. Beautifully crafted furniture andpanelling, leather cushions and even

a chandelier would make the placefeel a little bit like a gentlemans clubor library if it werent reassuringlyunpretentious youre more likelyto hear people discussing footballthan Foucault here, which is nobad thing. They do allow a certainnod to luxury, however, by serving a huge variety of high-quality whis-key. Theres also a selection of light snacks offered through the day, andeven nice music to enjoy: the after-

noon barmen in particular seem tohave a great taste in old jazz. If tradis more your bag, though, youre inlook Sunday nights see renownedUileann Piper Eoin Dillon entertain-ing the crowd from around 21:00.The bar is deceptively roomy, andtheres usually a table or two free,which makes Bowes ideal for whil-ing away a few hours. Be warned,though youll be sorely tempted tostay for the evening.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 16:00 to 23:30.Getting there: From the front gatesof Trinity College (facing onto DameStreet), turn right and head downWestmoreland Street. Take a right turn onto Fleet Street, and Bowes

will be on your right.

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A striking addition to the new Point Village, the DublinWheel has been delighting docklanders and visitors fromacross the city since opening this summer. The massivewheel offers stunning views over the city, along with theDublin and Wicklow Mountains, and boasts 42 fully-en-closed pods that seat up to eight people. There are evenVIP pods for added luxury on special occasions! Adultscan enjoy the Dublin wheel experience for 9, with senior citizens and student tickets available for 7. Children fromfour to 16 can ride the wheel for 6.50, its only 1 for atoddler from one to three years old, and babies under 12months get in free!

For more information, check out www.pointvillage.ieor call (01) 8559204


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Gilbert and Wrights Dun Laoghaire128, Lower Georges Street, DunLaoghaire - Co DublinTel: 016636148Unlike all too many self-proclaimedretro pubs, the first southside out-post of the Gilbert and Wrightsnight-life empire benefits from agenuine effort having gone into boththe presentation and substance. Thedcor is distinctly 70s, and not in thesense that somebodys half-heart-edly installed an old lamp in and

called it funky: this place is saturatedwith furniture from the decade, plusplenty of vintage records and other artefacts from a far cooler time.Theres a stack of magazines wenormally only see in Mad Men (theyeven take The New Yorker, which iswell worth a read) giving people acompelling reason to stay a while.The charm is more than superficialtoo: service, without breaking theeasy-going vibe, is remarkably effi-

cient, and the cocktail menu is alsoimpressive frequent two for onedeals and good value pints maketheir drinks great value too. Overall,it feels like a cross between the padyour cool uncle swears he had in hisyouth and a rather more mature set from Austin Powers and no, thatsno bad thing at all.

Opening hours: Open seven daysa week, from 17:00 (16:00 Friday,12:00 Saturday and Sunday) to23:30 (00:30 Friday and Saturday,23:00 Sunday).Getting there: From Dun LaoghaireShopping Centre (facing ontoGeorges Street), turn right and keepwalking down the street for about 10 minutes. You will see Gilbert andWrights on your right.



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Cosmopolitan Events - social, personal & professional networking

Tel: 00 353 (0) 87 9508376Email: [email protected]

Would you like to meet new contacts? Friends, business or perhaps that special someone in a relaxed, social environment?We organise a variety of events each month, in some of themost salubrious venues around Dublin! All you have to do ischeck out the calendar on www.cosmopolitanevents.ie and seewhat suits you, let us know which one/s are of interest, & book your ticket on the site by the date indicated. Then simply attendand bene t!Our research found that even if you are involved to perhapspromote your business, if youre relaxed and having an enjoya-ble time that will facilitate a more bene cial event in terms of networking & talking to lots of people. Were there to meet &greet you, and will introduce you to the other attendees at eachevent. We are aware that everyone is different and therefore if you prefer to work at your own pace, thats ok - whatever ismost comfortable for you!

Cosmopolitan Events is a members club, everyone can attendone event as a test drive, and if youd like to come back againwed be delighted to have you as a member - which is 175.00per year. Each event is approximately 15-18 per person, whichin general includes attendance & entry to whichever venues areincluded each time. Youll then bene t from our great relation -ships with so many gorgeous (including all of Dublins VIPspots!) venues - restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels!Please see www.cosmopolitanevents.ie for further informationand also to see some testimonials/recommendations from other members, or contact Katharine Crawford who founded thecompany in February 2008.


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The Bank on College Green20-22, College Green - Dublin 2Tel: 016770677This sprawling bar and restaurant sits in a beautifully-restored Victo-rian building, originally designed in1893 as a branch of the Belfast Bank (well duh). Massive sandstone wallsand a stained-glass ceiling createinteresting natural light by day, whilethe place has a surprisingly cosy feelin the evenings that belies the vast floorspace. Even if the setting wasnt

so striking, this place would be wellworth a look for the range of conti-nental beers we love the Erdinger on tap and more traditional Irishdrinks. Prices tend to reflect theupscale setting, but the whole venueis a cut above the competition: eventhe bar food includes some dishesworth savouring, including creativesandwiches from 8.50 at lunch,and a strong evening menu witheverything from a Waldorf salad and

roast pork belly to a platter of deep-fried guilty pleasures. This place fillsup quickly after work youll prob-ably have to wait for a seat after 18:00 but reservations are pos-sible for dinner at the bar and mez-zanine restaurant upstairs. For smallparties of eight or less, you can alsohire out the intimate snug.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 11:00 (10:00 Sunday) to00:00 (01:30 Friday and Saturday,23:00 Sunday) Breakfast servedfrom opening time, Lunch from12:00, and dinner from 16:00.Getting there: From the front gatesof Trinity College Dublin, crossGrafton Street to get onto CollegeGreen and Dame Street. Walk upthe street for three minutes, and theBank should be on your left.



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The Dark Horse Inn1, Georges Quay - Dublin 2Tel: 016751862Even as it retains the early license that made it a popular spot for sea dogs,this venue has seen major changes,from the name (the bar was formerlyknown as the White Horse Inn) tonew management and a major re-furbishment. The Dark Horse Inn isdistinctly spiffier than its predeces-sor, with a multi-level layout adding breathing room and plenty of modern

design features all catching the eye.Its still got a distinctive if gentler atmosphere when they turn downthe lights in the evenings. The Dark Horse Inn has become a cool evening jazz venue, with regular live entertain-ment supplemented by some one-off gigs and interesting events too. Aregular arty party, showcasing thework of talented young Dubliners,runs on the last Thursday of everymonth, while a free knitty woolly fun

club teaches us the esoteric joys of drinking and knitting every first andthird Tuesday. New chefs have comein to revamp the food, introducing astrong lunch menu of bar favourites the place is great for a pie and apint along with a continental buffet breakfast, which is particularly handywhen youve rushed out the door inthe morning. Even if you dont want to grab a pint before most peoplestart work, then, its well worth a visit.

Opening hours: Open Mondayto Saturday, from 07:30 (19:30Wednesday and Thursday) to 23:30(00:30 Friday and Saturday).Getting there: From Tara Street DART Station (facing onto theLiffey), turn right and start walking down the quays. Youll soon see theWhite Horse Inn on your right.



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The Hut159, Phibsborough Road - Dublin 7Tel: 018302238Its rare to find an authentic Victorian-erapub still standing (with original fittings and

all) in this fine city its even rarer to findone this welcoming. Staff and locals are no-ticeably friendly in this place, which helpsexplain why its a popular spot for studentsor nurses in need of a change from plasticsuperpubs or overpriced clubs. If you enjoya Guinness, so much the better - The Hutsbeen known for a fine pint of the black stuff since it opened some 150 years ago. Their pub grub is also a cut above the competi-tion, with home-made dishes served from12:00 to 15:00 a mean bacon and cab-bage ( 8.50) brings back memories of home, though the Irish Stew is also wortha shout. Theres a private function roomupstairs for parties, and the little secludedlounge is nice, but wed heartily recom-mend joining in the fun with everyoneelse: the place has a fantastic atmosphereon GAA match days and anytime Bohemi-ans F.C. are playing down the road. If the

younger crowd here is more your thing,drop down on Sunday, when a fine coversoutfit (Hard Candy) rock out the venue.Opening hours: Open seven days a week,from 10:30 (12:30 Sunday) to 23:30(00:30 Friday and Saturday, 23:00 Sunday).Getting there: The Hut is on PhibsboroRoad, which can be reached from the citycentre by walking up Church Street, viaConstitution Hill the pub will be on your right. You can also travel by bus: the 4, 19and 19A all stop nearby. Once you get off the bus at Phibsboro Road, The Hut will beacross the street.

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The Market Bar16a, Fade Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016139094As bars to enjoy a chat with your drink go, this place has a key advantage: nomusic. Rather than the latest chart hits, the Market Bar simply hums withconversation - a sophisticated littletwist for a place that looks like a con-verted warehouse. That conversion,we should add, has been great: thewarm brickwork and wood, dramaticpillars and subtle lighting helps createa good atmosphere. And no, weve

no idea whats behind the massivedisplay of wooden shoes either. Wecan confirm, however, that they do amean selection of tapas, from a mojochicken salad to beautiful chickenand chorizo skewers. Small plates areoffered for 8, with more substan-tial dishes going for 12, and thereare sharing platters of cheese andmeats available from 10. Dessertsare dominated by Irish and Englishstaples, though theres a nice cremaCatalana on offer for 6.50. If you eat

before 19:00, you can enjoy any twosmall dishes and a glass of water or a soft drink for 14. Reservations arepossible if youre booking for a big party, and you wont be left waiting too long for a table anyway. It might take a while to get a drink at the bar (theyve table service, thankfully) andyoull have to watch out for the grat-ing if youre in high heels, but theMarket Bar is great fun nonetheless.Opening hours: Open seven days aweek from 12:00 (15:00 Sunday) to

23:30 (01:00 Friday and Saturday,23:00 Sunday). Tapas served until21:30 (22:30 Friday to Saturday)Getting there: From the Central Bank (facing onto Dame Street), turn right and start walking away from Trin-ity College. Turn left onto GeorgesStreet, take the second left off SouthGreat Georges Street onto FadeStreet, and the Market bar will beon your left towards the end of thestreet.



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The Old Stand37, Exchequer Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016777220The Old Stand has a rich historydating back some 300 years, but its most famous fan was probablyWar of Independence and Civil War hero Michael Collins. Collins, whoreportedly made it his lunchtimebase, also organised I.R.B. (IrishRepublican Brotherhood) meetingsthere. Still sporting a Victorian-eralook, its become home in recent

years to the more sedate crowd of horse-racing and rugby lovers onmatch days, though, the small pubcant be beaten for atmosphere. Ingeneral, a mature crowd leads toan easy-going vibe throughout theday, and The Old Stand is also worthvisiting for a hearty, honest lunchor pre-theatre dinner. The gammonham steak ( 12), the sirloin ( 16or 20) and the beef and Guinnesscasserole ( 10) are all hard to beat.

Try and grab a couch if you can balancing on a barstool, however authentic, isnt really the best wayto enjoy the good food and excellent atmosphere. If youre just hopping infor a quick after-work pint, though,the main bar is the place to be. Makesure to chat to the staff too theyrea lovely bunch, with plenty of storiesto tell.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek. Lunch served from 12:00 to14:30. Evening menu from 14:30to 20:45.Getting there: From the MollyMalone statue, head up GraftonStreet before taking a right ontoWicklow Street. Head down thestreet for about ten minutes, andyoull see The Old Stand on your right just as you cross onto Excheq-uer Street.

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The Tea Garden7 Lower Ormond Quay - Dublin 1Tel: 0862191010A peculiar little addition to the Dub-lin scene, The Tea Garden can beconsidered testament to how (rela-tively) grown up weve become inour socialising: it doesnt even servebooze, but the venue is all the better for that, a uniquely relaxed, sprawling underground place for enjoying theodd snack, a spot of Shisha, or evena milkshake. The bulk of the menu

here, though, is made up of gourmet teas. Theres a huge range of thestuff, and settling on one choice canbe a bit intimidating for anyone whosonly just moving beyond Barrys, but the staff are remarkably friendly andhappy to offer advice on the variousbrews. For our part, the grannysgarden (a relative snip at 5.90)works every time. You can buy theteas and even the teapots to takeaway, but its impossible to replicate

the experience of savouring the stuff here: for one, its a labyrinth of small-ish rooms, which means youll oftenbe left in splendid isolation from anycustomers or staff. The unusual d-cor adds to the charm, and plenty of comfy cushions make it a great spot for lolling about for hours in. Thank-fully, they dont seem to mind peopledoing this, and even provide boardgames to encourage a longer stay anice little touch, we think.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 15:00 (13:00 Friday toSunday) to 23:00.Getting there: From the north side of OConnell Bridge (facing north), turnleft and head down Bachelors Walk and the northside quays. After about ten minutes, you will see a sign for The Tea Garden on your right. Thevenue itself is underground.



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Bang Restaurant11, Merrion Row Dublin 2Tel: 014004229Back from the brink after the demiseof the Stokes brothers incarnation,the new Bang restaurant has gainedthe same following as the original and then some. Even after a re-vamp, the dcor has maintained acosmopolitan-but-relaxed vibe, withunderstated furnishings and tablesettings, a rich blue shade on thewall to complement work by major

Irish artists including Patrick Scott,Eamon Coleman and John Cronin international talents including William Crozier also feature. Themood carries through to two privaterooms, including the upstairs gal-lery and the cellar bar downstairs,which can both be hired out. Theresplenty to draw people to the mainrestaurant though, particularly thehigh-end Irish fare with continentaltwists sprinkled across the menu:

both the roast wild venison loin withred cabbage, pumpkin puree andbraised celery ( 28), and the halibut with a white bean, chorizo and clamcassoulet ( 28) are worthy meals,and they do a mean rib-eye too. Tostart off an evening, the game terrinewith celeriac remoulade, cranber-ries and sourdough toast ( 12) isas good a choice as any, while thedesserts change regularly.

Opening hours: Open seven daysa week. Lunch served Monday toSaturday from 12:30, dinner servedMonday to Saturday from 17:30(16:00 Sunday).Getting there: From StrephensGreen Shopping Centre (facing to-wards Grafton Street), turn right andhead down the Green towards thecanal. Cross onto Merrion Row, andyoull see Bang on your right.

DINN

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Caf Carlo63, OConnell Street Dublin 1Tel: 018880856So youre headed to a gig on AbbeyStreet, the theatre or even the 02 but where can you get good-value,hearty-but-healthy fare on the north-side? Standing out like a beacon on astrip where Supermacs is among themost popular eateries, Caf Carloanswers the question in style. Its afriendly little Irish-Italian joint, witha decor that avoids twee pictures

of Rome and instead captures thebest essence of eating out in that city: friendliness and simplicity. Of the Italian dishes on the menu, thecarbonara ( 10.95) and the vegetar-ian-friendly arrabiatta ( 9.90) standout, though a concise range of pizzasare also worth trying. The Irish foodhas taken a great leap forward, witha regular roast of the day offered at 11.25, and a fine Irish stew for thesame price. Theres also a selection

of international dishes, including aninteresting Malaysian chicken curry( 13.95) and, for spice lovers, somesizzling chicken fajitas ( 11.95). Theatmosphere here is warm and laid-back a rare thing among restau-rants in the area while the serviceis snappy without rushing peoplethrough their meals. For added val-ue, check out the pre-theatre menu,giving two courses for 12.95 andthree courses for 16.50.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 12:00 to 23:00.Getting there: From the Spire, headnorth up OConnell Street. You willsee Caf Carlo very shortly on your left.

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Chez Max Palace Street1, Palace Street Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016337215Max Deleloubie has opened upanother French Bistro on Baggot Street, but were committed fansof the cosy original nestling in theshadow of Dublin Castles gates. Youcan venture in for strong coffee andcroissants from 8:00, and theres alunch menu on offer too, featuring many of the restaurants most popu-lar dishes. However, the French din-

ing experience is best enjoyed whenthey dim their lights in the evening.There are safe options throughout the menu, including a luxuriousFrench onion soup ( 5.90) to start and steak frite (a striploin and chipscosting 19.50) as a main course,along with plenty to excite food ad-venturers: foie gras, pan-fried frog legs and snails in garlic butter areall executed perfectly when theyrein season. The boeuf Bourguignon

( 15.50), with a burgundy red winesauce and baby potatoes, is ChezMaxs specialty and falls somewherein the middle. Its the little extras that make this place particularly spe-cial, though, and your night wont be complete without sampling thecrme brle (perfectly seared ontop with a cool centre) or enjoying amartini blanc as an aperitif.

Opening hours: Open for breakfast from 08:00, Monday to Friday (11:00Saturday and Sunday). Lunch servedfrom 12:00, dinner from 17:30 to22:00 (23:00 Friday and Saturday).Getting there: From the gates of Trin-ity College, cross onto Dame Street and walk along it for roughly 10minutes. You will see Dublin Castleon your left. As you walk towards it (on Palace Street) Chez Max will beon your right.


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Dada Restaurant44, South William Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016170777Husband and wife team Aziz & EvaNouhi have done a good job inturning this South William Street premises into a regular little oasis.For starters, theyve borrowed heav-ily from the Moorish architecture of North Africa and Southern Spain,filling the restaurant with unusually-shaped arches and warm tones onthe walls. It helps generate an exotic,

intimate atmosphere that sets thescene perfectly for authentic Moroc-can cuisine. From the couscous torich and interesting meat dishes, themenu in the main restaurant is loadedwith novel flavours, with the spicykofta meatballs tangine ( 16.50) andthe slow-roasted lamb shoulder withRas el Hanout ( 23.90) particular highlights. Theres more of a westernfeel in the wine bar, where they servetapas bringing to mind the old Moor-

ish kingdom of Andalusia: alongsidemin-koftas and kebabs, youll finditems like grilled merquez sausageswith a spicy tomato sauce ( 5.50)and an oven baked squid stuffed withmince meat, couscous and harissa( 7.90). It makes sense to have aninitial bite here, particularly whentheres a packed charcuterie platter on offer for 12.90. A generous earlybird menu costing 19.90 is actu-ally served all night from Monday to

Wednesday, from 17:00 to 19:00 onThursday and Friday, and from 16:00to 19:00 on Saturday and Sunday.Opening hours: Open seven daysa week. Lunch served Thursday toSunday from 12:00 to 16:00 (17:00Saturday and Sunday), dinner from17:00 to late.Getting there: From Stephens GreenShopping Centre, walk down SouthKing Street and take a right turn on toSouth William Street.



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Harrys Cafe and Wine Bar22, Dawson Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016394889Nestling just off Stephens Green,Harrys offers a somewhat more laid-back dining experience than manyother places that dot the so-calledgolden mile. In fact, everything about the place, from the relaxed, in-formal dcor to the similarly relaxedand informal staff, seems calculatedto relax diners.The tempting dinner menu has an al-

most playful quality: for all the freshingredients and interesting combina-tions, the cooking style is simple,with lots of zing. The spicy Italiansausage pasta ( 16.95), and thelobster linguini ( 18.95) are primeexamples of this, though there arehearty traditionally Irish dishes onoffer too: try their mouth-watering lamb shank ( 19.75) or a creamyHarrys Fish Pie ( 17.95).Theres a lively buzz about the place

that usually carries through from theearly afternoon to late at night, espe-cially at weekends. As youd expect,theyve gone to considerable troubleon the grape juice, and theres never less than 160 world class wines onoffer.. Among the 40 red and whitewines offered by the glass, weve yet to encounter a dud. The place hasrecently introduced a special valuedinner, offering two courses and abottle of wine for two at 60.

Opening hours: Open Tuesday toSunday, from 12:00 to late.Getting there: From the GraftonStreet end of Stephens Green, walk along the north side of the greentowards Merrion Row. Turn left at Dawson Street, and youll see Harryson your right.

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Il Posto10, Stephens Green - Dublin 2Tel: 016794769Once upon a time, a high -end spot along

Dublins golden mile from the Green downto Baggot Street was seen as a license to print money. Those days are gone, and weve seena number of high-profile casualties in thearea. However, under the stewardship of theJackson sisters, this charming Italian restau-rant has continued to thrive through its thir-teenth year. It helps, of course, that theyvemoved with the times, introducing great valuemarket lunch and early dinner menus youcan grab two courses from a selection of theplaces most popular dishes for only 16between 12:00 and 14:30, or for 20 from17:30 to 19:00. The deals are striking, but they wouldnt be quite as impressive if Il Pos-to hadnt already earned itself a reputation for authentic, tasty fare - the fegato (lambs liver)and polpette (beef meatballs with a spicy pep-per sauce) come highly recommended andextremely attentive service. The list of Italianwines is also well-chosen. You can either dineal fresco, a rare treat in these parts, or enjoythe candlelit atmosphere in the cellar dining room downstairs. If you like being thor-oughly pampered and stuffed with good food(who doesnt?) drop in here, whether yourefeeling flush or fancy a bargain.Opening hours: Open Monday to Saturday.Lunch served from 12:00 to 14.30, earlydinner from 17:30 to 19:00, dinner from17:30.Getting there: From the Stephens Green

end of Grafton Street (facing towards theGreens main entrance), turn left and start walking towards Merrion Row. Il Posto willbe on your left after about a minute.



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LEcrivain109a, Lower Baggot Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016611919For years, going to LEcrivain was some-thing that only RTE presenters and bankers

could afford on a regular basis. However,Michelin-starred chef Derry Clarke hasmoved with the times in style. His latest cookbook is suitably entitled Keeping it Sim-ple, and dwells on old-fashioned, seasonalfare, an approach he follows in LEcrivainskitchen. The restaurant has started to pullin the cash-strapped lunchtime crowd byintroducing a fixed price lunchtime menu,charging 35 for two courses and 45 for three. Fortunately, these concessions tothe recession havent diminished the senseof luxury from enjoying a superlative mealhere. The airy and elegantly decorated din-ing room adds to this considerably, eventhough you may imagine that the sheep ina large painting overlooking the tables aresilently judging you as you munch throughyour lamb. Fortunately the waiters, for alltheir eerie efficiency and unfailing polite-ness, dont make diners feel so self-con-scious. Two elegantly laid-out dining roomsare great for private parties (the Malt room,seating 12, has a distinctly modern feel).Opening hours: Open from Monday toSaturday, from 10:00 (15:00 Saturday) to23:00 (01:00 Saturday).Getting there: From Stephens Green Shop-ping Centre (facing towards Grafton Street),turn right and walk down Merrion Row to-wards the canal. You will pass onto Lower Baggot Street. After roughly ten minutes,

LEcrivain will be on your right.



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La Paloma17b, Adsills Row Dublin 2Tel: 016777392You cant judge a book by its cover,or a restaurant solely by its location otherwise, few people would gonear this delightful Spanish restau-rant. Temple Bar may better knownfor its fast food and sometimes-tweeIrish places, but La Paloma helpsredress the balance by offering adistinctly Iberian sanctuary just off Fleet Street. Yellow dominates the

visual palate without being obnox-ious and yes, thats a rare balanc-ing act while the cosy dining roomis nice and intimate when the lightsgo down in the evening. The menumakes a nod to the Irish love of tapasby featuring a huge range of sides,including the ubiquitous patatasbravas, croquettes and rustic dishes.However, heartier, more substantialcourses are the culinary mainstayof the place: a seabass fillet with

a chorizo crust ( 18.50), a rolledpork fillet ( 18.50) and the Zarzuela(19.95), a Catalan fish stew, standout. Theyve gone for quality over quantity in the wine list the Arba-dillo, an Andalucian white, is par-ticularly enjoyable and also havea lengthy menu of cocktails, withmost drinks weighing in at about the 8 mark. Service is friendly, and thewaiters are very helpful if you needmore information on a dish.

Opening hours: Open Tuesday toSunday, from 18:00 to 00:30.Getting there: From the CentralBank (facing on to Dame Street),turn around and start walking downtowards the Liffey. Just before youreach Merchants Arch, take a right turn onto Fleet Street, and a left ontoAdsills Row. You will see La Palomaon your left.



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Nyonya Malaysian Restaurant76, Dame Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016707200Food puritans, once upon a time,smiled sadly when they thought of Dame Street. Sure, theres the odddecent place, they mused through amouthful of foie gras, but those res-taurants are grossly outnumberedby greasy burger and pizza joints.Step forward, Nyonya, a restaurant on a mission to offer high-qualityMalaysian fare. The dining room is a

cut above the rest, stimulating as it is with plenty of rich browns and in-teresting Malaysian art. More impor-tantly, theres a strong commitment to authenticity, with a menu that cel-ebrates the diversity at the heart of Malay cuisine. Many ethnicities anda rich tradition of trade with other nations have made Malaysia a truemelting pot of tastes, and the sheer breadth of choice would be intimi-dating if Nyonyas menu and staff

didnt helpfully explain the make-upof and traditions behind each typeof dish. Prices are very keen for thehigh quality too: noodle dishes start at 8 and the hawkers food, echo-ing the unpretentious fare eaten bythe vast majority of the Malaysianpeople, is very tasty too. We recom-mend splashing out a little, though,for more substantial dishes that areon offer from 11.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 12:30 (14:30 Saturdayand Sunday) to 23:30.Getting there: From the CentralBank (facing towards Dame Street),turn right and start walking towardsChrist Church Cathedral. You shouldsee Nyonya on your right after about five minutes.



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Pacinos18, Suffolk Street Dublin 2Tel: 016775651This already-popular Italian eaterycontinues to reinvent itself and drawmore people in to its excellent loca-tion just off Grafton Street.In the space of a year, theyve begunhosting regular nights featuring salsadancing, comedy, live rocknrolland even theatre at a weekly supper club. Theyve also started offering great food on the go, with a rustic

special of soup and panini for 5.Also, in conjunction with the char-ity Aware and the Make it Better Campaign, Pacinos have launcheda range of sauces and oils that canbe found in most good Dublin Spar and Londis outlets. Pacinos has suc-cessfully hosted many private partiesand high-profile events already and,with 16 years under its belt, dont be surprised if this revitalised venueadds many more.

Opening hours: Open seven daysa week, from 08am (09:00 Satur-day,10:00 Sunday) to 23:00 (22:00Monday & Tuesday). Late club Fridayand Saturday from 23:00.Getting there: From the MollyMalone statue, take a right turn ontoSuffolk Street. Youll see Pacinos onyour left.



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One Pico5-6, Molesworth Place - Dublin 2Tel: 01676030When a place names a private din-ing area The Polo Room, it gives usa hint of the kind of diners its look-ing to get through the doors. Luck-ily, chef-owner Eamon OReillysflagship restaurant is as welcoming to regular smartly-dressed folk insearch of good food as it is to fol-lowers of peculiar sports. More im-portantly, he can provide a high-endexperience from the kitchen, having

worked before with three-Michelin-starred chefs and snagged severalawards in his own right. In the last year, moreover, his name has kept coming up on the awards circuit for his work at One Pico. The menuhere is focused on Irish and Frenchfood prepared with more than a lit-tle panache. The menu changes withthe seasons but, on our last visit,the venison carpaccio ( 16) stoodout from a range of ambitious start-ers, and not just for the raspberry

and beetroot puree that went withit. The steaks from a 28-day dryaged rib-eye ( 32) to a fillet of black angus beef ( 34) are also impres-sive, along with the seared scallops:together weigh with a crisp pork belly, they weigh in at 32. The top-drawer cuisine is supplemented byan elegant dining room with silver service. Set menus including a 25set lunch offer - help take the sting out of the prices too.

Opening hours: Open Monday toSaturday. Lunch served from 12:30to 14:30, dinner from 18:00 to23:00.Getting there: From the MollyMalone statue, head down NassauStreet towards Merrion Square. Turnright at South Frederick Street, andkeep walking as you cross Moles-worth Street onto Molesworth Lane.Turn left onto Schoolhouse Lane,and you should see One Pico.



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Sabor Brazil50, Pleasants Street - Dublin 2Tel: 014750304Believe it or not, this place started life witha cheery but functional caf-style dcor.However, in contrast to the restauranteurswho desperately scrambled their waydownmarket when trouble hit in 2008, Sa-

bor Brazils owners decided to go upscale,and dramatically so. Now, the word lavishseems strangely inadequate for describing the small space: two dining rooms seating 20 people between them are enlivened byplush furnishings, and all the trappings of colonial-era Brazil. The menu, too, has beentransformed into a veritable homage to theeating experience of the South Americanelite: while prices are surprisingly reason-able, starters like the pastel (delicioussavoury Brazilian pastries with a choice of filling and chillies on the side, 6) set a toneof indulgence that goes down well. Beef andred meat figures strongly in the mains, withthe Feijoada (a hearty black bean stew withBrazilian sausage, bacon and pork meat cost-ing 25) standing out amongst a concise se-lection of hearty dishes. The attentive servicehits the spot too of course, thats not toodifficult with such a small number of diners to

care for, and wed recommend booking wellin advance if you want to be sure of a table.Opening hours: Open Tuesday to Sundayfrom 18:00 until late.Getting there: From Stephens Green, walk up Cuffe Street. Turn left onto WexfordStreet at the first junction, and walk for fiveminutes, crossing onto Camden Street.Pleasants Street is a right turn off CamdenStreet, and Sabor Brazil will be on your right.



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The Blackboard Bistro4, Clare Street Dublin 2Tel: 016766839Sometimes, we wonder what pos-sesses people to open up high-endrestaurants in this time, in this city.Breathtaking hubris? A sweet, inno-cent ignorance of economic reality?Or simply genuine confidence that

good food served in an ideal setting will never go out of fashion? Thefinal factor seems to have inspiredThe Blackboard Bistro, which boldly

set up shop opposite the NationalGallery and proceeded to wow bothreviewers and regular punters withtheir French-influenced fare. Themenu changes with the seasons,though theres a reliable emphasison the rustic with a good spread of game, farm fare and fish (their poulet

Basquaise, a traditional hot pot fromthe Basque country, is great when itson). More importantly, the team inthe kitchen have the flare to pull off

the varied menu, and superb atten-tion to detail. Theyve also kept pricesmanageable with set dinner menusoffering two courses for 18.50 anda three-course meal for 22.50. Theexperience is enhanced by a cosy,chilled-out and perfectly lit dining room even the background music

is pretty enjoyable and The Black-board Bistro has the kind of warm,friendly service that makes dinerscomfortable lingering for an evening.

Opening hours: Open Tuesday toSaturday. Lunch served Tuesday toFriday, dinner from 18:00 to 22:00.Getting there: From the front gatesof Trinity College (facing onto Col-lege Green), turn left and walk along the gates down Nassau Street. Whenyou come to a fork in the road, take

the right turn to cross onto ClareStreet. The Blackboard Bistro will beon your left.



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Thorntons128, Stephens Green - Dublin 2Tel: 014787008Kevin Thornton may be as well-known for his prickly public person-ality as he is for his culinary skill, but the latter remains as formidable asever. The first Irishman to win twoMichelin stars (one was taken away

a few years ago; he didnt take thesetback too well) has a kind of gracein the kitchen that blends well withhis fiery flare, breathing new life into

staples of Irish cuisine like duck,salmon or Dublin bay prawns. Cru-cially, hes moved his restaurant intothe (relatively) affordable end of themarket in recent years a set dinner menu, for example, will set you back 79. The dishes change seasonally,so offering particular recommenda-

tions seems strangely futile: its allgood. If youre really looking to get the maximum Thorntons experiencefrom a single visit, check out the

taster menu, giving a little bit of eve-rything from the slow-cooked lob-ster to the chocolate crme brule.It can only be ordered by the table,with five courses offered for 95 ahead, and a mighty eight-coursefeast costing 125. Lunchtime andpre-theatre menus let diners sample

Thorntons most popular creationsfor a more manageable 49 a head.Still cheaper is the canap menuserved at lunchtime, allowing any-

one stuck for time to enjoy smaller bites for 38.Opening hours: Open Tuesday toSaturday. Lunch served from 12:30to 13:45, Thursday through Satur-day, dinner from 19:00 to 21:30.Getting there: From the GraftonStreet end of Stephens Green, head

towards Harcourt Street. Thorntonswill be on your right.

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Doyles9, College Street Dublin 2Tel: 016710616To the untrained eye, Doyles looks likea particularly pleasant incarnation of theVictorian-era pub, a common sight in Dub-lin theres the traditional fittings, an easy-going atmosphere and plenty of quiet con-versation. But take a look around and youllsee precious few middle-aged nursing their pints. Indeed, most folks know Doyles for its humming student scene: whether its theold-school downstairs bar, or the heaving upstairs and basement rooms, this placedraws indie kids like moths to a flame. Thelocation within a stones throw of TrinityCollege plays its part, of course, as dothe goings-on upstairs: the club hosts lateevents all through the week, including the

Ruby Sessions (a great singer-songwriter night) on Tuesdays, and the Ha Ha Com-edy Club on Sundays. Most of the time, of course, its packed with early-twentysome-things dancing to alternative and indie rock spun by DJs who know their Decembristsfrom their Death Cab For Cutie imaginePhantom FMs playlist with the odd pop-pier tune deftly thrown into the mix. If theaction upstairs or below ground is a littleoverwhelming, the ground floor somehowretains its laid-back feel even when its fullto the brim. If youre dropping in before thelate-night rush, theyve also started serving good pub grub in the evenings to match analready-popular lunch menu, and theres aspacious room available to hire for privatefunctions.Opening hours: Open seven days a week,from 12:00 to 02:30 (23:00 Sunday).Getting there: From the front gates of Trin-ity College (facing onto Dame Street), turnright and follow the railings of the collegeas you turn onto College Street. After about two minutes, you should see Doyles acrossthe street on your left.

DINN

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JJ Smyths12, Aungier Street Dublin 2Tel: 014752565Jazz is a dish best served hot ideal-ly in an intimate, hopping venue withlots of appreciative music-loverscrammed in. Unfortunately, Dublinssmall-but-dedicated jazz communitylacked such a place for many a year.

Step forward JJ Smyths, a Dublinpub with a long and distinguishedhistory behind it: acclaimed Irishpoet Thomas Moore, in fact, was

born here in 1779, and the bar holdsone of the longest continuous liquor licenses in the city. We can onlyimagine what Moore would make of the action here these days: artistswho play this premier jazz and bluesvenue include international stars andMercury nominees (The Kit Downes

Trio), domestic veterans and promis-ing new talents. Isotope, one of thecitys longest running jazz sessions,is a reliable Thursday night draw, and

a great way to dip your toe into thescene, though theres live music onsix nights of the week. The dcor -quietly stylish on the outside, cooland moody on the inside fits therole of hip jazz den perfectly, withthe service and quality pints alsoadding to the experience.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 10:30 (12:00 Sunday) to23:30 (00:30 Friday and Saturday,23:00 Sunday). Check www.2night.ie for live listings.Getting there: From StephensGreen Shopping Centre, walk awayfrom the green down South King

Street. Cross onto Stephens Street and take a left onto Aungier Street. JJSmyths will be five minutes walk upthe street on your left.



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Kennedys31-32, Westland Row Dublin 2Tel: 016799077Were finding more and more of thesetwo-in-one establishments about and, for people who like a quiet-enough drink fol-lowed by a busier late-night dance, thats nobad thing. On its ground floor, Kennedysis a pleasant, old-school bar good Guin-ness, plenty of wooden furniture, a relaxedvibe, and even the odd link to a historicalfigure (Oscar Wilde once worked in thebuilding when it was a grocery store). Youllalso find hearty pub grub, including a par-ticularly warming bangers and mash, along with friendly service too. Lunchtimes see

the place consistently packed, as its knownto serve the best pub grub in town. Down-stairs, however, theres an altogether differ-ent feel: the underground is a positivelyhopping club with an industrial-chic look that couldnt contrast more wildly with thebar upstairs, but definitely works. No cover charge, DJs with eclectic tastes, and a livelyatmosphere make this aspect of Kennedysa winner too.Opening hours: Open Monday to Saturdayfrom 12:00 to late. Nightclub open Fridayand Saturday from 23:00 to 02:30.Getting there: From Pearse Street DARTstation (facing onto Westland Row), turnleft and head up the street towards MerrionSquare. Kennedys will be on your right.



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Solas31, Wexford Street - Dublin 2Tel: 014780583Its high time that this cocktail bar got somerecognition few places in Dublin blendslickness and substance quite so compre-hensively so we were delighted to see it land the 2010 Hospitality Ireland award for Best Cocktail bar. Drop in at a busy timeto see why: aside from the sheer range of drinks on offer (they do classics well, along with some novel drinks of their own) thequality of service is admirably high regard-less of whats happening: theres something strangely special about seeing a barmanbent over your drink, with the intense ex-

pression of a Trappist monk, even as the fullforce of a Saturday night crush hits the bar.Well, it makes us feel pampered anyway. Inrecent years, theyve added a new focus onfood, mixing good quality pub grub and piz-zas to get in the lunchtime crowd, and itsworked a treat. The linguini and chilli burger are reliable favourites, as is the 12.50 twocourse offer, which is available all week timeaside from weekday lunchtimes. As an add-ed bonus, the pizzas are served into the weehours. Throw in live DJ sets, and you have avery fun little spot for a group of friends toget together for the evening either beforeor after grabbing that bite to eat.Opening hours: Open seven days a week,from 12:00 to 01:00 (03:00 Thursday toSaturday).Getting there: From the Harcourt Street endof Stephens Green, walk down Cuffe Street away from the Green. Turn left at Wexford

Street, and Solas should be on your right.



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The Dice Bar78, Queen Street - Dublin 7Tel: 018728622Fun Lovin Criminal Huey Morgan is, ac-cording to reliable reports, an investor in this place whether the distinct NewYork theme is down to his involvement or something that drew him to the bar in thefirst place is one of those chicken and eggquestions that will never be answered. Inany case, The Dice Bar has done rather better than the ill-fated Voodoo Lounge andeven outlasted DiFontaines pizza in TempleBar. Perhaps thats because its neatly cap-tured The Big Apples seamy but strangelyappealing side without getting tacky: black

walls, red lighting, and the odd decadent architectural feature all blend in rather well.Aside from The Dice Bars success in thistricky balancing act, the place also deserveskudos for stocking a range of craft beersfrom the Big Hand Brewery. Phat Tunesare also promised, and delivered along with eclectic live DJs, the bar hosts up-and-coming rocknroll, garage and rockabillybands in free gigs. Its well worth the trek if you want to drink somewhere away fromthe typical city centre crowd, or simplyfancy a novel drinking experience.Opening hours: Open seven days a week,from 16:00 to 23:30 (00:30 Friday and Sat-urday, 23:00 Sunday).Getting there: Facing north on OConnellBridge, take a left turn onto BachelorsWalk. Keep walking down Ormond Quay,Inns Quay and Arran Quay, turning right at Queen Street. The Dice Bar will be two

minutes walk away, on the corner of QueenStreet and Benburb Street.



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The Exchequer3-5, Exchequer Street Dublin 2Tel: 016706787This hip gastropub has led the wayfor a new batch of classy venues that have opened here to admirably defyprophets of doom in the industry.Theyre well into their second year of business, and its easy to see why:

theres an intriguing decor featur-ing bold, contemporary featuresand even a couple of charminglywell-worn armchairs, and plenty of

substance too. The food is focusedon quality Irish dishes with that rarecombination of creativity and value its pub grub with a creative twist,and its already piling up accolades:The Exchequer was a deserved win-ner of the Best Gastropub award at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2010.

Their celebrated Sunday roast agenerous traditional meal for four is a steal at 39.95. The Exchequer has also caught on as a night-time

venue with the help of DJs MarinaDiniz and Richie Rock doing a mix of upbeat, summery tunes and darker heavy house. Top mixologist Dar-ren Geraghty has also revamped analready highly-rated menu of cock-tails, offering new twists and classicrecipes and plenty of signature crea-

tions too.Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 07:30 (08:00 Saturdayand Sunday) to 23:30 (01:00 Thurs-

day, 02:30 Friday and Saturday,23:00 Sunday)Getting there: From the bottomof Grafton Street (facing towardsStephens Green, turn right ontoWicklow Street. Keep following thestreet as it winds - and becomesExchequer Street - for roughly eight

minutes. You should see The Ex-chequer on your right.



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TheMercantileBar28, Dame Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016707100Thanks to a few well-judged changes under its new management, the Mercantile is mak-ing its mark on the after-work and late night scene, featuring top DJs plus internationaland up-and-coming Irish acts in its live musicvenue. As part of a revamp, those old Victo-rian era features holdovers from the build-ings days as home to the Mercantile Credit Corporation have been given a welcomemakeover to bring out their natural class. TheMercantile is still a reliable spot for a great value lunch (we love the braised beef cheekswith Guinness and mash, 9.95), and hasa dinner of Irish and international dishes

on offer too. Perhaps the biggest change,however, has been the influx of live acts andcool club nights: nowadays, the venue hostseverything from the Monday night residencywith its 18 piece Hot House Big Band, Bluegrass legends the Special Consensus, Com-edy Balladeer, Ding Dong Denny OReillyand the Specials legendary Neville Staple,who recently sold out the venue. They alsofeature free trad music in the bar on Thurs-day through Sunday. Its worth checking out

whats on at The Mercantile on any givennight particularly if you dont fancy won-dering too far for your music fix.Opening hours: Open seven days a week,from 10:30 (12:00 Sunday) to 01:30 (02:30Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Lunchserved seven days a week, from 12:00 to16:00, dinner from 16:00 to 22:00. Check www.2night.ie or www.mercantile.ie for list-ings.Getting there: From the Central Bank (facing onto Dame Street),turn right and head awayfrom Trinity College. The Mercantile will beon your left



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The Morgan Bar10, Fleet Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016437000Most bars set in hotels tend to at-tract a mixed bunch of plasteredwedding revellers and middle-agedcouples silently contemplating an es-cape or divorce. The Morgan Bar,however, is a very different beast.

Sitting on the fringes of Temple Bar,on a street dominated by deep-friedcuisine, this place has attracted analtogether sleeker crowd than one

might expect. So how did they doit? Well, assembling one of the long-est (and tastiest) cocktail menus inDublin 2 helps quite a bit. So too doesfunky, innovative dcor its rare tofind a place with features that can, bythemselves, spark up a conversation.Even if youre hungry, theyve got you

covered with a tapas menu werebig fans of the pincho moruno (mari-nated pork skewers), which are best enjoyed with a glass of wine in the

Parisian-style courtyard on a warmevening. In any weather, though,the DJs get things going as the night moves on, spinning house, soul, andthe odd dose of disco late into thenight while a French Martini is a reli-able year-round drink. As a post-din-ner experience in Temple Bar goes,

its hard to match for sheer class.

Opening hours: Open seven daysa week, from 12:00 to late. Lunchserved from 12:00 to 15:00, din-ner/tapas served from 15:30 to22:00.Getting there: From the CentralBank, walk down Dame Street towards Trinity College, but take

an immediate left onto AnglesseaStreet. Take the first right turn ontoFleet Street, and you should see theMorgan Hotel.



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The Village Venue26, Wexford Street - Dublin 2Tel: 014758555If you were going to set up a livemusic venue in the heart of Dub-lin, where would you pick? Wereckon that next door to Whelanswouldnt be your first answer. How-ever, this building has pedigree the

much-missed Mean Fiddler used torule the Camden/Wexford Street strip from here. More importantly,The Village is a very different beast

to its next door neighbour: just aswooden features, an old man barsensibility and a solid pint defineWhelans, here we find a sleek fin-ish with comfortable furnishings anda respectably-sized cocktail menu.The Vanilla Russian is a popular con-coction, and the food dominated

by Irish dishes costing around a ten-ner is also worth a gander. Also,more places should offer their text-a-reservation service for lunchtime.

As for live music, the general flavour of artists is also a bit different toWhelans: past masters such as Su-zanne Vega and many bands on thereunion circuit make it their Dublinvenue of choice. The warm, intimateatmosphere is ideal for these gigs,and fun club nights like indie kara-

oke sensation Songs of Praise makeThe Village worth a look even whentheres nobody playing.

Opening hours: Open seven daysa week, from 12:00 to late. Check www.2night.ie for live listings andclub nights.Getting there: From the Harcourt Street end of Stephens Green, walk down Cuffe Street away from theGreen. Turn left at Wexford Street,

and The Village should be down thestreet on your right.



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Wrights Caf BarThe Plaza, Forster Way, Swords - CoDublinTel: 018406744Right now, many a one-prosperouspublican is marvelling at how thisexpansive, slick caf bar is about to celebrate a decade in businesswith no sign of looking back. The

secret to Wrights Caf Bars suc-cess can be summed up in threewords: quality, quality and quality.This places dcor still feels lush and

interesting, with everything frompatterned walls, metallic surfacesand richly-coloured furniture some-how blending into a cohesive whole,while also offering something newto admire every time we visit. Per-haps its that interesting look that encourages the unmistakable buzz

in the place, though we fancy thecocktails have something to do withit: a mean French martini and their signature drink, a Wright Flirt (which

features Smirnoff, Kiwi Liqueur,Peach Schnapps, orange and cran-berry juice) are both exquisite. Foodis offered at lunch and throughout the evening, with the focus on Irishdishes and good comfort food thespicy chicken and chorizo stew isworth a try, however, if youre feel-

ing a bit adventurous. If you fancysomething a little less buzzing and abit cosier, you should check out theGilbert and Wrights Wine Bar next

door. Its open from 17:00 on Thurs-day to Sunday.Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 12:00 to 02:30 (23:30Monday, 01:00 Sunday).Getting there: From the south end of Swords Main Street, head north andtake the first right after the Malahide

Road. Turn left, and youre inside thePlaza shopping Centre.

late night | 2night Guide | 39


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Krystle21-25, Harcourt Street - Dublin 2Tel: 0863068081This club may have pitched its tent on Harcourt Street but, from dayone, it was obviously gunning for adifferent clientele to its near-neigh-bour Coppers. Krystle first attractedIrelands minor celebrities and those

whose night is made if they recog-nise anyone from a VIP shoot, but has broadened its appeal over thelast year. Its still managed to retain

a fairly upmarket vibe, despite allthe unkind references to Miami Vicethe dcor may evoke. Once you seepast the tiger-stripes on some chairs or embrace them theres a lot torecommend Krystle: a huge rectan-gular bar to greet customers on en-trance, another bar in a fully heated

roof garden, plenty of comfortablebooths that can be reserved in ad-vance, and even a VIP suite if youfeel like isolating yourself off from

the privileged hoi polloi that make it past the clubs bouncers. Theres anextensive cocktail selection availableto everyone, of course, while themusic is refreshingly varied. Along with more commercial sounds, youllhear hip-hop, house, rock and funk,plus the stylings of live percussion-

ists that Krystle have poached fromacross Londons best clubs. The clubas a whole also takes bookings for private parties.

Opening hours: Open Thursday,Friday and Saturday, from 22:30to late.Getting there: From StephensGreen Shopping Centre, walk along the west side of the Green (passing the College of Surgeons on your right). Cross onto Harcourt Street,

and Krystle will be on your right.

L NIGH

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South William52, South William Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016725946Sometimes, theres no shame in fol-lowing the crowd, and this is onesuch moment: we love South Wil-liam, and cant help applauding theBereen brothers efforts to createsomething rather different to the typi-

cal superpub in this spot. Mercifully,though, South William doesnt feelworthy or stuffy in the slightest: its afun, unpretentious bar and club with

plenty of events running throughout the week to keep its fans busy. Thosefans are also kept well-lubricated: onSouth Williams broad cocktail menu,weve yet to find a dud, and they doa mean sidecar. Though theyve re-cently stopped serving their popular pie menu, South William offers daily

specials in food, from a hearty Bra-zilian stew to more familiar fare, alllinked in with whatever club night isrunning. And yes, many club nights

do rock the venue. Larrys Garageevery Sunday sees DJ Eoin Long spinning tunes, while the Brazilian-themed Groovalizacion (where youcan pick up that hearty stew) runson Tuesdays. The bar also hosts arange of regular monthly nights, fromthe Zombie Circus to Mr Whippys

Soundsystem.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 16:00 (12:00 Thursdayto Saturday) to 23:30 (02:30 Thurs-day to Saturday, 23:00 Sunday).www.2night.ie for club listings.Getting there: From the bottom of Grafton Street (facing up towardsStephens Green), take a right turn

onto Wicklow Street. Five minutesdown the street, turn left onto SouthWilliam Street. South William will behalfway up the street on your left.



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Renards23, Frederick Street Dublin 2.Its Renards, Jim, but not as we knowit Robbie Foxs original playgroundfor Celtic tiger cubs has been reo-pened with new faces in charge, aspiffy new layout and a more broad-based appeal: the offer of pints for 4 before midnight seems almost

symbolic of a bar and club looking to attract more than just the rarefiedset that came to its predecessor.Cheaper still are the pints of OLM

Lager, a smooth-as-velvet new beer created by former Heineken brew-ers and available for 3 a pint. Thatsnot to say, however, that theres noappreciation of luxury anymore achampagne bar upstairs, along witha broad cocktail menu, takes careof that. The bar opens during the

daytime, making it a nice spot tocatch the match with a drink or two,though theyre keeping their eye onthe late-night ball here: Renards is

open till the wee hours from Thurs-day to Saturday, with three DublinDJs spinning everything from funkyhouse to chart-toppers across thethree floors of the venue. Admissionis free before 23:00 (even on Sat-urdays), costing 8 with a flyer and 10 without thereafter. It was some

time in the making, but this new in-carnation of Renards looks like onehell of a comeback.

Opening hours: Open seven days aweek, from 12:00 to 23:30 (02:30Thursday to Saturday, 23:00 Sun-day).Getting there: From the MollyMalone statue (facing towardsGrafton Street), turn left and headdown Nassau Street. Take a right

turn onto Frederick Street. Renardswill be five minutes walk up thestreet on your left.



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The GrandSocial11, Lower Liffey Street - Dublin 1Tel: 018740076Many of us will miss the old Pravda, or at least its impressive selection of vodkas.However, The Grand Social seems alto-gether more suitable for todays stimula-tion-craving clubbers. Ever since it openedduring the Absolute Fringe Fest (under themoniker of the Absolut Fringe Factory), theclub has hosted varied events, from livemusic to comedy, cinema screenings andall kinds of performance. The Grand Socialis split across four venues the ballroom,the loft, the garden and the parlour andtheres invariably something interesting tocheck out. The diverse range of regular clubnights and more is encouraging: CrackityJones, a free cinema and late-night clubbing medley, is a popular choice on Tuesdays, asis No Disko, which runs on Fridays sincerelocating from The Academy. Indietronicsees DJ Eamon Barrett doing his thing everySaturday, and Saucy Sundays is a live musicsession running from 14:00. There are alsoplenty of one-off gigs and parties to check out too. All the action takes place against a

dcor thats been put together with a spe-cific New York Factory feel in mind.Opening hours: Open seven days a week until late. Check www.2night.ie for event listings.Getting there: From OConnell Bridge (fac-ing towards the Daniel OConnell statue),turn left and walk along Bachelors Walk.Turn right at lower Liffey Street, and TheFringe Factory should be facing you.



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The Sugar Club8, Lower Leeson Street - Dublin 2Tel: 016787188Its hard to remember where wewent for intimate gigs and fringe-in-terest events before the Sugar Clubopened its doors just over a decadeago. One things for sure, though: it wasnt half as fancy. The space usedto house the much-missed Irish FilmTheatre, and a massive renovationtransformed it. Now, with wood pan-elled walls (irreplaceable Burmese

Teak, were told) and plush seating in a layout that calls to mind caba-ret clubs of yore, the setting for gigsand other events is as good as any inDublin. More importantly, the venueattracts acts that do it justice: high-lights from the past twelve monthshave included a manic one-manLord of The Rings, sell-out weeklyscreenings of The Room (one of the films most-loved stars, Greg Sestero, even made it to one) and

plenty of burlesque. 2011 is looking just as hot, with the regular Fridayand Saturday club nights, a batchof new gigs, and a promise from theowners to continue supporting thearts. Even if youre not enthralled bywhatevers taking place, The Sugar Club also has two bars with plenty of varied beers and a lengthy cocktailmenu. Its easy to see why the past ten years have flown by at this place.

Opening hours: Opening hours varydepending on the programme, but The Sugar Club is typically openseven days a week, from 20:00 to00:00. Check www.2night.ie for gig and event listings.Getting there: From the Leeson street end of Stephens Green, cross theroad onto Leeson Street. You shouldsee the Sugar Club on your right.


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TramcoBreweryTramco Brewery121, Lower Rathmines Road Dublin 6Tel: 014968050Sitting in a fiercely competitive area for easy-going drinkers or full-on clubbers,a place like Tramco needs to have some-thing for everyone. Luckily, it does. Earlyin the evening, this place is great for kick-ing back over their range of craft beers:the menu includes Munich lager, Hausslager, and a very tasty red ale. The brewsare particularly appealing when theres amatch on: the venue has recently erecteda forty-foot cinema screen in the spaciousbeer garden. Its a sign of how seriously thefolks at Tramco take the entertainment, andthey follow through too, with some crack-ing one-off gigs and a range of popular clubnights. Wednesdays and Thursdays seetempting promotions run for the students

of the area selected bottles and shots areoffered for 2, a price thats hard to matchanywhere else.Opening hours: Open Wednesday to Satur-day from 17:30 to 03:00.Getting there: Tramco is on the line of the15A/B/E buses. These all leave from EdenQuay and pass by Trinity College. If on foot,from the Harcourt Street end of StephensGreen, walk down Cuffe Street away fromthe Green. Turn left at Wexford Street, andcontinue walking on the same road, cross-ing the canal. As you come into Rathmines,Tramco will be on your right.



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Vanilla Nightclub19, Morehampton Road - Dublin 4Tel: 016379805You cant read a newspaper nowa-days without discovering new factsabout Irelands banjaxed economyand how well all have to emigrateor starve. Luckily, the folks behindVanilla nightclub either dont readthe papers, or manfully ignore them.Not only have they set up in Dublin4s hampton hotel just down theround from several NAMA-bound

developers but theyve also gonefor a distinctly decadent, boutiquelook. Vanilla is packed with ultra-modern furnishings, cool lighting and luxury at every corner, including a great mix of signature on popular cocktails. The music on the dance-floor is eclectic a mix of soundsfrom the 70s through to the mod-ern day, and spanning genres fromBarry White to Lady Gaga. Whatsmore, they even have private booths

available with the same futuristicaesthetic, plus a docking stationfor an iPod allowing you and your mates to play the DJ for the evening.Even though doors typically openat 23:00, you can swing by hamp-ton hotel earlier in the evening andgrab a pre-clubbing cocktail at thehotel bar. The bar also features livemusic from 20:00 every Friday andSaturday night. Admission is for theover-26s.

Opening hours: Open Friday andSaturday, from 23:00 to late.Getting there: From the canal end of Leeson Street, cross the bridge andhead down Upper Leeson Street un-til it becomes Morehampton Road.Hampton hotel will be in a smallturn-off on your right.


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2night february 2011 - dublin

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