Bar 1661 in Dublin has been crowned as the 'Bar of the Year' at the 2025 Irish Bar of the Year Awards.
The Northside spot, which opened in 2019, has been praised for its inventive cocktails, many of which are dedicated to the revival of Ireland's traditional spirit: poitín.
Located on Green St, Rotunda, the establishment was named after the year the drink was banned, with the team branding themselves as "staunchly Irish and fiercely independent".
The extensive menu, which pays homage to local community heroes, also earned the bar the 'Best Cocktail Bar of the Year' and 'Innovative Bar of the Year' awards at this year's ceremony.
Hosted at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin 4 on Monday, 18 August, the 2025 awards celebrated businesses across the country through a rigorous selection process, including judging panels and blind site inspections.
With over 1,000 entries from over 300 entrants, this year was the most heavily entered awards to date.
You can find the full list of winners below:
BAR OF THE YEAR
- BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
5-STAR HOTEL BAR OF THE YEAR
- 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
- 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
BEST BAR TO WATCH THE MATCH
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Gold Winner - BAR 1661, Co. Dublin
Silver Winner - Cask, Co. Cork
Bronze Winner - Pig's Lane, Co. Kerry
COCKTAIL BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 FoodsWinner - 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
