Tired of the same copycat bars that offer nothing contemporary and exciting? Well out with the old and in with the new, because Dublin is host to some of the most unusual and intriguing spots in the country. From burlesque acts, to buying a pint with a side of hardware, these venues are limitless in the unique category. So if you’re looking for something different, but still fun-filled, here’s our list of some of the quirkiest bars in Dublin.
Vintage Cocktail Club
A seductive 1920s-style ambience, the Vintage Cocktail Club is here to help you indulge in all of your gluttonous desires. Famous for their extensive cocktail menu including the Victorian-inspired Southern Passion or Daily Mule, this bar is also dripping in intimacy, offering fine-dining and sultry candlelit masterclasses. And don't worry about unnecessary disturbances - the bar is strictly for over 23s, making it great for a grownup date night.
Chic, intimate, and sultry.
The Liquor Rooms
Step into the den that is the Liquor Rooms, and get ready to have your mind blown. Located below Wellington Quay, this bar hosts four different rooms that include The Black Rabbit - a slinky big top hosting saucy burlesque - and a gorgeous Victorian-style live music room, The Boom Room. And don't think we forgot about drinks - winners of the Irish Craft Cocktail Awards, this bar serves their own unique beverages like the Great Pretender or Tread Softly, and let you in on their secrets with masterclasses and tastings.
Ahh, burlesque and cocktails is all you need indeed.
Mary's Bar & Hardware Shop
Don't have time to pick up both a pint and small groceries? At Mary's Hardware, you can kill two birds with one stone. From craft beers to gins and whiskeys, this bar has every drink you could imagine that will go great with a side of motor oil. Set in the historic Irish site of the Wicklow Hotel, they offer sweeties behind the bar, host folklore nights on Tuesdays, and have a burger spot right downstairs for you to knock dinner off the to-do list as well.
Normalising hardware at pubs one pint at a time.
Brazen Head
If you want to take a step back in time to learn some rich history over a pint of the black stuff, look no further. Dating back to 1198, Brazen Head is officially the oldest pub in all of Ireland. Refusing to modernise the interior, the pub is full of old scrolls and prints, cobblestone floors, and fires lit in each of their three rooms. And with the addition of enchanting folklore storytelling and live traditional Irish music over a candlelit dinner, even a tourist will be able to reel off the Emerald Isle' tales in no time.
Who knew Irish folklore and a pint could equate to a great night?
Turk's Head
Turk’s Head is far from your average Dublin bar with a heavily Spanish-inspired interior including colourful walls, statues, beautiful chandeliers, and hundreds of mosaic tiles. Exposing visitors and locals to non-Irish culture, they host a New York-inspired "Route 66 Swing Social Night" every Wednesday, Caribbean-fused "Uptown Ranking" on Saturdays, and a live DJ spins anything from hip-hop to Brazilian bossa nova all weekend.
It's like visiting another part of the world without actually leaving.
