Dublin's Bar 1661 named among best bars in the world

A Dublin bar is number 98 of 100 on this year's ranking of the best bars in the world. Bar 1661 was included on the extension of the '50 Best Bars' list, which ranks bars from 51st place to 100th best in the world.

Bar 1661 is the first restaurant or bar in the Republic of Ireland to make the list, which has been published annually since 2009.

Bar 1661, located on Green Street in Smithfield, was established in 2019. The name refers to the year in which poitín was outlawed by English landowners, only legalised again in 1997.

'The 50 Best' rankings are created by independent experts who vote for the world's best restaurants, bars, hotels and vineyards.

"Dedicated to resurrecting poitín (Irish moonshine), Bar 1661 is a modern vanguard in the renaissance of the Irish cocktail scene", the editors of The 50 Best Bars 2026 wrote.

"The once-outlawed spirit forms the backbone of its inventive drinks programme, best experienced in its signature Belfast Coffee – a cold concoction of poitín, cold brew coffee, cream and nutmeg."

Dave Mulligan, owner and operator of Bar 1661, expressed his enthusiasm. "To be representing the country from our little corner of Dublin 7 is just incredible. To do it using Irish poitín as the driver and putting it on the global cocktail map is just magic", he said.

The bar has twice made the Top 10 Cocktail Menus in the World list, put together by the Spirited Awards.