Solas December 8, 2008

This place is super trendy and I LOVE IT!  This bar was one I went to one night because I was on a pure and authentic search of a COCKTAIL!  I was sick of drinking pints of Guinness so I went to drinking pints of Smithwicks (the next cheapest) then to Carlsberg until I was like I NEED a cocktail. I was just getting out of work at the pub and was walking with two of the other boys in the program and we stumbled upon SOLAS.  

My friend Erin and I at Solas

 

 

This bar was chic, cool it was really like walking into a bar in a James Bond Movie.  They proclaimed themselves as the best cocktail bar in all of Dublin… and they were not lying!  Their Caiprihnas are to die for!  As well as their White Russians!  A Caiprihna is a drink made with brown sugar, limes, sachaba (a brazillian rum), and sometimes an additive of fresh fruit muddled into a glass with ice.  They extra special part of the white russian is the adding of Creme de Cacao which is rare along with the Cadbury Flake as a garnish!  Delish!!

Their food is really trendy as well having anything from chicken goujons to having chicken satay.  My favorite thing was their club sandwich which has all of the regular things of a club adding a fried egg on top…YUM!!!!  And of course accompanied with salad and chips.  And fairly priced as well the most expensive meal is about 9 euro.  

BEWARE!  The cocktails are expensive!  Not as bad as ICE bar but close enough!  Starting at about 7 euro and going to about 12 euro! This bar is just mad fun and the music is hot having a real spinning dj!  This was also the first bar we went to for my going away party!  We enjoyed some great Mojitos and strawberry caiprihnas! Solas is right on Camden St across from Flannerys! 

Me and my friend Goran sitting at the bar

Flannerys December 2, 2008

This place is nothing but a good time!  Music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.. this pub is so much fun for any person who steps in.  Having the regular delights of any other pub along with good times with great people.  If you are looking to meet people.. believe me this is the place to do it!

Known as the bar that is easy for anyone to pick up someone, Flannerys is a hopping spot anytime of the week.  One could even go there on a Monday and the place will be full. There is not any drink specials or cocktails just a good dj and even better people.  

It is a good place to go in groups.  When I was there as an exchange student we all went there for one of the guys’ 20th birthday and just had a blast!  We all sang, danced, and drank! Plenty of Jameson, Tequila, and pints to go around it is a great bar to stop at first and then go onwards to Copperface Jacks a dance club on the street above (harcourt).  

Flannerys is even a nice pub to go to during the day for some nice casual drinks, paninis, and soups!  Just to forewarn this bar does have a dress code so no flip flops or shorts! Dress nice!  Located right on Camden St. next to the grocery store, FRESH!  Go on in and have a great time!

 

Copperface Jacks

The Shebeen November 8, 2008

Talk about reducing your carbon footprint, this chic bar is made with all recycled furniture and random nik naks.  One of the most elite bars in the Dublin 2 district, Shebeen is a fun place to go with friends to enjoy some great music along with some low priced drink.  Featuring all of the different kinds of lager, stouts, ales, and ciders one could want!  

Every part of the decor is made with pretty much junk shop finds and one could even exchange a chair there! It is a real laid back chilled bar playing the best alternative music and sometimes even a little soul!  Forewarning some of the tables are a little wobbly and it can sometimes be aggravating when one is trying to keep a pint safe on the table.  There are multiple old arcade games in the basement to play and just a real tight place all around.  It does get crowded so if you are claustrophobic I do not suggest this bar. But if you don’t mind rubbing elbows and bumping into people this place is AMAZING!

During the day and early evening they serve authentic Irish food including the Dublin special, Coddle which is a broth based soup with ham, sausage, potato, and onion.  Along with a boxty menu (a traditional potato pancake) that include smoked mackerel and seaweed along with the pancake.  You can also try some black pudding a tradition Irish sausage made from pig’s blood, suet, and seasoning…mmmm…mmm!  It is actually very good and goes down nicely in an Irish breakfast!

This is a fun place to go for reasonably cheap drink and for the craic (good time)! It was the last pub I went to in Dublin before I came back to Fredonia and I wished I would have went there more often!  So if you get a chance go to Shebeen on Georges St in Dublin 2!

Oh and did I mention they have an old couch sitting right outside the bar so you can watch all the people walking to Temple Bar!!

The Porterhouse October 27, 2008

 

The Porterhouse Central

Okay this is my absolute favorite bar in all of Dublin.  If you love micro-breweries you will love The Porterhouse!  With four locations in Dublin and one in London, this bar is awesome with great pub grub, drinks, and BEER!  

 

At this bar they have about nine different styles of beer.  Three stouts, three ales, and three lager. My personal favorite is the Hersbrucker lager which is about 5% alcohol by the volume.  A classic full bodied continental style pilsner with an ample balance of lip smacking Hersbrucker hops. A soft, quality hop flavour with the matching subtly of fine malt and sweetness.  As it is described on the porterhouse website. Along with their own personally brewed beers they have an assorted amount of beers from all over the world including New Zealand!  A little Steinlager anyone?

The atmosphere is amazing at this bar kind of rustic and really laid back!  The Porterhouse in Bray is great facing the Atlantic and the beach!  All wooden furniture and one of the only pubs that has one location with a secret swank club in the upstairs!  

Now the important part of a night out….THE FOOD!  The Porterhouse locations are the best places to get good buffalo wings… outside of Buffalo! Along with having amazing steak  sandwiches and fish n’ chips!  They also have different theme nights and a live band every other night! 

So if you want good beer, good food, and good craic (fun)!  Come to the Porterhouse get a Hersbrucker and a few hot wings!!!

 

http://www.porterhousebrewco.com

SAMSARA! October 13, 2008

A salsa club in Ireland?  Who would have thought?! Since Dublin has turned into this cultural melting pot they have numerous bars to cater to their huge amount of immigrants.  My favorite is a club called SamSara!

This trendy nightclub has had a decent amount of Irish celebrities cha-cha through its doors including Bono and Colin Farrell.  Always packed with dancers and hot salsa music, SamSara is quite the place to be late on a Friday or Saturday. 

Don’t be afraid if you cannot dance there is always someone willing to spin you around the dance floor. Or even you can be a spectator and watch people do their thing.  

Having fun theme party nights such as the red party, where everyone in the bar wore red and there was a dance show or their flag party, where everyone wore the colors of their countries flag.  There is always something spicy to be done at SamSara.

Drinks are moderately priced like 8 euro for a mixed drink and about 4-5 euro for a pint.  If you are looking for an exotic time and fun check out SamSara!

Caution: Be prepared to sweat!

Location: Dawson St. Dublin 2

Website: http://www.lastampa.ie

The First Bar to Recommend:ICE Bar September 15, 2008

One of the first bars I would recommend in Dublin to go to would be the ICE bar in the Four Seasons of Dublin.  This is one of the most contemporary and innovative bars in all of Dublin with an extensive list of cocktails as well as a sushi bar from 5:30 until 10:00. 

This bar is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5:00 until 11:30, and Friday through Saturday from 5:00 until 1:30.  As well as being available for private events on Sunday and Monday.  

Now for the most important part of the bar… the MOJITO.. ICE has been one of the first bars in Dublin to master and introduce the cuban drink.  On the entire drink menu there are eight kinds of mojitos including a champagne mojito, which puts a classy twist on a simple cocktail.  For those of you who have never heard of a mojito… it is a rum based drink including dark and white rum with fresh muddled mint, limes, and brown sugar.  

The staff of the ICE bar is very knowledgeable group of people in the art of the cocktail.  All having experience for about 3 years working in the bar as well as a few new staff members who have worked for years in other bars. If you are looking for a fancy night or just a quiet drink with great people check out the ICE bar in the Four Seasons, but just remember to bring enough euros with you for the most inexpensive cocktail is 12.50 euro as well as the cheapest glass of wine is 10.50 euro.

The best night to go to ICE is on a Saturday around 9:00pm if you are just interested in cocktails. It tends to fill out with people at that time on a Saturday, whereas a Friday is very quiet.  ICE is also known for its other signature drink the Rasmopolitan, their own twist on a Cosmopolitan.  Instead of a lemon or orange flavored vodka, ICE uses their own Raspberry infused vodka as a base.  During your travels in Dublin, ICE is a good place to go if you want to see the more upscale aspects of life there!

CHECK IT OUT!  http://www.fourseasons.com/dublin/

Testing September 7, 2008

This is not my official first post but this is my checking out how this page works!  There will be more to come!