Your guide to the best chocolate spots in Edinburgh
13 Sep 2024
13 Sep 2024
Dublin's festive season
Christmas is the most fun-packed time of the year, with our social calendars and to-do lists often filling up from as early as November. It’s a season for catching up with friends and family over good food and drink, and for soaking up all the Christmas magic that a city has to offer. When it comes to planning those festive get-togethers we’ve got you covered! Here’s a guide to Dublin’s must-visit bars and restaurants to help you and yours celebrate this festive season.
Any Dublin Christmas guide worth its weight in tinsel simply must give a nod to the best decorated pub in the city, The Ginger Man. Long acclaimed for its over-the-top display of lights, tinsel, baubles, holly, Christmas trees and figurines, The Ginger Man serves up a festive atmosphere like no other. Their dedication to creating this Winter Wonderland every single year, both inside and outside the pub, has given them the title of most Christmassy pub in Dublin, and has attracted patrons from all over the world. Behind the dazzling lights you’ll find an extensive drinks menu served by friendly staff, making The Ginger Man a must-visit spot in Dublin this Christmas.
If you’re planning on doing some Christmas shopping on Dublin’s Grafton Street this year, you might also want to wind down afterwards for dinner and a drink at the Westbury Hotel. Located in the centre of Dublin’s shopping district, the Westbury is home to one of the most Instagrammable Christmas trees in the city during festive season. Whether you’re looking for a cup of coffee with a colleague, dinner with your partner, afternoon tea with your family or cocktails with a group of friends, this five-star hotel will add some Christmas magic to your experience. Be sure to visit 30s-style cocktail bar The Sidecar and try their signature Christmas cocktail, Rudolph’s Regret.
Another legendary Christmas spot in Dublin that doesn’t hold back when it comes to decking the halls is Hole In The Wall. This historic Dublin pub is located on the outskirts of Phoenix Park, where wild deer roam free all year round. There’s a touch of magic in the area, and Hole In The Wall adds to it every Christmas by covering every inch of the place in decorations and serving up some of the most wholesome Christmas food in the city. Perfect for an annual festive gathering or a work night out, Hole In The Wall should be high on your Christmas must-see list this year.
From its famous Irish dancing shows to its incredible seafood menu, there’s lots of reasons to visit Johnnie Fox’s, the highest pub in Ireland. Located in the peaceful town of Glencullen, this old Irish pub offers a traditional setting with logs burning on the fire and a well-worn Guinness tap. A perfect time to visit is December, when boughs of holly line the cosy wooden interior of The Haggart Area and there’s a special Christmas menu to warm your bones. There’s live music every weekend too, further adding to the festive atmosphere. Perfect for date night with a difference, or if you want to escape the busy city centre for a while.
At Christmas time we love to stay in and drink hot whiskey by the fire almost as much as we love to go out and drink pints with friends. The Dame Tavern combines these two loves, and as such have established the perfect setting for a cosy Christmas night out. The pub is located in Dame Court, one of Dublin’s busiest social hotspots when it comes to eating and drinking with friends. However, inside this snug little tavern you can escape the madness of the merry crowds and enjoy a quiet drink and a good conversation by the open fire. Also known among Dublin locals as a great spot to watch sports, the Dame Tavern sets the perfect scene for December 26th when the order of the day is drinking pints with friends and watching the horseracing.
Fancy spending your Christmas night out in the building where James Joyce himself once worked? Well, you can! The building is now home to the Woollen Mills, an iconic Dublin restaurant serving up some of the finest local produce for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At Christmas time the Woollen Mills comes alive, offering a three-course festive menu, which you can enjoy as you overlook the beautiful cityscape including the famous Ha’Penny Bridge. Located on the quays in walking distance to Grafton Street, the Woollen Mills makes for a perfect spot to enjoy a pre-shopping coffee, or a post-shopping dinner and drink.
If you’re looking for the perfect spot for your office Christmas party in Dublin, look no further than the Lemon & Duke. This stunning venue has found that sweet spot between the class of a Manhattan cocktail bar and the craic of a traditional Irish pub, and in it you’ll find something for everyone. The gourmet food menu borrows from both European and Asian cuisine, with unique flavour combinations and fresh local produce. When it comes to drinks, Lemon & Duke has perfected everything from the classic draught to the seasonal Christmas cocktail. This year they are celebrating the festive season in style with a curated Christmas menu, offering set dinners and lunches or finger food in the newly refurbished “Snug”.
In 2020 Dublin’s Fire restaurant won the title of ‘Best Luxury Steakhouse Globally’, but every Christmas they prove that they have more strings to their bow than their top quality steaks. This year Fire is hosting a magical Christmas dining experience in its impressive city centre location. Christmas menus have been carefully selected by the venue’s top chefs, combining the best of seasonal produce and festive flavours. Included on the menu is a mouth-watering Brandy and Guinness Christmas Pudding, a must-try for all the Dublin foodies out there. The restaurant will be fully decked out in the finest Christmas decor, further lending to the distinctively festive atmosphere.
