The 2025 Irish Bar of the Year Awards, organised by Diarmaid Lennon’s Ashville Media Group, publishers of Licensing World magazine, received over 1,000 submissions, marking a record number of entries.
A total of 200 enterprises and individuals have been shortlisted across 27 categories. The winners will be announced at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin on August 18, 2025.
All finalists will compete for the 2025 People’s Choice Award, determined by public voting:
- Bar Food: Bar Square, Blake’s Bar Galway, Durty Nellys, Gearys BAR, Gertie Brownes Bar and Bistro, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, MeMa’s Dublin, Moody Cafe Vin, Paladar, Peggys Bar & Restaurant, The Blackbird, Ballycotton, The Blue Haven Kinsale, The Goat – Goatstown, The Hideout Pub, The Norseman, The Voyager Bar & Restaurant
- Bar Manager: Akram Bendjeddou, Paladar, Anne Gilhooley, MeMa’s Dublin, Ashley O’Reilly, voco The Club, Darren Geraghty, Hawksmoor Restaurant, Ivan Galic, The Lounge at The Fitzwilliam Hotel, , Jim “Flash” Gordon, Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar, Joe O’Callaghan, Tom Sheridan’s Bar & Restaurant, John O’Connor, The Dáil Bar, Johnno Carroll, Garavan’s Bar, Judy Wilkins, Rising Sons Brewery, Kassie Conneely, Disndat, Michael Sheehan, Franciscan Well Brewpub, Noli Alngohuro, Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar at Ashford Castle, Paul Flanagan, O’Connell’s Bar Galway, Samantha Brauer, r.i.o.t., Zeta Walsh, Moody Cafe Vin
- Bar to watch the match: An Púcán, Cantys Bar, Collins Bar Dooradoyle, Francie Sheahan’s Bar, Jerry Flannerys bar, K Sixty Seven Bar and Grill, Mc Hughs Bar, McGowans of Phibsboro, O’Sheas Corner, Ryan’s Bar, Searsons of Baggot Street, Slattery’s of Beggars Bush, The Central Mrs O’s, The Forty Four, The Paddocks, Woolshed Baa & Grill
- Best designed inside space: 101 Limerick, Dakota, Intermission, JP Clarke’s, K Sixty Seven Bar and Grill, Laura’s Restaurant @ Old Fashioned Sam’s, Left Bank, Moody Cafe Vin, Pig’s Lane, Pitch Ireland, Soho Bar, Venue & Space, The Bank on College Green, The Barrel & Castle, The Granary Bar & Kitchen, The Rag Trader, Vi’s Restaurant & Bar in Lawlor’s of Naas
- Best Live Entertainment Bar: Backstage Bar at Gleneagle Hotel, Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Bar Square, Cantys Bar, Casey’s Bar and Restaurant, Crane Lane, Dunnes Bar, Durty Nellys, Dwyers of Cork, Electric Galway, O’Donoghue Public House, Paddy Macs, Pennyhill Lucan, The Majestic Hotel, The Old Quarter Pub and Townhouse, The Roost Maynooth
- Best Newcomer: 3 Brothers, Ciss Maddens, Fitzgerald’s at The Imperial Hotel Cork, Flight Club Dublin, Gatsby’s, Monk Cocktail Bar, O’Sheas Corner, Old Brennans Wine House, Old Fashioned Sam’s, Parterre, Pitch Ireland, The Barrel & Castle, The Lounge at The Fitzwilliam Hotel, The Make & Mark, The Monks Well, The Sackville Lounge
- Best Wine Bar: Flannery’s Bistro, House Limerick, Moody Cafe Vin, Old Brennans Wine House, Old Town Wine Bar, The Granary Bar & Kitchen, The Savoy Hotel
- City Bar: Capitol Lounge, Costigan’s Pub, Disndat, Garavan’s Bar, Intermission, M. Fitzgerald’s Bar at The Residence Hotel, Mary Mullens, Mutton Lane Inn, NORTH at The Address Connolly, O’Connell’s Bar Galway, r.i.o.t., Seventy Seven, Sinnott’s Bar, The Kings Head, The Oval Bar Cork, The Oval Bar Dublin
- Cocktail Bar: 101 Limerick, 9Below, BAR 1661, Cask, Collins Club, Hawksmoor Restaurant, Her Upstairs, Intermission, Laura’s Restaurant @ Old Fashioned Sam’s, Monk Cocktail Bar, NORTH at The Address Sligo, Paladar, Pig’s Lane, The Brookyln, The Old Quarter Pub and Townhouse, Vintage Cocktail Club
- Cocktail Bartender: Darren Geraghty, Hawksmoor, David Taylor, Sackville Lounge, Jake Murphy, Her Upstairs, Jamie Blair, Disndat, Kiki Rodriguez, 37 Dawson Street, Luka Breskovac, Collins Club, Maroje Milosevic, The Sidecar, Thomas Healy, Upstairs
- Craft Bar: Franciscan Well Brewpub, Lock 13 Brewpub, Mo Chara, Mother Macs Public House, Rascals Brewing Co, Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar, Rising Sons Brewery, The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse
- Five Star Hotel Bar: 1757 at Mount Juliet Estate, No. 27 Bar & Lounge at The Shelbourne Hotel, Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar at Ashford Castle, The Guinness Bar at Cashel Palace Hotel, The Lounge at The Fitzwilliam Hotel, The Rooftop Bar & Terrace at Anantara The Marker Hotel, The Savoy Bar at The Savoy Hotel, The Sidecar at The Westbury
- Gastro Bar: Annie May’s Bar & Restaurant Newcastle, Arthur Mayne’s, Botanic Dublin, Cask, Flannery’s Bistro, JP Clarke’s, Left Bank, Lock 13 Brewpub, Merry’s Gastro Pub, Nevins Newfield Inn, O’Donoghue Public House, Rowley’s Gastro Bar, Seventy Seven, The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse, The Top House, The White House
- Gin Bar: 101 Limerick, Conor’s Bar & Lounge at Castle Leslie Estate, Gin Palace, House Limerick, Lock 13 Brewpub, Mama Yo, The Sidecar, Tigh Nora
- Hotel Bar: Aaron Lounge at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, Backstage Bar at Gleneagle Hotel, Brownes at Great Southern Killarney, Café du Parc at Killarney Plaza Hotel, Cask, HYDE Bar Galway, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, M. Fitzgerald’s Bar at The Residence Hotel, Nanny Kelly’s at The Parkview Hotel, NORTH at The Address Connolly, Oaks Bar & Restaurant at Killarney Oaks Hotel, Sophie’s Rooftop Bar, Cork, The Blue Haven Kinsale, The Bottle Boy at The Mayson Hotel, The Majestic Hotel Bar at The Majestic Hotel, Vi’s Restaurant & Bar in Lawlor’s of Naas
- Hotel Cocktail Bar: Backstage Bar at Gleneagle Hotel, Brownes at Great Southern Killarney, Conor’s Bar & Lounge at Castle Leslie Estate, Fitzgerald’s at The Imperial Hotel Cork, HYDE Bar Galway, M. Fitzgerald’s Bar at The Residence Hotel, no27 Bar & Lounge, The Shelbourne Hotel, NORTH at The Address Connolly, Parterre at Johnstown Estates, Sophie’s Rooftop Bar, Cork, voco The Club, The Collins Club, The Leinster, The George Hotel, Limerick, The Resident’s Bar at Cashel Palace Hotel, The Savoy Hotel, The Sidecar, Westbury
- Innovative Bar: BAR 1661, Barcadia, Collins Club, Flight Club Dublin, Holy Smoke @ Mardyke Entertainment Complex, Lock 13 Brewpub, Mc Hughs Bar, Mo Chara, Mother Macs Public House, Nevins Newfield Inn, Old Fashioned Sam’s, Paladar, Pitch Ireland, Soho Bar, Venue & Space, The Liberty x Resistance, The Top House
- Late Bar / Nightclub: 37 Dawson Street, 4 Dame Lane, Capitol Lounge, Crane Lane, Disndat, Fitzsimons Temple Bar, Gracie’s Sligo, Jerry Flannerys bar, K Sixty Seven Bar and Grill, Left Bank, McGowans of Phibsboro, r.i.o.t., Soho Bar, Venue & Space, The Front Door Pub, The George, Dublin, The Pavilion
- Local Bar, Cantys Bar, Francie Sheahan’s Bar, K Sixty Seven Bar and Grill, Mo Chara, Molloy’s Pub Dublin, Mrs. Robinson Bar, O’Donoghue Public House, Peggys Bar & Restaurant, Slattery’s of Beggars Bush, The Dropping Well – Milltown, The Kenmare Rooms at Killarney Avenue Hotel, The Kingswood Lodge, The Laurels Clondalkin, The Monks Well, The Old Orchard Inn, Vi’s Restaurant & Bar in Lawlor’s of Naas
- Outside Space: 101 Limerick, An Púcán, House Dublin, J.M. Reidy’s, MeMa’s Dublin, Old Fashioned Sam’s, The Anglers Cork, The Barrel & Castle, The Becks, The Granary Bar & Kitchen, The Monks Well, The Old Orchard Inn, The Old Quarter Pub and Townhouse, The Terrace, The Shelbourne Hotel, The White House, Town Leixlip
- Outstanding Customer Service Award: Arcadia, Hawksmoor Restaurant, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Lock 13 Brewpub, Merry’s Gastro Pub, Nanny Kelly’s at The Parkview Hotel, Nevins Newfield Inn, Old Brennans Wine House, Paladar, The Barrel & Castle, The Blue Haven Kinsale, The Granary Bar & Kitchen, The Hideout Pub, The Monks Well, The paddocks, The Village Inn
- Pub Group: Chris Kelly Group, Connacht Hospitality Group, Cork Heritage Pubs, Cosy Joe’s Bar, The Porter House and The Barrel & Castle, Eclective Hospitality Group, Fitzgeralds Group, Leonard Catering LTD, McGettigan Group, NHance Group, O’Donoghue Ring Collection, Rhk Bars, The Blue Haven Collection, The Chawke Group, The Front Door Pub Group, The McGowan Group
- Restaurant Bar: Café du Parc at Killarney Plaza Hotel, Doolally, Hawksmoor Restaurant, House Dublin, Hyde Bar Galway, Isabelle’s, Laura’s Restaurant @ Old Fashioned Sam’s, McSwiggans Steak + Seafood Restaurant, Moody Cafe Vin, Silken Thomas, Kildare Town, The Bank on College Green, The Brookyln, voco The Club, The Creamery Pub & Food Barn, The Gables Foxrock, The Grayson
- Tourist Bar: An Púcán, Durty Nellys, Garavan’s Bar, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Kehoes Pub, Left Bank, M. Fitzgerald’s Bar at The Residence Hotel, Merry’s Gastro Pub, Mother Macs Public House, Peadar kearneys, The Auld Dubliner, The Creamery Pub & Food Barn, The Locke Bar, The Porter House, The Quays Bar Temple Bar, The Voyager Bar & Restaurant
- Traditional Bar: Bobby Byrnes, Francie Sheahan’s Bar, Gracie’s Sligo, J.M. Reidy’s, Kehoes Pub, Mother Macs Public House, Peadar Kearneys, Peadars Bar Moate, Sin É, South’s Pub, The Becks, The Blackbird, Ballycotton, The Irishmans Bar Carlow, The Oval Bar Cork, The Oval Bar Dublin, The Porter House
- Visitor Attraction: Bar 1661, Celtic Nights Dinner & Show, Durty Nellys Bar and Restaurant, Franciscan Well Brewpub, Mickey Finns Pub at The Wicklow Brewery, Nevins Newfield Inn, Rascals Brewing Co, Sophie’s rooftop bar, The Brazen Head, The Hideout Pub, The Paddocks, The Rag Trader
- Whiskey Bar: 1757 at Mount Juliet Estate, Botanic Dublin, Ciss Maddens, Costigan’s Pub, Garavan’s Bar, Mother Macs Public House, Pig’s Lane, Pitch Ireland, Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar, Searsons of Baggot Street, Sonny Molloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar, Taylor’s Bar & Beer Garden, The Horseshoe Bar, The Shelbourne Hotel, The Skeff Bar & Kitchen, The Stag’s Head, Upstairs
- Gail Cotter Special Recognition Award: The recipient of this award will be announced on the night,
