BAR 1661 and its new sister bar, The Sackville Lounge, are celebrating after winning big at the 2025 Bar of the Year Awards held last night 18th August in Dublin. 

BAR 1661 is has taken the top prize of the night – wining 2025 Bar of the Year, while the Sackville Lounge’s head bartender, Dave Taylor was named Cocktail Bartender of the Year. BAR 1661 also won gold for Cocktail Bar of the Year and Innovative Bar of the Year, rounding off the night with a total of four awards.

The Bar of the Year Awards celebrates excellence and innovation in the Irish bar industry, bringing together bar owners, mixologists, industry professionals, and hospitality enthusiasts from around the country to honour establishments that have made significant contributions to the Irish bar scene.

It’s the second time BAR 1661 has been named best bar in Ireland, having received this recognition of excellence in the Irish bar industry also in 2022

Founded by Dubliner Dave Mulligan, who also makes poitín under his own brand Bán, BAR 1661 brings a staunchly Irish and fiercely independent approach to everything it does, working with the best products and producers on the island of Ireland. 

“Six years ago, we opened BAR 1661 on a street nobody wanted to go to, serving a spirit nobody wanted to drink,” said Mulligan. “To be this relevant today in Ireland’s iconic bar scene is something we never could have imagined. An incredible amount of work from an incredible team of people. Not only did we change the neighbourhood, but we’ve changed the conversation around poitín forever. We are delighted to be recognised on home soil amongst our peers, and are excited for the future of Irish hospitality.”

Other notable winners from the evening included:

• Canty’s Bar from Co. Cork, which won Gold for “Best Live Entertainment Bar”
• Garavan’s Bar from Co. Galway, which was honoured as “City Bar of the Year”.
• The Rooftop Bar & Terrace, Marker Hotel in Co. Dublin won Gold for “5 Star Hotel Bar of the Year”.
• Searsons of Baggot Street in Co. Dublin was awarded Gold for “Best Bar to Watch the Match”

“This year’s winners have not just excelled in mixology and service, but have done so while navigating an exceptionally challenging landscape,” said Jill Thornton, Senior Event Manager for the Irish Bar of the Year Awards. 

You can see the full list of finalists and winners here.