12 New Pubs of Crissmuss

3rd Dec 2013

It dawned on us this week when planning the annual twelve pubs of Christmas: you can do a tour that includes only new pubs opened in 2013 – that’s plenty weight to suggest things are on the rise - so here’s our guide to the 12 New Pubs of Christmas:

We start proceedings high up on the Northside (what goes up must come down) with (1) River Lane on Blarney Street that has replaced the dilapidated tumbling wreck formerly known as the Ye Olde Tavern that was lying idle for many years. This is a solid, friendly Northside local with a nice mix of ages with a lovely exterior and interior refits. They don’t mess about with quare fancy ales or smelly cheeses served on wooden boards here – just straight forward good time boozing.

On the other hill to the east is (2) The St. Luke’s Wine Tavern sitting pretty next to Montenotte’s favourite watering hole Henchy’s where more discerning drinkers can sip vino and finger tapas while they discuss the price of property on Lover’s Walk.
 

Black teeth and a smile guaranteed

Next it’s down Summer Hill and into MacCurtain Street as (3) Gallagher’s has opened up on the corner of Bridge Street and really tidied up that now bright and busy corner of the city. Its big windows, an increasingly common trend among new bars and restaurants, and candle lit tables beckon those humming-and-hawing outside to try it out. The food is good too – you’ve had two already so you’ll need a sandwich.
 

6 Bridge Street

If you don’t take on fodder here then DJ Eddie Kay’s new place around the corner will fill the void. (4) “6ix” has gone for a South American buzz and opened at the jazz weekend.  

(5) An Camán Inn on Drawbridge Street is your first live music stop and is usually out the door on regular Sunday evenings so you might need a wedge, or a hurley, to fit you and your 12-pubs’a’crissmuss buddies in if there’s a band on here any night over Christmas.

Parnell Place has got a much needed decorative shot in the arm with (6) The Parnell. Of all our city centre streets this one was hit hard by the recession and a few ugly facades continue to give the area a dilapidated look. They’ve just started doing artisan food so this is a good spot to get some soakage on board now that you’re half way through the tour.
 

The Parnell will hopefully turn the tide against the rot of Parnell Place. City Council are about to revamp the south end of it too.

From there your next stop is the reopened Phoenix on Union Quay – now called (7) El Foenix. This completes a nice “all open for business” four-in-a-row along the river with L’Attitude 51, Charlies, El Fenix and the cute new Italian restaurant and wine bar L’Enoteca making this a busy corner of the city centre. Try a pint of Mi Daza if you haven’t had one before.

(8) The Holy Cow on Hanover Street, next to Cubins, and was booming when we visited on the jazz weekend and just around the block, albeit it’s a new bar created within an old bar (9) The Birdie Bar on Washington Street is stepping away from the traditional Reardens image and offers very cheap booze in an attempt to win people away from sitting at home with cans from the supermarket.
 

Holy Cow! Another new pub!

On the otherside of Washington Street (10) The Porterhouse on Sheare Street, which opened in February, is the latest bar offering a mile long list of craft beers (appropriately for your 12 pubs they are offering one of twelve craft beers for €4 over the 12 days of Christmas).

Benny McCabe’s third new bar of on the 2013 list is (11) BDSM on North Main Street next door to last year’s runaway success The Vicarstown (you can walk between their respective smoking areas) and undoubtedly the most noticeably thriving of his three 2013 unveilings. The emphasis here is on alt rock and craft beers with Van Halen or Motorhead urging you to keep the flag flying: you’re nearly there!

'Twould be mainly chains and dildos sister'

And finally for some late licence LOLs (12) The Voodoo Rooms opened in March and has been packing it out every Friday and Saturday night since. Although it still retains the same basic layout as its predecessors Gorby’s and Klub Kaos it has got an expensive makeover and is now dripping in snazzy flashiness. And if you do have room for one last drink: the cocktail bar is one of the best in the city.
 

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT
Just opened last weekend: the bar formerly known as The Goat Broke Loose and Door 51 has reopened as (13) Deep South at 51 Grand Parade.