Christmas in Dublin: The best festive food, drinks and frolics

Nest for a night

If you're planning on a night on the tiles in the capital this Christmas, the new Wren hotel on Andrew's Lane in Dublin might be just the ticket. Rooms are small – it's billed as an "urban nest" – but as cosy as that implies. As well as a central location, the main draw may well be that the 137-bedroom property reckons it's the first hotel in Ireland to comply with the World Green Building Council's definition of net zero – without having to purchase carbon offsets. The food's pretty cool, too, with head chef Ronato Palmer sourcing as locally as possible, sending packaging back to suppliers and promising to actively seek out "ugly fruit and wonky veg", in a bid to reduce waste too. The hotel does, however, make use of good-looking Irish suppliers, right across the property, including the Handmade Soap Company, Niks Tea and Contour Coffee. The entire wine list at its Alt Bar is organic and it champions smaller distilleries as much as possible, and cheers to that.
wrenhotel.ie

To the hen house

Those looking for a Christmas catch up with clients or colleagues should follow their beak to The Green Hen, a casual French-style bistro on Exchequer Street that has long been a favourite for birthdays, anniversaries and special events. It's the perfect option for a Covid-era Christmas get-together, too, with a private dining option for up to 30 guests. Sample mains include grilled rib-eye with Béarnaise sauce, roast North Atlantic cod with Jerusalem artichokes, girolles and red wine jus; and Moroccan vegetable tagine – so something for everybody.
thegreenhen.ie

Christmas cocktails

Raise a glass or three at award-winning Bar 1661, hospitality veteran Dave Mulligan's cocktail bar just off Capel Street. The hospitality veteran, who single-handedly brought poitín out of the shadows and into a snazzy glass, opened in April 2019 and was just hitting his stride when the pandemic hit. With bills to pay and a great team of staff to keep, he developed craftcocktails.ie, so fans can get its famous premium hand-made cocktails delivered to their door. Or just drop in and enjoy the friendly vibe. Food is served 4pm-10pm, Wednesday to Friday, and 2pm-10pm at weekends, and includes lovely light dishes such as Irish rock oysters with fresh lemon broad beans and ricotta; salt beef from McCarthy's of Kanturk, with pickles and mustard on a toasted bagel. It works with great suppliers, too, including Arun Bakery, Sheridans Cheesemongers, Gubbeen Smokehouse, Kish Fish and Gleneely Foods.  
bar1661.ie

Bartender’s choice

Support local makers in your corporate gifting and discover some fine gin at the same time at the Bartender Collective. Another pandemic idea that turned out to be a keeper, the collective is a network of bartenders creating premium spirits by bartenders, for bartenders. Their first product, Trade Secrets Gin, was launched last year and won the World Gin Award for Best London Dry Gin, an amazing result. It's available online from €49.50. Now, fuelled by a successful Kickstarter campaign over the summer, the plan is to bring more small-batch premium spirits to market.
thebartendercollective.com

In the pink

Pink, the latest addition to the Oliver Dunne Restaurant Group (which includes such venues as Beef & Lobster, Cleaver East and Ribeye Steakhouse) balances up that somewhat red-blooded list with Pink, on South William Street. Truly a vision, the walls are pink, the flatware is pink and even the dishes have a bán-dearg hue to them. It's run by an all-female team, headed up by head chef Jennifer Walsh, and you'd expect it to be unique, except that it has a Pink bar in Malahide too. Genius. Open for lunch weekdays noon-6pm, and dinner from 5pm. It does the most Insta-friendly afternoon tea imaginable, too, if that's what floats your candy-coloured boat.
pinkrestaurant.ie

Chocs away

Hamper season is officially in full swing. If you've a client to impress or a supplier to thank, check out the new service from Barnhill Stores, an artisanal store in Dalkey, which delivers nationwide. Push the boat out with its Vico Hamper, a giant gift box that costs €169 and includes a festive confection of speciality wines, chocolates, soft drinks, cheeses, sweet and savoury sweet meats, plus the all-important posh crisps.
barnhillstores.ie