Opened in 2019 on the corner of Green Street and Little Britain Street, BAR 1661 set itself an ambitious goal of bringing poitín –  Ireland’s once outlawed native spirit – back to the forefront of cocktail culture. Six years on, it has not only succeeded but become a standard-bearer for modern Irish hospitality. Founder Dave Mulligan and his team have built a bar that is both fiercely independent and deeply communal, showcasing Irish producers at every opportunity while welcoming an international audience with open arms.

The space itself balances contemporary Irish design with nods to tradition. A striking sycamore island bar anchors the room, framed by wraparound windows that flood the venue with light by day and create an intimate glow by night. Booths, banquettes, and a snug offer degrees of privacy, while outside, a terrace spills onto Little Britain Street, alive with locals on sunny afternoons. Inside, warm timber, stone textures, and thoughtful lighting create a backdrop that feels both modern and unmistakably Dublin.

Hospitality is table-led and quietly generous. Guests are greeted by a host, essential on busy weekends when queues form at the door, and once seated, are welcomed with water and a complimentary milk punch made from repurposed ingredients. This small serve is always poitín-based, a subtle introduction to the spirit at the heart of the bar’s mission. Drinks are paced with precision and at the end of each visit the bill arrives with a brass presenter, business card, and loyalty stamp for the signature Belfast Coffee.

The drinks programme is ambitious in scale and execution. BAR 1661 operates like a drinks atelier, with over 100 house-made components produced each week. From acids and sorbets to fat washes and carbonations, the prep list is exhaustive, honed through years of producing bottled cocktails at scale via the sister brands Craft Cocktails and Little&GREEN. Service runs on a four-station system more akin to a kitchen brigade, with every bartender – right down to the barback – responsible for a section of the menu, ensuring consistency across the 28 drinks.

That menu, presented in an 84-page hardback book printed in Ireland, reads like a celebration of community. Entitled We Call This Power, it highlights collaborators from across the country including distillers, glassmakers, furniture designers, and farmers whose work underpins each cocktail. Photography leans on high-fashion styling, reinforcing the sense that this is more than a drinks list; it’s a manifesto.

Beyond the glass, BAR 1661 invests deeply in its team and community. Staff retention is unusually high thanks to salaried positions, structured development plans, and opportunities to travel for international takeovers. Locally, the bar has worked to revitalise its corner of Dublin, supporting neighbouring charities, hosting fundraisers, and championing nearby producers.

BAR 1661 is more than a cocktail bar. It is a cultural project and a bold statement about Ireland’s native spirit that sees itself as a platform for its producers.