Not one Irish Bar in "World's 50 Best Bars"!!

Dowend

The UK leads the 2019 list of 50 Best Bars with 10 bars, while the US has seven. Not one bar in Ireland appears on the list:

http://www.worlds50bestbars.com

Has anyone been to any of the bars in the list? How do they compare to Ireland's best bars?

NotToScale

You usually have to enter these things to be listed.

Dj Stiggie

I haven't been to any on the Top 100 list this year, but I do follow a few of them on Facebook, and have read plenty of articles about a few on the list. Bars like the American Bar at The Savoy are legendary, and the amount of work that goes into providing that level of service consistently year after year is immense. Dan Meehan's Please Don't Tell book is a very good insight into what's needed to make it into that list. PDT used to feature on the list annually.

I've never been to a bar in Ireland that provides that kind of quality and service. And you don't get onto the list for pouring perfect pints of stout. (Look how far the Dead Rabbit has fallen)

Dj Stiggie

NotToScale wrote: »

You usually have to enter these things to be listed.

Not in this case. There's a large panel of anonymous industry professionals that vote, which is why the list is highly regarded.

Atlantic Dawn

Not been in any of them, would be interested opinions of anyone who was.

irish_goat

List should be called "World's Best Cocktail Bars". It's also a certain type of cocktail bar. There's a handful of these on Dawson Street but it's not a particularly common establishment to find in Ireland.

BeerNut

Pure notions.

mayordenis

I couldn't get a lambic in any of these kips.

Creamy Goodness

Considering the list of sponsors and that I'd not willingly seek any one of them out I'm guessing this is a list of bars that stock these drinks.

I have been in one of them though Dead Rabbit in NYC

RasTa

This yoke opened up in Manchester recently.

L1011

I'm not sure I could be bothered going to a bar that got in to that listing.

lee_baby_simms

Can't believe the Cabra House isn't on that list. Shameful omission.

Fian

Dead Rabbit in New York is at number 22, owned by some lads from Belfast.

An Irish bar for the modern age, Dead Rabbit is, conversely, a classic too. Now in its seventh year, the crowds still flock, feasting on the best Guinness in town and the venue’s famous Irish Coffee. If owners Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon’s intentions were to recreate Irish pub hospitality in New York, they were triumphant, but Dead Rabbit can go up the gears too. Climb the stairs to the Parlour and you’ll see why bar manager Jillian Vose is one of the most respected cocktail makers in the USA. The drinks lists are always vast, but each cocktail is a masterclass in the harmonising of ingredients. The bar’s famous comic-book menus are something to behold and have evolved further this year, taking the Rabbit character into a darker realm. So this is a bar but also a brand, with extensions now running to merchandise, whiskey, action figures and also a film. Since last year, the bar’s knocked through to next door, doubling its size.

Draco

I was in the Dead Rabbit a couple of years ago. It was mid week (a Tuesday or Wednesday I think) and it was jam packed. It didn't come across as anything particularly special at the time. My comment on entering to my Canadian friend was "why have you brought me to a provo bar?" - lots of pictures of shinners on the walls.

machaseh

Seems to be mainly geared towards cocktails. I myself rarely ever order cocktails because I find them to dear, 12 quid for a fancy glass with fruits, ice, a little bit of liquor and some juice or soda, nah. I'd rather order two pints for that. I also find myself drinking sweet drinks (cocktails but also for example cider) waaaaay faster than a pint of beer so I get leathered too quickly and end up bankrupt.

The only cocktail I tend to order is a gin and tonic which I suppose you could hardly call a cocktail anyway.

2ndcoming

If I was to nominate one for a notionsy list like that it would be The Horseshoe Bar in the Shelbourne.

partyguinness

There is a difference between a 'bar' and a 'pub'.

NotToScale

I’m highly skeptical about some of those best in the world lists. If you go back through that one you’ll also see it’s very dominated by certain cities and countries, which to me immediately says they’re not looking very far.

To actually comb the entire globe and find the best bars would be an absolutely enormous task, involving vast amounts of footwork and research.

Pinch Flat

Sleeve tattoo and beard optional

is_that_so

Hmm, I order a pint at the bar, the barperson produces it in a polite, prompt and friendly fashion and I'm a happy punter as I continue to lap up the general buzz in said bar. Why does everything have to be an "experience"?

Lewis_Benson

partyguinness wrote: »

There is a difference between a 'bar' and a 'pub'.

This, I like pubs.

colm_mcm

RasTa wrote: »

This yoke opened up in Manchester recently.

Is that a dry house?

Apollinaris

Why am I not surprised? Today I called into Cork’s biggest/best/superset self-proclaimed whiskey bar to enquire about one of their own bottling. The barman didn’t have a clue what I was on about. On the way out I spotted the bottle but I couldn’t even bother anymore to even ask again. Pathetic and a true representation why there is no Irish bars in the top whatever. Incompetent staff is a big turn off.

tedpan

The Connaught Bar in London has an Irish twang about it...

TimeToShine

It's an American list, they see bars and bartending differently from we do.

Irish people value a quiet pub with a good pint and an inconspicuous bartender.
Americans value a talkative flashy bartender doing tricks and flicks making cocktails and lighting stuff on fire.

Have been to a few on that list in London, NYC and one in Mexico City... none would beat the local on a December evening coming up to Christmas.

PowerToWait

TimeToShine wrote: »

It's an American list, they see bars and bartending differently from we do.

Irish people value a quiet pub with a good pint and an inconspicuous bartender.
Americans value a talkative flashy bartender doing tricks and flicks making cocktails and lighting stuff on fire.

Have been to a few on that list in London, NYC and one in Mexico City... none would beat the local on a December evening coming up to Christmas.

Imagine if some people from both countries liked both experiences, depending on mood and inclination. Almost like they were nations of individual people.

Losty Dublin

lee_baby_simms wrote: »

Can't believe the Cabra House isn't on that list. Shameful omission.

Booted out for making their iced tea with Tetley's, so I heard.

Purple Mountain

All is not lost, don't we have Pub Spy every Sunday highlighting the creme de lá creme of Irish boozers?

L1011

Purple Mountain wrote: »

All is not lost, don't we have Pub Spy every Sunday highlighting the creme de lá creme of Irish boozers?

On a notionally six point scale (0-5) that actually has four points (try find a 0 or a 5 - they do exist, admittedly) so not really giving much granular data on them!

Lesalare

Ireland had pubs.

The rest of the world has bars.

Most of the funky/overly designed bars Dublin now has - aka the ones owned by the likes of Press Up group etc.. are just copies of other global city's existing bars. NYC/London/Sydney etc etc.

Clutterluck

Some of the best bars in the world I've been in were absolute ****holes.

A lot of bars in Ireland have the music dialled up too loud, they should be on the list of 50 worst.

the beer revolu

As others have alluded to, the average bar staff here don't actually have any knowledge about drinks. Most won't even be able to tell you the abv of the mainstream beers and are really clueless when it comes to spirits.
This doesn't bother the average, Irish punter who is happy with a pint of Guinness (the serving of which, can be mastered in a few minutes training) and a bit of chat.
However, in a global context, it puts Irish bar staff in the penny place.

BeerNut

the beer revolu wrote: »

However, in a global context, it puts Irish bar staff in the penny place.

The only bar skill of any real practical value is knowing the order in which the customers arrived at the bar and being able to prepare all their drinks and serve them in the correct sequence while also taking more orders. As such, Irish bar staff are the best in the world.

the beer revolu

BeerNut wrote: »

The only bar skill of any real practical value is knowing the order in which the customers arrived at the bar and being able to prepare all their drinks and serve them in the correct sequence while also taking more orders. As such, Irish bar staff are the best in the world.

Yes, I'd agree that we do that part of the service well. Just don't expect any product knowledge.
I accept that most people don't need or want any product knowledge but the lack of basic knowledge about booze amongst bar staff, generally, amazes me.

If we go to a restaurant we expect the server to not only be efficient but to, at least, have a basic knowledge of the menu but for some reason, we don't require this in bar staff.

limnam

BeerNut wrote: »

The only bar skill of any real practical value is knowing the order in which the customers arrived at the bar and being able to prepare all their drinks and serve them in the correct sequence while also taking more orders. As such, Irish bar staff are the best in the world.

It's my experience anyway that even that skill seems to be a dying art.


I'm more likely to be the only one at the bar looking at 2-3 lads messing on phones.


Or constantly having to advise on where I am in the "queue"

Lewis_Benson

TimeToShine wrote: »

It's an American list, they see bars and bartending differently from we do.

Irish people value a quiet pub with a good pint and an inconspicuous bartender.
Americans value a talkative flashy bartender doing tricks and flicks making cocktails and lighting stuff on fire.

Have been to a few on that list in London, NYC and one in Mexico City... none would beat the local on a December evening coming up to Christmas.

Americans are easily wow'd.

Twee.

I've been to number 74, Dry Martini in Barcelona. Thoroughly enjoyable experience, cocktails were expertly made, innovative menu alongside classics (obviously had a dry martini while there!), nice atmosphere, knowledgeable staff. Hoping to visit some of the newer London entrants around Christmas.

It all depends on where your value for money lies. I like trying new cocktails, unusual spirits & liqueurs, and don't mind spending a few euro on two or three drinks I know I will enjoy, with great service and a nice atmosphere. To me, that's worth paying for and I enjoy it as much as a pint in a cosy bar.