Three Irish bars awarded PINS by The Pinnacle Guide
Three Irish bars are raising the bar for cocktail culture in Ireland with their inclusion in The Pinnacle Guide, the international one, two and three PIN recognition system for the world’s best cocktail bars.
Just 61 bars have been newly recognised with PINs, 43 with one PIN and just 18 with two PINs, following a rigorous assessment of excellence, both behind and in front of the bar
BAR 1661 in Dublin joins the exclusive list with two PINs denoting ‘Outstanding’, one of only 18 new two PINNED bars worldwide, while The Sidecar at The Westbury in Dublin and Pig’s Lane in Killarney were each awarded one PIN, denoting ‘Excellent’.
Ireland’s inclusion in this 2025 edition of The Pinnacle Guide demonstrates the quality of Irish cocktail culture, its potential to complement the country’s international reputation as a food destination, and a future-focused, global outlook, apart from more traditional expectations.
Whether an independent concept driven bar acting as a creative flagship for the capital’s cocktail scene, an impeccable five-star hotel bar offering a luxury experience, or an independent owner-operated bar bringing world-class cocktails to a regional destination, a collective commitment to using the best of Irish spirits and ingredients, and passion for authentic hospitality shines through on the global cocktail stage.
“We couldn’t be happier at this result for Ireland’s bar scene in our latest announcement for The Pinnacle Guide,” commented co-founder Hannah Sharman-Cox.
“Our recognition system uses a universal judging metric – this news confirms Ireland’s cocktail culture is worthy of being recognised at an international level.
“We hope that more bars across the country now feel encouraged to step forward and be recognised for the fantastic work they are doing.”
Considered to be the most comprehensive accolade for cocktail bars globally, The Pinnacle Guide is rapidly becoming the ultimate symbol of excellence and a trusted resource for discerning drinkers around the world.
The pioneering recognition system was created with the mission to challenge the status quo and is the first to formally reward exemplary standards on both sides of the bar.
Starting with a transparent self-nomination process, The Pinnacle Guide first evaluates bars across key criteria, including their drinks program, staff welfare and sustainability efforts.
This is followed by multiple in-person anonymous reviews by a global network of industry enthusiasts and experts.
With the latest additions to its revered list, there are now a total of 146 PINNED bars in 14 countries around the world since The Pinnacle Guide launched in May 2024.
Just 61 bars have been newly recognised with PINs, 43 with one PIN and just 18 with two PINs, following a rigorous assessment of excellence, both behind and in front of the bar.
There were no new three PINs, denoting ‘Exceptional’ meaning Lyaness in London is still the only three PIN bar in the world.
PINs are held for two years when bars can reapply to retain or raise their current PINNED status.
In 2024, the Merchant Hotel and Rattlebag in Belfast were both awarded PINs, and with the inclusion of BAR 1661, The Sidecar and Pig’s Lane in this edition, the Republic of Ireland joins the prestigious guide for the first time.
Keep up to date with Ireland’s new PINNED bars @1661bar, @thesidecardublin, and @pigslane via Instagram.
View the full list on www.thepinnacleguide.com or follow @thepinnacleguide on Instagram.
