Like just about everyone else in the country, we’re not loving lockdown. Yes, we know it’s important, and we’re sticking to the rules (for the most part), but it’s hard when you miss your family, friends, restaurants and going outside.
We have many questions that revolve around food and eating out - when will our favourite cafes, bars, and restaurants open again? How will they manage when social distancing means that their occupancy levels are reduced dramatically? Is there a bowl of Las Tapas de Lola’s croquetas de jamón out there somewhere thinking about us as much as we’re thinking about them?
When lockdown started, we had big plans. Three months later, we’re doing a lot less online yoga than the amount of time we’re spending in yoga pants would suggest, and our ginventory is running embarrassingly low. Thankfully, we’ve discovered that lots of places in Dublin are now delivering cocktails or cocktail kits to your door, or making them available for collection. Yes, we’ll remember 2020 for lots of negative things, but Negronis on demand is not one of them. Here’s who we're calling when we want the good stuff.
Vintage Cocktail Club
One thing we really miss is getting dressed-up and going out. We’re not saying everyone has turned into a slob overnight, but we haven’t seen a pair of heels since March and can't remember how to put on lipstick. If you want to inject some glam into your evening, the cocktail kit from Vintage Cocktail Club is a definite way to do it. They sent us one to try last week which included glassware, ice, and garnishes, bar snacks, as well as a mixture of cocktails. We tried the Condor Curley Sue, the Gimlet and the Hanky Panky - all delicious. The only thing we didn't get was the inclusion of hand-carved ice marked to highlight which cocktail they went with. Risky business in these temperatures, and they'd melted a bit by the time they arrived, then took on a wonky shape in the freezer, but overall it's a lovely gift, to yourself. Available on Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats.
Mad Yolks At The Fourth Corner
Let’s be honest, without booze, brunch is just a sad breakfast. Luckily for us, Mad Yolks’ location inside The Fourth Corner bar means that lovely breakfast sandwiches can now be collected or delivered (location dependent) with a range of fresh cocktails every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Or you could forego the food and just head straight for the mojitos, passion fruit margaritas or sangria. Bonus points here for pricing too, with drinks starting from a very casual €4. Check out their Instagram page for order and collection details plus info on delivery areas and prices.
Hang Dai
Hang Dai has been one of our to-go takeaways over the past few months and we were very happy to see that cocktails are now available for collection and delivery via Deliveroo. As you’d expect from Hang Dai, they’re pretty extra, and come in sizes up to 1 litre. See their website for all the info.
Ukiyo
If you’re not familiar with Ukiyo, it needs to go on your list for when everything is fully open and operating again. Reasonably-priced sushi, bento and ramen with karaoke booths downstairs make it a popular spot for group outings (remember groups?). However, our personal karaoke rule is, if you have to do it, don’t do it sober. Available for delivery or collection, they have a lovely range of cocktails including Aperol spritz and negronis. We added a bottle of The Kneeler (basically gin with ginger in every form known to man) to a recent order and would highly recommend - we especially loved the attention taken to include ice and garnishes. You could always fire up Spotify for your own karaoke experience and order a second bottle for the wall-sharing neighbours by way of an advance apology? All information is on their website.
Old Street
Continuing to make everyone who doesn’t live in Malahide jealous of those who do, Old Street now have cocktails for collection and delivery - thankfully Dublin-wide. They make a great add-on to their new summer BBQ packs, or their takeaway food menu. Get all the details on their website.
Bar 1661
Located just off Capel Street, Bar 1661 is now doing contactless collection, Dublin delivery every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and even nationwide delivery via some partners. Look, we’re not saying spending every Saturday in bed with a bottle of Tommys Margarita is a wise thing to do, but everything in moderation right? All details are available here.
Catch Events
One of the first Covid cocktail kits we saw hitting the market, Catch Events’ Quarantini Box changes weekly and contains everything you need to make four specially-selected cocktails - even the glasses (though there is an ingredients only version). The kits, delivery only, are very cute, plus there’s nationwide delivery, so it's a great way to enjoy a drink with friends when you can’t be near them. There are non-alcoholic kits available too, and as N/A goes, they've very enjoyable. Orders can be placed through the website.
Osteria Lucio
Osteria Lucio on Grand Canal Quay have made lots of their menu available for collection and delivery (through Deliveroo), plus there’s a range of cocktails to go with your pizza or pasta. Their cocktail list is one of the more extensive we’ve seen and includes a strawberry French 75, passion fruit mojito, and a limoncello Collins. We’re very tempted to stock our fridge. See their website for info.
Drop Dead Twice
Drop Dead Twice on Francis Street has takeaway cocktails available for collection on Friday and Saturday afternoons, including the cool as a cucumber martini, and the bueno espresso martini. Details are on their website and you can pre-order.
The Blind Pig
It feels kind of fitting that The Blind Pig, a speakeasy and prohibition era-inspired bar on Suffolk Street, gets the opportunity to do some bootlegging through home delivery. The cocktail menu is very extensive and features extras like bar snacks and syrups for your home bar. They’re also doing pizza. Check out their website for details.
L. Mulligan Grocer
As you’d expect from a click and collect service from L. Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter, there’s an impressive range of handcrafted food and snacks, plus charcuterie and cheese boards with a heavy focus on Irish products. Provenance isn’t lost when it comes to their cocktail kits for home either - the most recent one combined Mór gin, Irish strawberries and apple molasses sugar syrup from Highbank Orchard in Kilkenny. This week it's whiskey, and feel free to add on some growlers of craft beer and black pudding bon bons. Information is available here.
Dillinger's, 777, The Butcher Grill
Have to admit to looking up home slushie machines when bottles of Margaritas appeared on our Insta feed - we could really do with some frozen alcohol right about now. These bad boys are available from Dillinger’s, 777, and The Butcher Grill for collection, but you can also find them under Dillinger’s on Deliveroo and Just Eat for delivery, depending on where you’re based. Information on how to order is on the 777 website.
Anti Social
Anti Social, the new bar on Francis Street, barely opened before Covid forced them to close their doors, but while the rest of us were busy making banana bread, they were making cocktails. Their selection is impressively huge, and features a boozy berry slushie that not only looks delicious but possibly like it could pass for a juice on that 17:00 work Zoom. See all details here.
Wigwam
Wigwam on Middle Abbey Street is doing takeaway food, now with added alcohol thanks to their cocktails to collect. Dark and Stormys and Cuba Libres are available, plus pretty killer looking Espresso Martinis regularly feature, with an extra kick thanks to Vice Coffee. We feel seen. Info is on their website.
The Bath Pub
The Bath Pub on Bath Avenue seems to be spreading joy to locals with their pints delivery service. They also have wine and cocktails including Aperol spritz, Pimms, passion fruit martinis, and margaritas. See their website for information and delivery info.
Baggot Street Wines
If you’re more of a wine lover at heart, Baggot Street Wines have put together a wine mixer case for delivery. It includes six easy drinking wines along with tasting notes and cocktail recipes. See more information and order on their website.
