Totally Dublin 1
BARFLY CHANGING TIMES AT THE SWAN These days it’s
regarded as one of the city’s finest Victorian pubs, but anoraks will no doubt be aware that strictly speaking The Swan Bar predates the Victorian era by some two hundred years. That said, its interior is in fact distinctly Victorian in character thanks to a makeover by Thomas F. O’Reilly in the year 1897. Over the years, in addition to dispensing generous measures of wine, beer and spirits, the Swan also ran a thriving grocery where ‘essentials’ such as tea, coffee and snuff could be readily obtained. According to the pub’s website, plans are currently afoot for the addition of a new store and rooms on the corner of Aungier Street and York Street. Whatever provisions may be on offer there in the future, we suspect snuff won’t be having a moment anytime soon, though with the speed of changing times, who knows? Speaking of which, the Swan is one of the founders behind the Changing Times Brewery, which launched just over two years ago in Glasnevin. They’ve created the lovely Hazy After Hours Pale Ale, a light coloured brew which boasts a vibrant hop aroma of citrus, pineapple and mango, making it an ideal summer tipple for those who fancy a change at this time of year. @the_swan_bar WHISKEY GALORE AT THE PALACE TWO FOR THIRTY We’re always on the hunt for decent value in the city’s hostelries and we reckon that at €30, the two-course Pre-Show Dinner menu currently on offer at The Legal Eagle is definitely a steal. Recent years have seen the northside gastropub consistently delivering classic dishes elevated well beyond the usual suspects, with confident kitchen craft evident in every plate. Continuing that tradition, this great value menu kicks off with starters including delicious Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Ranch and Celery, and silky Hummus loaded with Roasted Chickpeas, pops of pomegranate and warm focaccia for scooping. Mains include beautiful Monkfish Scampi with Green Pea Guacamole and Fries, rich Pie of the Day with Buttery Mash and Gravy, and vibrant Beetroot Risotto scattered with candied walnuts and vegan Ardsallagh cheese. On the dessert front, the Affogato delivers a caffeine hit with Bean Inspired’s El Bombo espresso over their signature vanilla malt milk sorbet, while the apple and berry crumble lands squarely in cosy heaven territory. Add a great pint, a decent glass of wine or a drop of something stronger from the bar, and you can see why we rate it one of the sharpest dining deals in town. Settle in and enjoy a great feed before the curtain rises on the show of your choice. Mon to Sat, 5-6.30pm. thelegaleagle.ie 34 The city’s whiskey lovers have something seriously special to sip on this summer as The Palace Bar unveils an exclusive 25 Year Old Single Cask Redbreast release. One of the rarest bottlings currently available on the Irish market, the imaginative collaboration involving Midleton Distillery Master Blender David McCabe and Palace Bar owner Willie Aherne sees the whiskey matured for a full quarter century in a single Oloroso sherry cask before being bottled at a hefty 57.6% ABV. The cask yielded just 507 bottles, making this a seriously limited release for collectors and whiskey obsessives alike. Flavour wise, expect rich notes of dark fruits, roasted coffee, leather and dark chocolate on the nose, followed by warming spices, oak tannins, cinnamon, nutmeg and dried fruits on the palate, before a long, lingering sherry-soaked finish. Bottles priced at €770 are currently available exclusively through The Palace, but for those who don’t quite have the readies to splash out on a full bottle, The Palace Bar is also offering a special Redbreast Cask Strength Tasting Flight until the end of June. Featuring pours of the new 25 Year Old alongside Redbreast 17 and 12 Year Old Cask Strength expressions, it’s yet another great reason to pull up a pew at the counter of the popular Dublin bar this month. @thepalacebar