Dylan Hotel, Dublin - an SLH Hotel

You're tucked into one of those rare Dublin hotel bars that doesn't feel like you're drinking in a lobby. The cocktail menu here shows proper ambition - think house-infused spirits and seasonal ingredients that change regularly, not the tired classics most hotel bars wheel out. The Georgian townhouse setting gives you all the period charm without the fuss, and the staff actually know their way around a proper drink. The crowd skews towards well-heeled locals from the surrounding Ballsbridge area mixed with guests who've done their homework on where to drink in the city. It's the sort of place where you can settle in for a few hours without anyone rushing you along, whether you're after a pre-dinner aperitif or a nightcap that might turn into several.