The Black Door

You'll need to know about this place to find it – the unmarked entrance on Harcourt Street gives nothing away, but that's entirely the point. Push through that black door and you're into one of Dublin's most deliberately exclusive late-night spots, where the cocktails are serious business and the crowd knows exactly what they're after. The fact that they only bother opening three nights a week tells you everything about their confidence. This isn't a place for casual pints or early evening drinks – you're here because it's past 10pm and you want something proper. The cocktail menu runs deep, the bartenders know their craft, and the atmosphere builds as the night gets later. It's pricey enough to keep the crowds manageable, but worth every euro when you want to feel like you're in on something special.