Dandelion - Dublin Road, Ratoath

My friend and I were out scouting for some good cocktail specials when we found Dandelion. They have a great drinks list with cocktails ranging from €5-€10. My friend was so excited, she volunteered to grab us drinks while I held down a table. 10 minutes later, she comes back with a sour face, empty handed. I asked her what had happened and she told me she stood there for 10 minutes and nobody took her order. So I went ahead and ordered drinks at the bar, doing my best to get the bartenders's attentions. Standing there, waiting my turn, I noticed a few things: 1. They don't acknowledge your presence. 2. They don't wear smiles--like it's illegal to have a curve on your face. 3. Their attitudes are incredibly sour. 4. They hate their jobs and can't be bothered. After waiting, the bartender made a few glances and saw I was next. Then another person shows up and he helps her first. To which she insisted that I was there first. Because I was. I ordered the Skittle Martini and a Bahama Mama. I'd recommend the Bahama Mama, but my drink was 90% ice, 5% Bahama, and 5% Mama. Drinking the Skittle Martini brought me back to when I was sick and had to survive on cough medicine. I don't see myself coming here anytime soon, and neither should you. Seriously, not worth it.

I seem to be drinking a lot of cocktails lately. Thats no bad thing I suppose. There are just so many to choose from. On a Tuesday after work I found myself sitting at the bar in Dandelion with my buddy R. We had a couple of groupon vouchers for three cocktails each to use up. They have quite a decent cocktail menu I have to say. As it wasn’t that busy we had the pleasure of talking to two of the loveliest bar staff I’ve ever met. Eveleen and Darragh. She was Polish and he was Irish and they had a great bit of banter trying to out do each other making us cocktails. I’d return just for them alone. The Classic Martini €10) was first. A classy drink which is pretty much just pure alochol and some olives. Apparently a ‘dirty’ Martini is made with adding a little of the juice the olives are resting in. I never knew that. It was a bit strong for me but R wolfed it down. The more refreshing Rosy Cooler €10) was next. Vodka muddled with strawberries, fresh mint leaves, lime wedges, syrup and topped with apple cider. Now that was a tasty cocktail I have to say. Full of fruit from the strawberry and a nice little tang off the apple cider. The big girl in me ordered the Skittle Martini €5) next. Made with Skittle infused vodka, orange liqueur shaken with orange juice and topped with Grenadine in a Martini glass. Delicious but a little sweet. I’d probably only be able to drink about three of these in a row ! R opted for the more manly Whiskey Sour €8) next. Made from, as you can guess Whiskey, fresh lemon juice and egg white. I’m not usually a fan of Whiskey based cocktails but this one was an exception. Quite a kick but very drinkable. To finish off we both went for a Honey Comb €8). Baileys and Mickey Finns butterscotch, fresh cream, milk and finished with sprinkled chocolate flakes. Our lovely bar girl also threw in a bit of fruit and the chocolate flakes in a heart and star shape. Sinfully good but like the Skittle Martini I wouldn’t be able to manage too many these. It’s like drinking a box of chocolates. Overall a great visit I have to say.

Dandelion is a busy little spot at the top of O'Connell Street. It's a popular place, serving food all day, as well as a good selection of drinks. Their bar is well stocked, and does have that slightly higher price than other places due to the location, but it is worth the money. Come nighttime, the place is hopping, with live bands, and a nightclub, if you're looking for a boogie. It's a classy, upmarket spot, and it's worth visiting.

Very nice ambient, and lots of TVs if you come to watch a game. Prices are fair and they have a good range of cocktails.

I love and despise this place in equal measure. The bar upstairs is quite nice, the cocktails are cheap and cheerful (nice but not the highest quality cocktails think Mickey Finn's Raspberry used instead of Grenadine) and the bartenders are wonderful. The decor is quite cool if very dramatic. The nightclub however is probably one of my least favourite places in the entire city. It's a cattlemart, the dancefloor is literally a pit in the ground and the stairs to get down there are death traps. They fill waaaay overcapacity and it's actually quite scary when you're in the dancefloor very claustrophobic! Music is typically chart etc. I've been here way more times than I'm proud of, and I'm never going back.