The week around Valentine's Day has been a busy one for Dublin businesses with new cafes, bars and restaurants opening - and some well-known ones closing their doors.
One of these new places will take up the premises of the infamous Berlin Bar which was shut down after a party that breached Covid restrictions in 2020. The new place will open up today, Friday 17th under the name 'Pawn Shop'.
Co-owner and manager David Grier told Newstalk earlier today the new venue has nothing to do with the old operation however. He said: “This is a completely new venture. It is not Berlin re-opening. This is me, a new owner, opening my first business, called Pawn Shop, in the space that was formerly known as Berlin.”
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Mr Grier added: "There has definitely been a serious problem with nightclubs, cultural venues and stuff being ripped out of the city and a lot of kind of more corporate, soulless stuff replacing it so that is definitely something I’m really happy about. To be able to add another dance floor and another place supporting local culture, local artists, local musicians and local suppliers."
Here is a list of the other places that have opened doors for the first (or second) time. We have also included at the end the two venues that have closed down.
Be Sweet Café
The Be Sweet Company is a confectionary boutique inspired by Irish fairies. Now, it has expanded and the owners have opened up their own own sit-in cafe in the heart of Dublin city on Clarendon Street.
A cozy little venue that looks like something out of a fairytale - very much on brand for them - they say they are "offering [us] escapism from the mundane anxieties of life". They serve all things sweet: chocolate, cakes, buns, and all sorts of other pastries.
Angie's Wine and Cocktail Bar
After over 30 years in the bougie bistro game, Roly's have launched a fancy wine and cocktail bar for pre-dinner drinks, after-work tipples, the works. Angie's is now offering "cocktails from €10.95 and an exciting wine list that guarantees value for money".
Check out a video of their opening night below:
505 Coffee
After leaving their previous premises last month, 505 Coffee has set up at Dlr Leisure centre in Loughlinstown. Their opening day is tomorrow so if you were a fan before, make sure to check out their new location.
3fe Gertrude
Another cafe that is reopening, this one after nearly three years of being closed, is 3fe Gertrude. They are finally opening up their doors again and 2for now they will work between 11am and 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
"It is our intention that in time we will add more days and more hours," the cafe owner has said. They have new menus, new artworks and new staff, so if you were a fan before be sure to visit them when you have the time. Their location is 130 Pearse Street, Grand Canal Dock.
Saints & Sinners
After a few weeks away, the coffee Saints and Sinners is back running in Mount Merrion, ready to caffeinate the masses. They also have sandwiches and healthy smoothies for a fiver.
Neighbourhood Wine
After nearly three years on Leeson Street, independent Dublin wine shop Neighbourhood Wine is closing its "spiritual home". They announced the closure in an 'emotional' message, however the good news is that the owners will be opening a new join on Lower Baggot Street in a few weeks' time.
Mulberry Garden
The final venue in our list, the fine dining restaurant announced that after 12 years in business, they will be closing doors in Donnybrook temporarily due to landlord issues. They also said in a lengthy statement on their website they hoped to re-open in the not too distant future.
Will you be checking out any of the new venues? Let us know in the comments below.
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