There are few things that sound better than cocktails before or after a good film and the Stella Cocktail Club in Dublin provides exactly that. Maintaining its tradition from the 1920s, this bar features an Art Deco design and atmosphere, whilst also providing a modern cocktail menu with both classic cocktails on request and signature film themed drinks. Such concepts are not new, and other bars have similar ideas with neighborhood themed drinks, famous people and even planets from the solar system.

Dublin mostly gets overlooked as a cocktail destination, compared to the sheer popularity of Guinness and Irish whiskey, but hidden gems such as these end up being quite popular with both locals and a few tourists. When reviewing what was ordered, the Dry Martini was certainly a classic and was served with gin (although a vodka version is available) and thankfully three olives (is an even number of olives still considered bad luck?). As for the other cocktail, the Plastic World (the Barbie one), which contained Absolut Peach, Pineapple Juice, Chambord, Hibiscus Syrup and Lime was surprisngly well balanced and not overly sweet. There was also some decoration on the head of the drink (the type you would see on a fancy latte), which was certainly a nice touch. Overall, both cocktials were well made and reasonably priced.

When exploring the food menu, which mostly consisted of sharing plates or mini bites you would accompany your drink with, The Cicchetti (crunchy baguettes with a possible choice of Creamed Cod, Mushrooms, Spicy Chorizo or Mozarella and Tomato toppings) did seem to be a standout, with a strong umami flavour to complement the martini. Other options included the Patatas Bravas, some Garlic Chilli Prawns and sharing platters of cheese and charcuterie. Prices for these options were also surprisngly reasonable, especially considering the decor and “high-end-ness” feel of the bar.

The cocktail bar belongs to the main Cinema building, which was restored in 2017 and shows films daily. Although it is no Odyssey IMAX screen, it is still popular and quite busy at peak times and can be a great evening outing.