A COUPLE OF weeks ago, the Dead Rabbit Irish bar in New York was named the best pub in the world.
Belfast lads Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon set the bar up in Manhattan four years ago, and it just keeps winning all sorts of coveted prizes.
So this week CNN went along to see what the fuss was about
First and foremost, the craic is what sets Dead Rabbit apart:
People may know about the accolades, and be drawn in by the hype, but they’re staying for the fun.
The cocktails, like the staff, are serious — but served with a wink.
The reviewer has a section entitled “serious drinking” too
Appropriate.
And they’re lavish with the praise:
The tri-level bar features a tap room (with a comfortable Irish pub feel and sizable whiskey list) on the ground floor, and a parlor serving cocktails on the second. The top level is used for private events. The feeling is the same up and down: easy, inviting and non-pretentious
The bar makes an effort to transport you back in time, too:
A rotating but hefty selection of cocktails is listed alongside the illustrated tale of the Dead Rabbit gang, lead by John Morrissey. It’s like a boozy history lesson — and tourists and locals alike appear to eat it up.
They seemed to agree with the bar manager’s assessment as to what makes the place so good:
The music’s right, the lighting’s right, the staff are friendly. You’re not waiting forever for a drink… all of those things come together to make a special bar.
No mention as to whether they sampled the full Irish
They were clearly there to drink – and that’s perfectly understandable.
