There are few better feelings than sitting in a nice warm bar and looking out at an atrocious winter's day, except perhaps doing so in a bar that overlooks the sea.

The first time I entered the Tyler Street Garage I thought I'd walked into an Irish police station. It was hectic.

Pt Chevalier has something of a split personality.

Now before you get all excited and accuse me of muscling in on a restaurant reviewer's job, I am talking specifically about the bar adjoining this rather lovely restaurant on the first floor of the Spencer on Byron hotel.

I don't usually open these reviews with outright praise, but I first came here for a tasting event and I was blown away.

Once as Irish as a sly dig at a family wedding and now part of the Nourish Group, O'Hagan's is one of the best-situated pubs in the city centre.

Chapel Bar & Bistro is the alter of cool.

This is one of those bars I really wanted to dislike, because every time I passed by there were people sitting outside enjoying a beer while I was stuck in traffic, fuming at the complete inability of people to drive.

I never thought I'd say this, but I've just been into a pub with no beer.

Britomart has become quite a night-time destination in the past five years, with some heavy-hitting operations open in the area.

It's good to be prepared. When the sun does start shining there are rooftop bars and garden pubs to make the most of the blue sky and clear evenings.

A big bar with a big reputation, the big question on my mind was whether 1885 would live up to it.

It's always a funny experience going into a bar that doubles as a cafe.

The Fox has turned into a sporting fortress in the Viaduct.

Ah, Danny's - the most Irish of all the "Irish" bars that sprung up in the early 2000s.

Washroom waits and toilet troubles, over the years Don Kavanagh has seen it all.

I'd walked past this place a few times before deciding to give it a try and I have to say that compared with some of its neighbours I was pleasantly surprised.

Don Kavanagh wonders why we're paying gold-plated prices for domestic beer.