Wine and dine well rested and with a clear head... or perhaps not

Holy hops

If you’re looking for a new non-alcoholic beer this could be your lucky day. Lucky Saint, a UK brand which launched here over the summer, has already made inroads with listings in such restaurants as Hang Dai and the two-Michelin-starred Dede at Customs House in Baltimore. You’ll also find them at Fresh stores, with a national roll-out in Tesco and Dunnes to follow.

There is certainly an appetite for it. A survey from Drinks Ireland, the Ibec group, showed sales of zero-alcohol beer were up 25 per cent in 2022.

Good things come on small plates

Tucked away on Haddington Road in Dublin 4, Asador Restaurant’s terrace is an all-weather affair, covered, heated and perfect for relaxing over a glass of wine and some small plates. If you’re quick, you might just catch the last vestiges of its Asador Al Fresco offer.

With this, just €49 bags you a bottle of red or white wine, served with your choice of five small plates, from mixed olives or chipirones with smoked pepper aioli to jamón croquetas, designed to showcase Asador’s Mediterranean and wood-fired cuisine. Available Tuesday to Friday from 3pm to 6pm, and Saturday from 12pm to 6pm, for a limited time only, it’s equally perfect for a catch up or a wind down.

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Forbes five star

Forbes Street, the new restaurant at the five-star Anantara Marker, has been making waves down in the Docklands since it opened over the summer. That’s courtesy of executive head chef Gareth Mullins and menus featuring signature dishes such as Flaggy Shore Oysters, John Stone T-bone steaks infused with Pearse Lyons Whiskey, and Irish artisan cheese selections with figs and Irish lavender.

If you fancy making the most of it, the hotel is running an Urban Retreat & Dining offer including one night’s bed and breakfast plus dinner at the restaurant from €490 for two sharing.

Under the Hawthorn tree

The Croke Park Hotel in Drumcondra, part of the Doyle group, has relaunched its Hawthorn restaurant with a brand-new look and a fresh menu, to mark the final phase of a major refurbishment.

The Hawthorn seats 50, with a menu that includes seafood from Wrights in nearby Marino, John Stone steaks, Quigley’s lamb and chicken, plus plant-based and vegan-friendly options.

Event planners take note; its adjoining Garden Terrace is available for private hire, with its own cocktail bar, retractable awning and heaters making it a year-round outdoor space, complimenting the restaurant for alfresco dining and drinks.

Cliff group makes a move on Mount Congreve

If you’re heading to Waterford factor in a detour to newly renovated Mount Congreve House and Gardens. As if the landscape weren’t enticing enough, the venue recently appointed Cliff as the new culinary operator of its cafe.

Cliff group is comprised of such well-known hospitality brands as the Cliff House Hotel, the Michelin-starred House Restaurant, Cliff Beach House and Urchin in Ardmore, along with the Cliff at Lyons estate in Kildare.

The new menu and operations were launched by The Pantry at Cliff team which has run a cafe on the grounds of the 19th century village of the Cliff at Lyons for the past five years.

Mount Congreve recently underwent a €7 million redevelopment, with its Stables Café having been purpose-built in the process. Well worth stopping for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.

Perchance to dream

For those who struggle to sleep on a business trip, check out Hastings Hotels, the North’s swishest chain and owner of such luxe properties as Ballgally Castle on the Antrim Coast, the Culloden and the recently opened Grand Central, a 300-bedroom behemoth, in Belfast. The group has just launched a ‘Perfect Night’s Sleep’ package, at its Culloden and Grand Central properties, perfect for quelling nerves before a big meeting or winding down afterwards.

It’s all about the bed and includes 100 per cent cotton, 300-thread-count bed linen from UK company Vision Linens, which specialises in crafting premium bedding products for luxury hotels; plus a handcrafted 100 per cent natural wool pillow from Galway company Woolow, designed to provide optimal neck support and temperature regulation.

To further enhance sleep quality, Hastings Hotels has collaborated with I Am Self-Care, a Donegal wellbeing brand that creates handcrafted aromatherapy products. Its exclusive pillow spray is infused with 100 per cent pure essential oils such as lavender, ylang-ylang, rosewood and vetiver, designed to have you wake rested and rejuvenated.

The package includes Hastings Hotels’ super-comfy Cloud Beds, Espa bath salts and a chamomile tea turndown. All in all, it’s the perfect recipe for zzzzz.