The Cocktail Bar To Awaken Your Christmas Spirit

Things have gotten very nippy all of a sudden... While we had the longest Summer and mildest Autumn, Winter is here with a blast of ice wind and terrifying storms. Sure Winter is great when you're at home, in front of the hearth with endless tins of Roses, surrounded by your nearest and dearest with nothing to do but binge on Netflix's shoddy seasonal offerings. It is, however, pretty damn rank when you're cycling to work in freezing galeforce winds or waking up in the pitch black to start your day. Sure 'tis (almost) the season to be jolly, but, for most of us there's a fair bit of work and festive obligations to tend to before we can truly put our feet up.

So you're legging it around town some evening, trying to get through your extensive shopping list of presents before the shops close. It's late, it's freezing, and you're considering packing it in.... But then there's this teeny tiny voice at the back of your head saying 'Jesus, I'd love a drink.'. Like the devil on your shoulder, it's tempting you - 'you've deserve it… you've been working so hard... it is nearly Christmas after all and it'd be rude not to celebrate Jesus' birthday….'
And with that you have been swayed, your mind is made up and an alcoholic beverage is going to pass your lips within the next half hour. 'But where to?' you wonder as you stand under the twinkling lights at the top of Stephen's Green, with the faint strains of a busker's rendition of Fairytale of New York emanating from further down Grafton Street.

Peruke and Periwig, that's where you shall go. The downstairs bar may seem pretty run of the mill, but it's the second and third floor lounges where you're headed. Plush velvet chairs, a gigantic open fire, intriguing scents wafting in the air. It seems as if you're in some wealthy nobleman's drawing room with regal paintings adorning the walls, and gorgeous lamps creating a dark glow. However, it is only when you cast an eye over the drinks menu, that you realise that you have made the right decision. A white russian with marshmallow infused vodka topped with tiny toasted marshmallows? A sex on the beach complete with mango shrub and popping candy? This is all a bit too much.

Then, you feel a grumble in your tummy and you realise your last meal was a bowl of Cully & Sully soup at 1pm - frantically, you grab the food menu and to your delight they're still serving food! The cosiness of the room and the deliciousness of your drink combines with the promise of shoestring fries with garlic aioli arriving from the kitchen any second now. And for the first time this December you experience a warm fuzzy sensation which warms you right down to your toes - your Christmas spirit has finally been activated, and long may it last.