The cocktail bar in Belfast’s Merchant Hotel has become the first bar on the island of Ireland to achieve a coveted ‘two-pin’ status in the Pinnacle Guide.
The rating system, which has been compared to a Michelin Guide for bars, was officially launched in May 2024, with an initial 37 venues across seven countries included.
The three-tier rating system classes bars on being either: ‘excellent’ (one pin), ‘outstanding’ (two pins) or ‘exceptional’ (three pins).
Bars have to self-nominate to be considered, but inclusion is based a series of tests, which include spot check interviews and multiple visits from anonymous reviewers.
London cocktail bar Lyaness is the only venue to date to achieve ‘three pin’ status.
But the Merchant Hotel’s cocktail bar has been added to small list of bars around the world to be awarded two pins.
Just 13 new entrants to the Pinnacle Guide were awarded two pins in the latest announcement.
The Cathedral Quarter hotel bar will retain the status for two years.
Fellow Beannchor group cocktail bar Rattlebag, which is based at Bullitt Hotel in Belfast city centre, became the first venue on the island to be included in the guide, attracting a ‘one pin’ award earlier this year.
The Dead Rabbit in New York, owned by former Merchant barman Jack McGarry, was also added to the prestigious list in the latest round of awards, earning one pin.
Merchant cocktail bar manager, Aaron Dugan, said: “The Pinnacle Guide is quickly becoming the professional yardstick for our industry and to be awarded the outstanding two pin accolade is testament to the hard work and commitment shown by every single member of our team.”
Over the last 18 years, the Merchant has accumulated around 150 accolades, including it’s the AA five red star rating, five star hotel bar of the year at the Bar of The Year Awards, and world’s best cocktail bar at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards.
