An (intentionally) dated ‘front parlour’ might be Foley’s, the domain of TV’s pottymouth matriarch Mrs. Brown. But for owners Ciarán Smith and Aaron Wall, also of old Dublin town, it’s all about laying on modern Irish hospitality. This, they do with considerable charm, the craic kept up while cracking cocktails keep coming in the darkened, modern, main lounge.
Wogan, a smooth-talking apricot brandy-laced Manhattan, and Taoiseach - a premier sweet red muddle - respectively deploy Teeling Small Batch and Redbreast 12 Pot Still from among a fine range of Irish whiskies. Irish coffee is a given and, made with Hobnob syrup and clarified milk, there’s hoochy Teandabiccie too. Other spirits are available: Star of Bombay gin the base for tart, citrussy martini London Calling.
Snack on chilli or curry chips, charcuterie and cheese boards, or stew made to Wall’s ‘Da’s’ secret recipe. We’re told Homeboy’s back room is set to become Islington’s smallest pub wherein to ‘act the maggot’ over a Guinness and poitín among the bar’s boilermakers, doubtless.