N0022 Hill 16

A bouncer on the door at 5:30 on a weekday, and a completely wrong order. Usually these would be quite bad signs for a pub, but I'm willing to think here that both may just be down to the pub being only open for a short period of time, and needing to settle in.

I had assumed that Hill 16's non-reopening after the pandemic wasn't a sign that it was closing - but then the entire building was put up for sale, with the pub as vacant possession. Even then, there had been a previous closure after which the same operators returned. However, this didn't happen and a new Instagram account appeared in the Spring for a new pub here... and nothing happened, for quite some time.

Eventually, it reopened in time for one of the semi-finals in Croker, a typical day when this pub would be out the door. It would seem that the new operators are Brazilian, and are promoting the pub as both a Brazilian bar and as a normal local Dubs pub - their social media accounts have covered bingo nights as well as Brazilian events. 

Dublin has had one or two Brazilian bars at a time for quite a while now - I visited 1006793 3 Spirits (now closed) and 1013727 Wasabi (still open) previously. They can be good fun when busy, and have always been very approachable for a non-Brazilian, even when not explicitly looking to keep the local regulars as Hill 16 is. And based on the customers there when I visited, this is definitely working

Like Wasabi, this pub is heavily promoting that its food is available on Deliveroo - but it was abit early to see if this was as busy as it is in Wasabi.

Now - on to the wonky order. I asked for two pints of Lagunitas, but the keg was empty and needed changing. What was then connected to the taps was not Lagunitas, and what was delivered was two palatable pints of a not very bitter, quite dark ale. Probably Cute Hoor, actually drinkable unlike the only previous time I'd ever had it (and the only time I actually ordered it); but I really couldn't be bothered with arguing. 

The pubs interior is in good nick, albeit with some odd choices - lots and lots of TVs showing the menu, hotel stacking chairs (the type you've sat on at every wedding) at the tables. 

There should be a market for this as a Brazilian bar, and the big match weekends should keep the tills ringing also. Hopefully it succeeds.