Our city’s bars are there for us, no matter the mood. Feel like dancing with a bright green cocktail, or pairing whisky and hair metal at two o’clock in the morning? You’d better believe there’s a bar or two for that. But if your idea of a good night out means curling up with a good book and a pint of Guinness, then good news: we’ve jotted down a few of our best-in-class cosy bars, all within the CBD. Let’s get comfortable.

Caretaker’s Cottage

“Tiny” and “cosy” aren’t always interchangeable, but Caretaker’s Cottage walks the line with the sort of ease you’d expect from one of the top 50 bars in the world. The heritage bluestone building – once a church caretaker’s residence – is intimate and stylish like your cool friend’s lounge room, with a little cocktail menu of house specials and rare classics (plus milk punch and pints of stout), vinyl records spinning and a couple of well-chosen snacks.

Bar Margaux

Dimly lit and sealed off from the outside world, there’s something decidedly snug about the basement-level Bar Margaux. The French brasserie menu, with staples like moules frites and cheeseburgers with bordelaise, is as comforting as it comes – the perfect accompaniment to the Paris-via-New York decor. It would be very easy to lose an entire evening here stumped up at the bar, happily picking through the menu (which is available late into the night).

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Dr Watson’s Bar

Dr Watson’s Bar is the upstairs sibling to basement bar The Sherlock Holmes, an old-school English pub ensconced below busy Collins Street. On street level, Dr Watson’s is bright, airy and cheerful – a more modern take on the English watering hole. Head here for real ales and hearty British pies, and roasts that’ll warm you up when the weather gets chilly.

The Charles Dickens Tavern

Walk into the classic pubs of London and, regardless of size, they still feel intimate. Like The Sherlock Holmes, The Charles Dickens pulls off the same trick – it’s decked in timber panelling and patterned wallpaper, football (the round-ball version) and beer paraphernalia, and the smell of toasty English pub food permeates throughout. A pint of ale or Guinness from the gleaming taps, alongside a plate of curry or corned beef, says “cosy” to us.

The Irish Times

It’s not just a paint-by-numbers combination of size, decor and soft furnishings that make for a comforting drinking spot. Usually, it comes down to an atmosphere with less tangible origins. In the case of The Irish Times, it’s something to do with the blend of hospitable service and that big Irish food menu. With stews, shepherd’s pie, and chips with McDonnells curry sauce, it’ll make you feel right at home whether you’re Irish or not. And if you time your visit to coincide with the traditional live music, that’ll set the scene nicely.