Here at Lovin Dublin, we love to discover hidden gems and new places for you to try out. But sometimes, it’s nice to celebrate some of our already-beloved bars and restaurants and remember why they have become the institutions that they are today.
We’ve teamed up with Smirnoff Infusions to give you a fresh look at your city by taking a look at some of our favourite venues in Dublin.
This time, we’re celebrating Opium (formerly Opium Rooms), which has had a number of facelifts over the years. Last year, it got a serious new lease of life, and it has become a super chic venue oozing with finesse.
We are taking a look at the beloved Dublin venue, why we loved it then and why we love it now, and how it has changed over the years.
So let’s go back in time a bit and reminisce about what the bar used to look like.
Well, Opium Rooms was where many people went for their fix of techno and house music both during the week and on weekends. I had so many college nights out here that I’ve lost count.
It had a pretty fab dance floor where you would be in techno heaven.
Now, there’s still plenty of space for a bop, but it’s hella chic, complete with exciting street art on the walls.
The garden area of Opium was always my favourite part of the venue. It looked stunning and there were always DJs providing unreal tunes well into the night.
But look at it now. It’s nothing short of a super sleek botanical garden.
Absolutely everything in the venue has been vamped up, even the entrance. What was once a simple corridor you would walk through to get the bar, is now a portal into this new super swanky venue.
And can we talk about the restaurant for a moment? Because in terms of aesthetics, it has seriously upped its game.
What used to be a dimly lit, chilled out dining space…
… is now an exciting and vibrant space to enjoy gorgeous modern pan-Asian cuisine.
The lounge also got a revamp, transforming into a bright swanky new cocktail lounge where you can live your best bougie life.
And Opium is just one of the venues around the city that will be serving up Smirnoff Infusions, the brand new refreshingly fruity spirit drink from Smirnoff.
