Mojo: Music for the People

They’ve got their neon mojo workin’ on me.

One of many bars along the Merrion Street strip, Mojo brands itself as a music lover’s haven. Band posters cover the walls, and you can request any song to be played from its vast catalogue. There’s also no need to wonder, “what’s this track?” because they have a TV screen above the bar that always shows what’s playing.

There’s also something distinctively American about Mojo, possibly going for a Beale-Street-blues-club vibe. We visited on a weekday right after work, and it was very quiet, which provided for a lovely (even cosy!) atmosphere. However, on a crowded weekend night, it’s likely to feel quite claustrophobic as the massive booths don’t leave much room for standing. There is an upstairs floor, but it seems only to be open when live music is going.

The bar area. Check out the massive booths!

Though they have no taps whatsoever, their bottled beer selection is certainly adequate: Brooklyn Lager, Anchor Steam, Ilkley MJ, Cusqueña, Alhambra Reserva, and Goose Island are all available. They’re definitely on the pricy side, (£3.50-£4.80), but for a special touch, you can enjoy your lager in a frozen glass! Their main focus seems to be cocktails, and they even offer a range of classes for would-be mixologists.

This is a spot we would definitely visit again for an after-work, pre-dinner cold beer. The music is great, the staff friendly, and the setting very inviting. It will also appeal to people looking for a lively weekend night spot, but at those times the thronging crowds would most likely sap us of our mojo.