Month: March 2025

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: The Wind Jammer

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Outside The Wind JammerLocals know this, but the visitor to Dublin may not know that horse racing is Kind of a Big Deal. There are endless ads from the various wagering platforms leading up to some of the larger race meetings, and as we’re in the middle of Cheltenham Week*, it seemed appropriate to venture to one of the many Old Man Pubs that draw in the betting racing crowd. And so, to The Wind Jammer.

Of course, there’s more to the pub than this; it’s one of the few remaining early houses that’s actually using its license as intended, and you can grab a pint as early as 7 am. We did a Beer Ladies Podcast (back soon!) on early houses a few years back, recorded live at Slattery’s, though these days, even there they open at the comparatively late hour of 9 am most days. Early houses have been in steady decline for decades, as their core clientele of dock workers and market porters have disappeared, though you do still get medics on night shifts and late-night clubbers, along with a set of regulars. And while we are not *just* a Three Castles Burning stan website, the recent episode on the state of early houses is well worth your time – give it a listen.

The bar at The Wind JammerBut back to The Wind Jammer: the exterior looks more than a little tired, but once in the door, it’s perhaps surprisingly tidy and well-wallpapered – not to the standard of the much-newer Morris Bar, of course, but in really rather good nick, all told. Our small crew had no trouble finding a comfortable table and were immediately trading race day tips with regulars. And while there are no craft or independent options, you can get a Beamish, and there’s plenty of Guinness 0.0 for more responsible day-drinking.

A pint of Guinness 0.0 at The Wind JammerWhile it’s only a short walk from more ‘hipster’ bars like The Dockers Bar and the various tech company offices that have sprung up nearby, it maintains very much an inner-city pub feeling – no frills, mostly regulars, but at the same time, no ‘Slaughtered Lamb’ feeling when office workers or tourists stop in; it’s a warm welcome for all.

So while there are probably not many modern use cases for the 7 am pint, and even fewer places to obtain one, you’ve still got The Wind Jammer. Whether you’re stopping in for a pint while visiting or if you have a hot tip on a horse, you’ll be in good company.

Where: 111 Townsend St, Dublin 2, D02 TX96
Access from the city centre: Buses C1/C2/C3/C4, 15A, 15B, 56A, 77A, 18-ish minute walk
Food: Crisps and peanuts
Sport: Horse racing, rugby, GAA, football…
TVs: Visible from every seat in the pub
Music: Some live music events, but more tuned to the sport
Family-friendliness: Not much for the kids to do, unless they like to follow the sport
Pub-crawl-ability: Medium – The Dockers Bar, The Lombard, The Ferryman, Kennedy’s and The Ginger Man are a bit further on toward Merrion Square, but the vibe certainly changes as you head in that direction
Local sites of note: 3Arena, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, EPIC, Grand Canal Dock
Haunted: The toilets are certainly haunted by a smoky fug
Other notes: Another Tuborg sighting – is it becoming a norm at Old Man Pubs?
Socials: Facebook

* I started with €25 and ended up with €29.60 – so no complaints! Profit.

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Tapped

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Outside TappedBack in the day – you know, perhaps 3 years ago – this week’s pub was The Porterhouse Central. It was a very handy spot in that you could enjoy a mix of interesting beers from Porterhouse and various guest options, but you avoided Temple Bar. Granted, you are still right in the middle of Dublin, and things could be busy. Depending on the time of year it could be full of tourists making their way from Trinity College across the street, but on the whole, it was a useful meeting point that offered more than the usual city centre beer options. Indeed, it was an ideal spot for that all-important post-race pint after the VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon (only a 10K, but we’ll let that slide). It was on that occasion that, complete with medal, I made what I didn’t realise would be my final visit to this pub under that name. Only a few weeks later, it vanished into renovation, re-emerging in its current form: Tapped.

While still a part of the larger Porterhouse group, it’s been styled very much more as a ‘bar’ vs a ‘pub,’ and it’s taken a while to settle. My first few visits were, it must be said, not great. The initial redesign felt rather like they’d ordered a ‘taproom’ kit from the early 2000s – lots of plastic, colours just a bit too bright and faux-industrial, and the service was, frankly, poor. Even on the relatively quiet times I’d stopped in, it seemed nearly impossible to get served…yet that was rather less difficult for the younger men around me, or so it seemed. Comparing notes offline at the time, it seemed quite a few other women had a similar experience, and so I essentially gave up trying for a few years.

A beer and menu at TappedHowever, I happened to be in the area and had a bit of time after a meeting, so I gave Tapped another try. I’m pleased to say that the interior, while still feeling just slightly too ‘taproom’ has been softened and improved. There is now much more comfortable seating and the lighting is more dialled-in; it feels warmer on the whole. There are screens showing the beer lineup, direct from Untappd (no relation), and there are quite a few cocktail options as well, plus many food choices – it’s vastly improved on this front. And it is certainly one of the most varied beer selections you’ll get in this part of Dublin: there are the expected options from Porterhouse and local stalwarts such as Rascals, Whiplash, Hope and Trouble. But if you’re looking for a spot to watch the rugby with less-adventurous friends, there are also ‘normal’ beers like Heineken, Guinness and Beamish, plus some useful non-alcoholic options.

The bar at Tapped

It’s not the sort of welcome you get at, say, Underdog, but service was much improved, though it’s hard to gauge how it goes at a busier time. The crowd still tended toward ‘younger,’ but that’s no bad thing…it simply didn’t feel as mixed as many other spots, and it’s natural you would get at least a bit of a ‘student’ element so close to Trinity (if not student-friendly prices).

Dare we say that Tapped is Dublin’s ‘most improved’ pub over the past year or so, at least, taking complete re-brandings out of the picture? It’s an entirely subjective take, but I feel much more warmly toward the spot…I may even stop in again after this year’s VHI Mini-Marathon.

But first, there’s the actual Dublin City Half Marathon to get through…that’s almost certainly going to be one for Juno after!

Where: 47 Nassau Street, Dublin, IE D02 P285
Access from the city centre: You are there
Food: Gastropub offerings, pizza & nibbles – even a fancy spicebag
Sport: Big events on – Six Nations, Premier League and the like
TVs: Screens throughout may show either sport or the latest Untappd check-ins
Music: Indie vibes
Family-friendliness: Feels less welcoming than in its previous incarnation, but the food menu has many options during the day
Pub-crawl-ability: High – Bowes, O'Neill's, Cassidy’s, Mulligans, The Palace Bar, JR Mahon's, The Oval Bar, Porterhouse Temple Bar and many, many more are all within a very short stroll
Local sites of note: Trinity College, National Library of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology and The Dead Zoo), Leinster House, Irish Whiskey Museum, NATIONAL WAX MUSEUM
Haunted: Still missing the old Porterhouse Central wall panelling, which surely felt haunted
Other notes: Open from 11 am – 3 am if either day drinking or late nights are your thing
Socials: Instagram, Facebook