Best Pubs For…

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Food

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Steak and a pint at BareboneBroadly speaking, it’s more common to find food (beyond crisps) in Irish pubs, compared to their counterparts in the UK. This is, of course, a huge generalisation – Old Man Pubs, in particular, tend not to have a food offering that isn’t of the pre-packaged variety*, and we’re all still recovering from the term ‘wet pubs’ as employed by the Irish government during the Covid lockdowns to indicate (effectively) pubs without kitchens.

But for those pubs here in Dublin that do serve food, there are a few loose categories: spots that offer a fairly typical pub grub lineup of burgers and wings, the usually-central pubs that have a more ‘touristy’ offering with Irish stew year-round, those that specialise in pizza, and then what we might call more of a ‘gastropub’ experience – plus a few outliers. But we’d argue that for the ‘gastropub’ category, it’s a subtly different sort of thing here; Irish ‘gastropubs’ still feel like pubs with top-notch food, whilst UK ones (often) seem more like restaurants that happen to be in an old pub building. Again, this is painting with broad strokes, but we argue the overall sense of that is accurate. As an aside, the gastropubs here tend to still have at least a few (and sometimes more) good local indie beer offerings, whilst ‘restaurants’ of equal calibre frequently just offer the same typical macro beers alongside their curated wine and spirits list – but we digress.

Dessert at The Bald EagleThis is a ‘best’ post, so we’ll focus on a few favourites for each of those broad categories mentioned above. For more-than-just-reliable pub grub – especially with kids – we love The Bald Eagle or The Cat & Cage (which also has surprisingly good tacos, as well as pizza); Dudley’s also has a very nice burger, though we find ourselves there more often just for drinks. Arthur’s holds the middle ground between pub grub and a tourist menu, as does The Hairy Lemon and O’Neill’s. The Porterhouse’s food menu is very firmly in the ‘tourist menu’ category, but its sister pub Tapped has what we might call ‘hipster pub grub,’ plus brunch on weekends (a topic we may return to more specifically in future, as it’s largely represented by The Botanic, Brickyard and a handful of others we have yet to visit). We can’t leave the ‘tourist friendly food’ topic without mentioning The Gravediggers – the general tapas approach is a nice touch, but there are a few dishes you typically otherwise only see in a place serving this many visitors (coddle, anyone? and yes, we know this will trigger the coddle enthusiasts).

Pizza and a pint at The CircularMoving on to pizza, it’s a shorter list, but there are a few pubs that are flying under the radar for their pizza. Rascals is the obvious standout for great beer and pizza at their brewpub, but there are others: Doyle’s Corner has QR codes to order in Vice from across the street (a vastly superior experience to queuing for a slice of Bambino’s to eat standing next to a busy road, for our money), but we think that the pizza at MeMa’s is quite underrated, while Bonobo and its sister pub Kodiak are both pizza stalwarts. For a ‘proper pub’ experience with excellent pizza, it’s tough to beat The Morris Bar – it’s a true hidden gem. The Circular and its relation, Lucky’s, both have tasty pizza as well.

Gargoyle friend at The Bull & CastleFinally, we move on to the pubs that we go to for special occasions, because the food is just that good, but that you can equally go to for simply a pint or some nibbles – airs and graces are not required. We love L. Mulligan. Grocer for their amazing food (suitable for all palates and needs – vegetarians and vegans are very welcome), and the drinks are just as carefully chosen. For the steak fan, The Bull & Castle is outstanding, and The Old Spot is another ‘event meal’ spot that caters to all sorts – there’s a very handy ‘nice’ kids’ menu, too. A recent entrant to the ‘foodie pub’ category is Barebone – it’s an ideal spot for a ‘nice’ meal before a show, but you can still pop in for a casual drink, and the same can be said for Caribou (though it does get crowded). The aforementioned Brickyard even has ‘gastropub’ in the full name, but there are no pretentions here, just good food and drink – once again, families are very welcome. And let’s not forget Juno’s transformation from Old Man Pub into an award-winning dining spot that still manages to keep the pre-event vibe welcoming before games or concerts at Croke Park.

And these are really just a few highlights – there are great pubs all over town with a wide variety of cuisines, not just standard ‘pub food’ – we’ll give special mention to Hynes’ Bar and The Barber’s Bar for their tasty Asian street food options – with new spots popping up all the time (so it seems of late), we feel this page may be a moving target…

*We’re leaving out Fidelity Studio as it has real ‘restaurant’ vibes – the food is excellent, but although connected to Fidelity’s bar, they are quite separate experiences.

**Though it’s worth noting that some do handy toasties – something we’ll save for a separate list.

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Stout

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A Guinness at The Gravedigger'sIt’s March, and while we wouldn’t dream of taking on the subject of ‘what’s the best pub in Dublin for Paddy’s Day?’ we are, nonetheless, aware that there are many additional out-of-town guests here over that weekend/bank holiday, and that most of them are looking for Guinness…as well as other stouts, given how synonymous the holiday and the beer style have become in the global public consciousness.

Hang on, you ask…surely, every pub in Dublin serves stout?

Well…yes. But it’s not just Guinness on offer – if you know where to look. And even your Guinness Experience will vary, both in cost and feels, depending on where you go…so let’s get cracking.

We also won’t dive into the ‘best pint of Guinness in Dublin’ discourse because 1) it’s Not Really A Thing* and 2) different pubs have different atmospheres, service, vibes, etc – if you love the Guinness at The Gravediggers it’s because it’s a nice pub in an interesting setting that’s been lovingly cared-for, not because there’s anything unusual about the Guinness itself. And yes, visitors will be told to go to The Gravediggers, The Long Hall, The Lord Edward, Bowe’s, Grogan’s and many others for the ‘best pint of Guinness,’ but at the end of the day, it’s down to personal taste and how crowded those pubs are on the day – they all have very fresh Guinness and expert bar staff.

But wait, there’s more!

Wicklow Wolf Truffle Shuffle at PorterhouseAlthough much – if not most – independently-brewed Irish stout ends up on tap in France or Italy, there are a number of places in Dublin to give some a try. Sister pubs The Porterhouse and Tapped each offer Porterhouse Plain Porter (your only man) and their Oyster Stout most of the time, but it’s also worth keeping an eye out for Lineman Astral Grains Foreign Extra Stout. Harty’s Bar or Porterhouse may get the odd cask stout from the likes of Brehon Brewing, too – their Ulster Black Oatmeal Stout is lovely, and a cask stout is a nice change from the more typical nitro stout.

Galway Bay’s Ostara Stout is usually on at their various pubs including The Black Sheep and The Beer Temple, often alongside 9 White Deer’s stout, which also happens to be gluten-free; Piper’s Corner is another spot that frequently has 9 White Deer in bottles. You can safely assume Guinness 0.0 is available nearly everywhere nowadays, and it’s still very much the standard for a non-alcoholic beer.

Slow Life at FidelityOther local stouts to keep an eye out for include Four Provinces Dublin Dubh – definitely available at their own pub in Kimmage, but frequently on tap at pubs such as The Botanic, Two Sisters and The Cobblestone. Whiplash’s Slow Life can be found at Fidelity and The Big Romance; they also make Dying Again, an export stout that’s been available more often than not of late. Wicklow Wolf’s Eclipse might pop up at Daphni or Kodiak, and Bullseye Nitro Stout from Rascals is on at their brewpub, along with their always-excellent pizza and pilot brews.

For the Leann Folláin fan, Urban Brewing (an O’Hara’s outpost in town) will always have it on, often in addition to their standard dry stout and other beers. Leann Folláin can also be frequently found at Brickyard and Dudley’s, too, along with Guinness and Beamish (plus many more beers of all varieties).

Gibney's Stout - really Rye River EventideAnd for the stout completist, there are a number of pubs that will allow you to try the big-brewery trinity of Guinness, Beamish and Murphy’s side-by-side; you can even set yourself up for a blind tasting if you’re feeling adventurous, and at some, you can add an independent option for good measure. For this type of experiment, we are fans of The Belfry, The Flowing Tide and The Hairy Lemon. The Long Hall also has Rye River’s Eventide on tap, and it’s a wonderful locally-brewed option (also keep an eye out for at at Gibney’s of Malahide, where it’s badged as Gibney’s Stout). Sheehan’s has recently styled itself something of a stout specialist, and it’s an excellent spot to try the fullest possible line-up of darker beers – if we had to pick just one ‘try all the stouts’ pub in Dublin, they would be the go-to.

For those just looking to try one or two Irish stouts in a very ‘ Dublin pub’ environment, Walsh’s, The Morris Bar and The Bleeding Horse have Beamish and Guinness, plus local non-stout faves from the likes of Rye River, Trouble and Whiplash.

We would be remiss in leaving out some of the exceptional stouts that tend to be can-only nowadays – Lough Gill’s barrel-aged stouts are all excellent, and can be picked up at spots like Craft Central or TheCru.ie, but without a true specialist craft beer pub like Underdog, there isn’t really a spot to expect to see them on tap very often. We are also fans of Hope’s seasonal export stout, as well as O Brother, Heaney, Lineman and Third Barrel’s offerings across the stout spectrum.

'We Dream in Beer' at The Open GateFinally, it’s worth noting that a pint of Guinness is only €6.30 at The Guinness Open Gate Brewery and there’s no cover charge or ticket required (though we’d recommend booking in advance on a weekend or holiday) as at the next door Guinness Storehouse – no, not at all the cheapest pint in town (that would be at The Lark Inn or The Auld Triangle, where it’s about a fiver), but given where it is in Dublin, and that it’s a tourist hotspot, it’s not at all a bad price. Plus, it’s practically direct from the source. The tasty pretzel is a bonus, and you may find a one-off stout – recently, we had a sarsparilla version there that divided opinion, but it was fun to try.

So, if you’re in Dublin for St Patrick’s Day, by all means get in your rounds of Guinness, but give some love to other local choices as well – it’s a great way to get off the usual tourist pub trail, so you’ll likely save a bit of cash, and you may find a new favourite beer.

*Yes, there are places with Bad Guinness, but that’s typically a dirty tap lines/skills issue…not really something you ever come across in Ireland, and not on the Guinness Quality’s Team’s watch. And to paraphrase The Princess Bride, anyone saying otherwise is an influencer selling something.

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Music

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Outside Piper's CornerAlthough Dublin has no shortage of pubs featuring music, it’s by no means all the traditional Irish music overseas tourists may be seeking out – there are many regular live DJ sets, local and touring bands across all genres, music-led performance art and everything in between. Finding what’s on when, though, can be harder than it should be; there’s no direct equivalent of Time Out (one of your fair scribe’s first employers), especially for those seeking something a bit more unusual – but we have our ways.

Outside The CobblestoneWe’ll start with trad, though, as ‘where should I go in Dublin to hear trad Irish music?’ is a common enough question, and there’s a bit of nuance in the answer. Yes, there are package-tour ‘shows’ featuring Irish dancing and music at places like Johnnie Fox’s or The Arlington, but these are very much performances, often at a not-inconsiderable price, though the musicians and dancers are fabulously talented – but know what you’re booking. If you’re looking for more of a local affair, try a session at The Cobblestone or Piper’s Corner. The Cobblestone has live music every afternoon or evening, while Piper’s Corner’s sessions tend to begin after 9 or 9.30 pm (so, for those keeping score, music at Piper’s Corner is too late to be out and about with kids – they need to be out of the pub by then). O’Donoghue’s is another legendary spot for trad – once known as the home of The Dubliners, and sessions are hosted nightly.

But these are not the only trad games in town – L. Mulligan. Grocer often has a Saturday night trad session, with TP Smith’s hosting trad musicians on Sundays at 6 pm. Hynes’ Bar has weekly trad on Thursdays, but keep an eye out for DJ sets there, too. The Big Romance features queer-led trad sessions semi-regularly, and we’ll return to their music offerings shortly – there’s much more to hear. Dudley’s also regularly hosts trad sessions – no booking required, as does The Hairy Lemon.

Martin and Eliza Carthy at The HutThere’s a folk club upstairs at The Cat & Cage, which is another one that crosses genres, and The Four Provinces offers a mix of trad, blues, swing…you name it. Monday is usually blues night at The Porterhouse, but again, there’s a mix of genres and DJ sets. And yes, while you may see tourists flocking to hear ‘trad in Temple Bar,’ The Porterhouse is the only spot we tend to go in Temple Bar…and there are plenty of other, less-crowded/expensive options for trad elsewhere, as you can see. Folk and trad both make appearances upstairs at The Hut from time to time, though theirs can be more of an IYKYK setup vs more well-publicised events. And right around the corner at (er) Doyle’s Corner, there are plenty of gigs spanning a variety of genres, now that Gavin James is calling the shots behind the scenes – you may be able to catch him doing a residency there, too.

Speakers at Fidelity

If jazz is more your thing, try Lucky’s, The Circular, The Big Romance (yes, again) or Arthur’s – they each have a slate of local and touring artists. The Vintage Inn also hosts regular jazz, folk and trad, plus a bit of everything – even CMAT stopped in after the Late Late Toy Show this past Christmas season. Slattery’s also has the odd bit of jazz upstairs…it’s not just an early house.

For the DJ set, Fidelity and The Big Romance are both go-tos, with bring-your-own vinyl nights and headlining acts from across Europe, and MeMa’s and The Bernard Shaw also get in on the electronic and adjacent scenes.

A Scraggy Bay at AnseoAnd if you’re looking for up-and-coming local bands or established touring acts, there are plenty of pubs that also serve as music venues. Whelan’s, Anseo, The Thomas House and The Workman’s Club all tread the fine line between pub/venue, but we’re including them here as you can very much just stop in for a pint without intending to see the band playing, whilst for a spot like The Button Factory, drinks are a secondary feature to the music, so we leave them off this listing.

With so many options, how can you keep track of what’s on? Broadly speaking, each pub’s Instagram account may be your best bet for many musical pub activities, but specifically for gigs, try Nialler9. You can typically simply drop into one of the abovementioned trad sessions, but tickets or cover charges will vary for other events, so it pays to do some research in advance.

Finally, if you want to join in, consider Ukulele Tuesday upstairs at The Stag’s Head. BYOU and enjoy.

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Christmas

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Christmas at The Hole in the WallIt’s December, it’s properly cold in Dublin, and while we already have our roundup of our Best Pubs for Fireplaces, it’s time to turn our attention to Christmas decorations. Most pubs around town get a pretty considerable glow-up for the holidays, and even some of the more low-key Old Man Pubs can be glimmery and sparkly at this time of year.

The Ginger Man at ChristmasAnd while the two clear front-runners in the Most Extra for Christmas race are The Ginger Man and The Hole in the Wall, there are plenty of excellent places to go if you’re looking for festive cheer (and maybe a bit of mulled wine or cider on top of your usual tipple). Most of the usual listicles that seem to repeat annually will name-check The Stag’s Head and Doheny & Nesbitt, and with good reason, but there’s a lot more to enjoy beyond the immediate city centre. The Flowing Tide and its sister pub, The King’s Inn, both have strong Christmas games, and Nancy Hands sparkles as well.

The Cat & Cage at the holidays

But if you do find yourself in the city centre proper, The Oval and JR Mahon’s are both extremely festive, as is The Bank Bar. But we tend to prefer staying a bit further away from the Christmas shopping parts of Dublin, once the crowds appear (though you can’t beat TP Smith’s if you’ve been trapped in the shops on Henry Street or in the Jervis Centre – they do a great job with the decorating, too). With that in mind, we always consider The Bald Eagle or The Cat and Cage top-notch for holiday cheer, but without the same level of frenzied shoppers looking to sit down to rest. Doyle’s Corner is also festooned with wreaths, and for a more modern, minimal-but-festive vibe, The Big Romance and Caribou are both good spots in which to relax.

Tiny tree and pint at The Big Romance

For those looking for a Santa visit, he does appear (early and often) at the aforementioned Hole in the Wall, but also makes visits to pubs like The Two Sisters – one to keep an eye out on the socials and book ahead if that’s more your speed than a 12 Pubs of Christmas crawl. And, of course, if you are setting out on a 12 Pubs quest, please be mindful of the pub staff and your fellow pub-goers; by all means, have a good time, but don’t get messy or unpleasant.

If it’s a special holiday beer you’re looking for, we don’t get a huge number of them, and even fewer will be available in pubs – there is almost nothing in the broader ‘winter warmer’ category, much less a special Christmas ale, and even something globally-available like Sierra Nevada Celebration will only appear here and there, at pubs like The Porterhouse or Tapped…you’re better off looking into a bottle shop like Craft Central and stocking up on the seasonal stuff to have at home with your Late Late Toy Show viewing.

But whether it’s a post-shopping decompression pint or another get-together after the corporate holiday party, there’s a festive Dublin pub for every taste.

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Fireplaces

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The fireplace at Arthur's PubThere’s a definite chill in the air, and a quick search on any platform will turn up a number of lists for cosy Dublin pubs with fireplaces. We have Opinions, about this, of course, and while we do agree with some of the heavy hitters that appear on most of those listicles, we have a few that we prefer to the usual suspects as well – in some ways, it’s tempting not to share, and keep them to ourselves.

But we’ll begin with those that are rightfully mentioned in nearly every piece on the subject: Arthur’s Pub and The Gravediggers. Both are wonderful pubs on a cold day: full of atmosphere and prime spots near the fireplace, if you’re lucky enough to snag one. Also namechecked frequently is Neary’s – and that’s also quite fair.

We have a few, however, that we think are criminally-underrated when it comes to cosy fireplace vibes in winter, however – and a few are more central than you might expect. J McNeill’s does pop up here and there, but TP Smith’s also makes for a warm spot on a cold day, and it deserves more notice. The Bleeding Horse may not always have their fireplace up and running, but it’s a wonderful feeling when they do. Dudley’s, too, falls into that category. The King’s Inn has not just wonderful little snugs, but a picturesque fireplace at the back of the pub – it’s always a bit of a surprise to us it doesn’t appear on more ‘cosy pub’ lists. Delaney’s is also keeping things warm in Smithfield with their strong fireplace entry.

A view toward the fireplace at the Cat and CageOur absolute favourites, though, are almost hidden gems when it comes to a roaring fire, and are well worth seeking out. The Bald Eagle’s fireplace is small, but fully functional, while Carthy’s Bar is an ideal spot when it’s freezing outside; we hope the broader renovations to The Ivy House at its front don’t change that feeling (or impact their wonderful fireplace). But for us, nothing beats The Cat & Cage – comfy chairs and sofas are curved around the fireplace, and it always has just the right level of seasonal decoration, all the year round. We’d still love to discover a great winter ghost story about this pub, but as the days grow shorter and the dark longer, we can’t think of many pub fireplaces we’d rather be haunting ourselves…

So, do visit a few of those mentioned above – or others we’ve tagged with our ‘fireplace‘ keyword (we do love a useful bit of metadata) – and decide for yourselves…what’s your favourite Dublin pub with a fireplace?

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Ghosts

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Gargoyle friend at The Bull & CastlePerhaps surprisingly to some (certainly, to us), Dublin pubs do not contain a wealth of ghostlore. There are, of course, a few good stories, but there isn’t the critical mass of spectral servants, long-dead landlords and pesky poltergeists who turn up in the dozens (and dozens) of books about haunted pubs on the Neighbouring Island. Indeed, we have books covering small parts of individual counties that span to over 100 pages, but for whatever reason*, Irish pubs simply don’t seem to have the same ghostly population.

However, ’tis the season, and we always have an eye or ear out for a good creepy pub story. One of our favourite tales is tied to the Bull & Castle, although the current building replaced the one in which James Clarence Magnan was born; nonetheless, he’s meant to haunt the place, drifting around and leaving a melancholy atmosphere (as you do). And the pub does have a very atmospheric feel, so it’s well worth a visit for a spooky pint.

Spooky decor inside The Brazen HeadWe’re less inclined toward the flashy, big-name haunting at The Brazen Head, though at least there’s historical reason to associate Robert Emmet with the pub (unlike its entirely spurious ‘founding date’), so we’ll give it a pass, with reservations. Just around the corner (and we swear we’ll get to spooky pubs outside The Liberties, but it does have some of the more well-preserved ‘older’ buildings in Dublin, so sorry/not sorry), The Lord Edward is meant to still accommodate its namesake ghost, and the décor would back that up.

Sticking with one of the more well-known spots for spooky vibes, we can’t miss The Gravediggers; of course, the location next to Glasnevin Cemetery helps (see? We left The Liberties!), but it’s also got a proper ghost story of the ‘messing with the electrics‘ sort, which is always interesting from a folklore/ghostlore classification perspective (well, we get excited about that sort of thing). Similarly, Mulligan’s and Brogan’s both have more ‘modern haunting’ elements – we ignore mention of the dreaded orb, but we do enjoy non-specific bumps, knocks, moving pints and the like – and L. Mulligan, Grocer, also has some gentle ‘haunted’ vibes in that direction.

There is another ‘classic’ haunting of the folkloric stripe at The Portobello Bar, where a 19th century lock-keeper still keeps watch…or, perhaps, lures victims into the canal near Rathmines Bridge – if time permits, we’ll investigate this one properly this month and provide an update (that update: the food is good, but the feel isn’t super-spooky). The Bleeding Horse also has some literary ghost cred, so it nearly counts in this list.

Holidays at The Cat & Cage - always great for all the familyBut we also want to shine the spectral spotlight on another pub whose apparitional associations are often overlooked: Doyle’s Corner. Whilst nowadays, with Gavin James onboard, its musical reputation is growing again, but in Brendan Behan’s day, it was known as the pub in which executioner Albert Pierrepoint would relax pre- or post-work at nearby Mountjoy Prison. It even had reports of poltergeist activity in the 2000s.

And while we still have no creepy tales about The Cat & Cage, well…we hope there are some out there, it would be a brilliant spot for a ghost story on a chilly night. It’s also right next to an atmospheric churchyard, and makes for an ideal spot to pause on an autumnal stroll.

Perhaps we need a pubby ghost story contest…

 

*Would happily retire and do a folklore PhD on this topic. Just saying!

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Cask Ale

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A pint of cask Sitric Pale Ale by Hopkins & Hopkins at The PorterhouseYes, it’s cheating a bit, since we just visited a new-to-us cask ale spot last week in Harty’s Bar, but with our current work travel schedule (where we had some decent, if not amazing, cask ale in London after meetings), needs must!

And while Harty’s Bar is one of the very few consistent non-Wetherspoons spots to get cask on any night of the week…well, we like to highlight the locally-owned options over the ‘Spoons choices. And so, you also have The Porterhouse Temple Bar – indeed, the only Porterhouse location still trading under that name, as its sister bar Tapped changed its spots some time ago – but the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that Untappd (no relation) shows a cask option at Tapped. As you may have guessed, that single beer engine is the one at Harty’s Bar. So, all in all, possibly a bit confusing for the visitor to Dublin, but honestly, this is very much par for the course for us locals.

But that’s not all!

A pint of West Kerry Dark Mild at The Black SheepThe Black Sheep also has a most-weekends cask offering; keep an eye on their Instagram stories for the latest news there. Like Harty’s Bar, it’s often from Brehon Brewhouse, but there are also consistent visits from West Kerry Brewery and others. And there are frequently up to two cask choices at JR Mahon’s, although they are rarely cheap. These are typically from Hopkins & Hopkins, who also brew their house beers from their spot in Smithfield.

And what about those Wetherspoons options?

Well, they often get Brehon Brewhouse cask ales as well, but more frequently, it’s your ‘standard ‘Spoons‘ real ale lineup, with the likes of Hobgoblin or Old Peculier. So while it’s not so different from what you might find in a pub in, say, Luton, well, at least the carpet is different.

And we still hold out hope that a cask option will, in the fullness of time, return to Underdog…we’ll all just need to keep bugging Paddy about it.

You have your orders…

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Kids

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Mac & cheese and a pint at Dudley'sIrish pubs are, broadly speaking, welcoming to all ages during the day and early evening – or, at least, they are more often than not, compared to pubs and pub-adjacent spaces in the UK or US (the never-ending ‘kids in taprooms’ debate there notwithstanding). Dublin has a wealth of pubs that are especially good at catering to families, whether it’s for a meal or just a relaxing pint for the adults and a Coke or Club Orange for the kids.

But it can be a bit confusing for the tourist; many especially family-welcoming spots may also have a ‘strictly over 21s’ sign outside (despite the legal drinking age being 18), which might seem at odds with the high chairs and kids’ meals on offer. In these instances, it’s not *actual children* with their parents who aren’t getting in. Rather, it’s all about The Youths – they can come back in unaccompanied once they’ve developed their frontal cortexes a bit more. Most, though not all, of these pubs tend to operate via a table service model, but you can also just go up to the bar as well.

So, if you’re looking for well-tested spots for the whole family, fear not – we’ve done years of research for you. Whether it’s a special occasion meal or more of a standard chicken-goujons-and-chips evening out, there are pubs that run the full spectrum. Let’s begin.

Light and wall paneling at JR Mahon'sIn the city centre, it might be useful to navigate by proximity to a few tourist attractions. If Temple Bar is on your list, but this is a family trip and not a stag or hen do, The Porterhouse gets you close to the action, albeit without as much messiness – there may even be a daytime trad session. It’s also a handy spot before or after a Vintage Tea Trips excursion, as the buses typically stop just outside. If, for some reason, you have children who desperately wanted to visit the NATIONAL WAX MUSEUM, JR Mahon’s is a useful spot, and it’s a short stroll from there to Trinity College or the National Gallery. Continuing in that direction – and toward the National Museum of Ireland (the archaeology one, with the bog bodies, of course), Doheny and Nesbitt and Kennedy’s are used to catering to families.

Further south – and closer to the Aviva, if you’re here for a match – The Old Spot is one of our favourite ‘special occasion’ pubs, and children are warmly welcomed. The Merry Cobbler is also a family-friendly location, and going all the way out to Dundrum on the Luas you’ll find The Brickyard, which is ideal with kids of all ages – but let’s head back toward the centre of town.

Dublinia is a great museum for kids, and there are quite a few pubs in this part of Dublin that are perfect after an afternoon of sightseeing-with-the-small-folk (and you may need to sit down for a while if they’ve also been marched through the Guinness Storehouse). The Christchurch Inn is one of many spots in The Liberties that work well, but there is also Molly’s Bar – we’ll come back to how handy Galway Bay pubs are for families in a moment – and Dudley’s, which also has a mac & cheese that is picky-kid tested and approved. If Kilmainham Gaol is on your itinerary, the nearby Old Royal Oak does a mean toastie, and you could take various buses from here to The Circular or Rascals – also on our S-tier list.

Outside Hynes' BarGoing north of the river, Nancy Hands is good for refreshing and dining after a trip to Dublin Zoo, and Stoneybatter is full of great pubs for all. Hynes’ Bar and The Barber’s Bar both have tasty Asian street food options that kids love, if you’ve exhausted the usual burger-or-goujons choices, and L. Mulligan. Grocer is also on our ‘special night out’ list for its fantastic food and warm welcome. If you’re looking for something before or after a film at The Lighthouse or a trip to Collins Barracks, Bonobo’s pizza works, and there are toasties at The King’s Inn – the little snugs are also cosy and can help keep smaller folk contained.

There are restaurants and pubs of all sorts on Capel Street, but we’ll highlight another Galway Bay pub here with The Black Sheep. All Galway Bay pubs have a standard kids’ menu – adding bacon to the mac & cheese is a nice touch – but The Black Sheep is especially nice as they also have board games, and are very close to a number of game and comic shops.

Holidays at The Cat & Cage - always great for all the familyIf you’ve brought the family to Croke Park for a game, or perhaps just the excellent museum and tour, you are spoiled for choice in Drumcondra and Phibsborough, presuming you can nudge everyone up or down the easy canal walk, or via the playground in Griffith Park. The Cat & Cage has another well-tested children’s menu, and the mac & cheese suppli are big hits. Fagan’s has the carvery, if that’s your thing, and The Botanic even has weekend brunch with slatherings of Nutella nowadays. The Bald Eagle is a favourite – kids love the action-figure décor as well as the food – and The Back Page’s arcade section is in regular circulation for all-ages parties.

To finish heading back toward the city centre, Urban Brewing is practically on top of EPIC and the Jeanie Johnston, and in case you’re doing some shopping near O’Connell Street, The Morris Bar has a great kids’ pizza as well as excellent grown-up versions, and TP Smith’s is an oasis of calm after hitting The Jervis Centre.

In summary, there’s no shortage of good pubs to go to, even with the kids in tow, but we do have some favourites from the list above. For great pizza, we love Rascals and The Morris Bar. For a chill weekend meal, it’s over to The Cat & Cage or The Bald Eagle, and for cask ale and food after comic book shopping, it’s The Black Sheep. Special occasions are all about L. Mulligan. Grocer or The Old Spot, and it’s worth keeping an eye on the seasonal events at Brickyard for all-ages menu fun (and great beer).

Looking for more Best Pubs For… ideas? WE GOT YOU.

Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Craft Beer

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Outside Underdog at nightIt’s July, and that mean a happy birthday to Underdog – Dublin’s finest craft beer* bar [Edit in November 2025: Underdog has, alas, now closed]. And while independent beer of all stripes is not nearly as ubiquitous here in Ireland as in many other countries, given that the majority of pubs are still generally ‘Guinness and Heineken‘ shops, there are some other standout spots; let’s dive in.

Porterhouse began as a brewpub, and their Temple Bar location still offers a range of their own beers, as well as a few guest taps. There is also sometimes a cask option, which is very much a rarity here, and that beer selection makes it the only spot in Temple Bar we’ll willingly visit. And while no longer Porterhouse-branded, Tapped – formerly Porterhouse Central – also has a wide range of local and European craft beers. There are Galway Bay pubs all over Dublin, and while they aren’t brewpubs in the brewed-on-site sense, they do offer a standard and rotating group of Galway Bay beers. Some of our favourite Galway Bay pubs include The Black Sheep (also the only other spot you might find a cask option), Molly’s Bar, The Beer Temple/The Oak and The Brew Dock. And while all offer food as well, each pub has its own vibe, so it’s worth trying a few to find your favourite.

A pint at BonoboDudley’s usually has a nice selection, as does The Belfry, and the Animal Collective spots are always reliable: Caribou, Kodiak and Bonobo have a nice mix of independent beers on tap and in cans and bottles. Bonobo is also Kinnegar’s local spot for Tap Room Only (TRO) beers in Dublin, so you don’t need to go all the way up to Donegal for some of their rarer offerings. And speaking of taprooms, they are very much an exception instead of a rule in Ireland, but O Brother has recently opened one down in Greystones, so just accessible via Dart.

Also somewhere in between ‘taproom’ and ‘brewpub’ is Rascals, which does offer the best of both worlds – a full production brewery, pilot brews and excellent pizza. Rascals beers are also available at some of the better ‘normal’ pubs around town like TP Smith’s, The Cat & Cage and The Bald Eagle (to name just a few). And there are two brewery tours that you can arrange with advance booking – both Hope and Rye River offer these options. We’d consider the Guinness Storehouse a ‘brand experience’ rather than a brewery tour, and arguably the same is true of the neighbouring Open Gate Brewery, but the Open Gate does have some seasonal specials, interesting test brews and excellent pretzels – it’s also more or less in the taproom category. The Four Provinces in Kimmage carries their own beer (they make an amazing mild that we can’t wait to have back in more regular service), but looks like a ‘typical’ pub in other respects, and there’s a bit of everything at The Circular.

Ballykilcavan Bambrick's Brown at Juno‘Foodie’ pubs with good craft beer options include L Mulligan. Grocer and Juno (which has some secret Ballykilcavan cans – something we especially love) – booking is highly recommended for both. Brickyard also offers a fantastic selection of food and beers that’s nearly unparalleled, semi-suburban location notwithstanding, while Urban Brewing has excellent food and beers from O’Hara’s, plus local specials. We have a few other favourite pubs that only offer one or two independent taps, like The Morris Bar, MeMa’s, Doyle’s Corner, Hynes’ Bar, The Palace Bar and The Barber’s Bar.

Finally, no list of craft beer in Dublin would be complete without a mention of Fidelity, Whiplash’s beautiful bar with its custom tap lines and sound system, and their smaller sister pub on Parnell Street, The Big Romance. Both offer fresh beers from Whiplash and their friends, as well as cocktails and music. There’s louder music in an enjoyably dive-y setting at Cassidy’s, but it’s got one of the best beer selections in the city – if you don’t mind shouting a bit.

And while we absolutely understand that everyone is going to have that pint of Guinness in town – we’d recommend The Hut or The Gravediggers – there’s a much wider range of independent Irish beer to enjoy; you just need to know where to go. We got you.

 

* yes, we all agree ‘craft beer’ means everything and nothing…and yet, everyone ‘knows’ what you mean…

Best Pubs for Croke Park

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Croke Park in the distance, seen from the Cherry Tomato BridgeIt’s that time of year when we begin to get the ‘where should I go before Croke Park?’ question. The answers will depend on whether you’re pre- or post-gaming an actual game (and, of course, which sort of actual game – the occasional rugby crowd isn’t necessarily the same as the more usual GAA crowd) or a concert. Fortunately, as a household within the ‘so close to Croke Park we get free tickets to things* from time to time’ radius, we’ve got some educated opinions on which pubs to hit up before, say, Oasis. (I was going to say ‘before Oasis hit each other,’ but it was too lazy, so it’s parenthetical instead).

Outside Gill's Pub: The GAA muralThere are a few ways to approach the Croke Park Pubs question: proximity, food/drink options and, well, vibes. If wanting to be in the closest possible pub is your key consideration – and on a day when it’s 70,000 plus in attendance, it’s not unreasonable – your best bets are Gill’s Corner House (if it’s open) or Phil Ryan’s The Hogan Stand. There’s Guinness a-plenty at both, though that’s true of nearly every pub in the country, but you can also snag a sneaky O’Hara’s bottle at Gill’s Corner House, or a Beamish at The Hogan Stand.

The bar at The Bald EagleIf combining food and drink is of paramount importance, casting a wider net can help, but you can still start quite close by. Juno/Hera has their gorgeous restaurant menu, but on big event days, they frequently fire up the grill for more quick-service options. You can also head further up the canal into Phibsborough, with The Bald Eagle and The Botanic House offering full meals (both are kid-friendly as well), or there’s excellent pizza from Vice now at Doyle’s Corner. The Boh has their combination Indian/pub grub menu, or there’s the little food market at The Bernard Shaw. And like The Bald Eagle, Hedigan’s The Brian Boru has a lovely beer garden, so it’s a pleasant place to relax with your pre-event meal and pint(s) if the weather cooperates. You could walk that little bit further down to The Back Page, too, if you’ve got the time. Or, away from Phibsborough, The Cat and Cage is just far enough away to avoid the worst of the crowds, but still close enough that it’s an easy stroll to Croke Park – it’s another family-friendly option with good craft beer choices and food for all. Fagan’s is on the way back toward the stadium, though still in Drumcondra, and on a busy day, the crowds spread into the park across the road or into Kennedy’s, just a few doors down (which, incidentally, is open for breakfast).

Heading back toward Croke Park, McGrath’s Pub also fills up on game days with the usual Guinness-and-Heineken offerings, but its handy off-license maintains a very nice selection of local craft beer, including options from Whiplash, Rascals and more. I’m not suggesting you might want to grab some cans to sip along the canal or in one of the nearby parks, I’ll just say you wouldn’t be alone in that sort of endeavour (but please don’t dump your empty cans in my front garden, we get enough of that on busy days). There is also The Big Tree, seemingly only open when something is on at Croke Park, but it seems to be catering more to the crowd staying in the attached Dublin One hotel for said events in most regards. We should not, of course, ignore the other end of Croke Park – Clonliffe House is another option for Guinness and a beer garden, and it gives one the chance to take in the Luke Kelly Bridge as well, if that’s of interest. In Fairview, Gaffney’s and The Strand House can also set you up for the day (or night) – with food on offer, too, at the latter.

And from the vibes perspective, you can choose a spot like The Hut (also in Phibsborough) or Gill’s Corner House if it’s an Old Man Pub you’re after. For families, we’d suggest The Cat & Cage or The Bald Eagle, or if you’re looking for great music, good beer and a cosy setting, perhaps Juno or Doyle’s Corner is your scene. But in any case, if it’s a table and possibly food you seek, do book in advance, and keep an eye on the socials of pubs you might want to check out for specials or other big-day changes.

But for us locals, the email that comes ahead of Croke Park events, giving advance notice of crowd sizes, street closings and so forth is handy not just as a reminder of what time to run out to buy essentials before the visitors descend, it’s also a good excuse to wander to pubs slightly further afield. It’s worth knowing that Underdog is far enough away to be a safe bet, even on the most hectic concert days…

 

*To answer the obvious questions: 1) no, you can’t sell the tickets on for vast sums and 2) sometimes it’s something you’d never dream of seeing, like Garth Brooks, and you simply politely decline.