Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs: Best Pubs for Dogs

This month’s Dublin pub round-up is one for which we’ve had more requests than just about any other topic – certainly, it out-ranks queries about basics like food (done it), ‘the best Guinness in Dublin’ (there are plenty of other places to get that sort of content, whether or not you believe that’s A Thing), or general ‘how do I pub?‘ questions. But what most people seem to want to know isn’t about the beer or the atmosphere; rather, it’s ‘where can I bring my dog?’

So, without further ado, we’ve collected Dublin’s most dog-friendly pubs – you can use it as a guide if you want to take your own Good Boy or Girl out for a pint, as many of these spots also offer treats and water bowls, or if you are dog-averse, this tells you where you may want to tread cautiously – we do mention a spot where you’ll especially want to avoid tripping on tails below.

Most of the more dog-friendly spots are outside the immediate city centre, which is hardly surprising, as most dog owners live at least a little bit further out. But Dublin is a city which has seen a horse on the Luas, so dogs at certain in-town pubs is not a shocker. Mary’s Bar and Hardware Shop on Wicklow Street fits the bill in that regard, but you will certainly have better luck with your furry friend even just slightly outside this area. Street 66 and Lucky’s both welcome dogs, and McNeil’s, The Morris Bar, MeMa’s and The Big Romance are all quite central, and great spots to hit on walkies.

Like The Big Romance, its sister bar Fidelity is also dog-friendly, and just across the street is Frank Ryan’s, where the resident dog is one of the trip hazards in the always-dark interior – mind where you step! Head a bit further back toward The King’s Inn and it’s something of a hidden gem for dogs, both outside and in. And speaking of inter-related pubs, all of the Animal Collective bars – Kodiak, Bonobo, Caribou and Daphni, which even has a dog logo – all welcome furry friends. BrewDog is pet-friendly, too…perhaps the clue is in the name.

Some other spots the dog-walker may want to keep an eye out for include The Circular, The Old Royal Oak, Taphouse and The Old Spot, while Brickyard asks its dog customers to stay relaxed on their comfortable outdoor deck. There’s a nice walk possible from the newly-reopened Quinn’s to The Cat & Cage, then across Griffith Park to The Gravediggers (there are some neighbourhood cats along the way, so be aware if that’s potentially of too much interest to one’s dog) and on to The Botanic, with Phibsborough serving as a dog magnet, courtesy of some nice parks, as well as The Back Page and Doyle’s Corner.

But there is no better neighbourhood for pints with pups than Stoneybatter – indeed, you can have a very fully-featured pub crawl, with a warm welcome for Fido all over the area: Hynes’ Bar, Kavanagh’s, Nancy Hands, The Belfry, L. Mulligan. Grocer and The Glimmer Man are all top spots, but even here, nowhere celebrates all things canine than The Barber’s Bar. There’s a wall with photos of doggie regulars, snacks and water, beds and even little hidden boltholes for the more retiring dog.

In closing, thanks to Des for the pics of our models, Nelly and Dorcas, and have a look over at HUG to find out how you can help a local greyhound find a new home. And if you’re not a fan of dogs, well…maybe Stoneybatter is a place to leave off your list. But we’ve always found local dogs in these pubs to be well-behaved…it’s not always the case with tourists in Temple Bar!