The Best Pubs In Dublin
Dublin is a city brimming with pubs. I've spent 30 years drinking in them and here is my guide to the best pubs in Dublin. Real Dublin bars where locals drink, not tourist traps with inflated prices.
Old Man Pubs
It's easy to find the best bars, just look for bars with an Irish family name. This rule applies all over Ireland. Names such as Bowes, Mulligan, Grogan, and McDaids.
Colloquially known as Old Man Pubs.
These places are all institutions for the appreciation of Guinness. If you see one, don't pass them by, order your pint, and consider how lucky you are to be drinking a delicious Guinness in Dublin right now.
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I do private Dublin Pub Crawls
- We'll go to my regular bars in Dublin. Places I drink myself.
- 3 hours of stories that get funnier with every drink
- Any night of the week. Thursdays & Sundays are traditional music nights
- €150 for up to 4 people. Email me using button below to book.
The Best Bars in Dublin
These bars are all in the City Centre area of Dublin. I've arranged them as a logical pub crawl route you can follow starting near the Guinness Storehouse and working your way through the City Centre.
Guinness Storehouse
I know you're going to the Guinness Storehouse while you are here. Just do it at the beginning of your trip before you start sinking too many pints.
You can do the regular tour which is self guided or the Connoisseur Experience which is special guided tour with private tastings. Think of like the business class of the Guinness Storehouse. Book well ahead. It's the busiest attraction in Ireland.
The Lord Edward
You'll pass the Lord Ed on your walk to Guinness. This is my local in town. Untouched in years which is nice as Dublin modernizes. The same regulars have been sitting in the same seats for years. A bit of old Dublin.
Harkins
Harkins is in the shadow of the Gravity Bar literally. A fantastic local bar where they are well used to people arriving in with their Guinness bags fresh from the gift shop. The pint is delicious, the locals friendly and there's good photos to be taken from here of Guinness that most tourists miss.
Near Trinity College
Mulligan's
I spent too much of my Trinity student evenings here. Now I'm older and more sensible. I go during the quieter day instead. If I had one last pint in my life to drink, it would be here in the dark wooden tones of Mulligans.
Bowes
Close to Temple Bar, but miles better in quality. A small & narrow bar, tight but comfortable. The kind of place I drop in for a quick pint while waiting on a bus.
The Bank
A former bank turned fancy bar. I'll bring my visitors who like finer things here. Their Espresso Martini is perfect if you're jet lagged. It's a good meeting point for its central location.
Not Sure What Part of Dublin To Stay In?
This page will quickly help you find the best area to stay no matter if you prefer busy or quiet, tourist or local areas.
Ireland by Locals
The Classics
Stag's Head
Beautiful and perpetually busy. But it's beautiful and in a small alley. Tight quarters mean it's a great place to chat to the folks next to you.
The Long Hall
Sitting by the window watching the street life, while having a pint on weekday afternoon in the Long Hall. This is life. A gorgeous bar. Always full of friendly Dubliners. It's a privilege to have a pint here.
Grogan's
When the sun is shining, sip a pint outside of Grogan's and people watch. Folks do it in winter too.
Ireland by Locals
Unexpected Inclusions
The Thomas Moore
I've walked past this hundreds of times and only recently popped my head in. It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon. What a beautiful bar. The friendliest lady behind the bar delivered creamy Guinness to us in the snug. I was very content. A gem.
The Swan
This is under appreciated. Maybe because it's caught between two busy areas, but it's quieter, so you can get a seat and they have a well selected whiskey menu.
Music & Late Night
Camden Street is the area that Temple Bar wishes it was. This is where Dubliners go for a big night out and it has plenty of late bars.
Cassidys of Camden Street
One of the reasons I moved back from the US was watching Rake The Ashes in Cassidy's of a Sunday night. The crowd, the craic, the music. I was jealous of those who got to do it every week. The Ashes play across the road at Tucker Reilly's now, but Cassidy's have music every night. Wednesday is traditional music night.
Devitt's Of Camden Street
If you want some lively music on any night of the week, this is a good option. Sometimes a younger crowd, but always welcoming. The whiskey collection is lit up brightly behind the bar to tempt you into making bad decisions.
Dublin Pub Crawls
A pub crawl is the easiest option. Let someone else lead the way so you can focus on enjoying the Guinness. Great fun to make new friends too.
- A group tour of the traditional Dublin Pubs
- Go off the tourist path with this pub crawl in locals only pubs
- Or go to the Dublin mountains for a scenic pub crawl. Van with DD included!
All of these above are group pub crawls. But if you prefer private pub crawl, I can show you my local bars.
Where Not To Go
Temple Bar. Dublin's Biggest Tourist Trap
Temple Bar is the Times Square of Dublin. It's overpriced, made for & filled with tourists. It's Disney Dublin. Avoid!!! Here are my Temple Bar alternatives
Darragh
The Brazen Head is just as bad. I shake my head when I see people posting their photos with pride at "Dublin's Oldest Bar". It's just marketing BS. You're not stepping back in time here. They have electricity. They sell gimmicky t-shirts.
The Hairy Lemon. This was a fabulous bar, I spent many nights here. But it has sold its soul and become a tourist bar. Sorry my old friend, it's you, not me.
Touristy stuff isn't my thing, but if you like it, then you'll probably like this show
Traditional Irish Music
The guidebooks say go to The Cobblestone for Irish traditional music. It's very crowded with tourists these days. Here are some other trad music nights around Dublin. Always check before going, they change a lot!
- Wednesday : Cassidy's on Camden Street
- Thursday: The Neptune, very local.
- Most Nights: Pipers Corner & McNeills.
I do a private trad music tour of local (not tourist) places to hear traditional music. It's best on Thursdays & Sundays. On the other nights, we do more of a pub crawl but we always find some music too.
Ireland by Locals
What To Do In Dublin
This page has absolutely everything you need to plan your trip to Dublin. Read it, bookmark it, refer back to often.
Darragh
