The Best Pubs In Dublin
Dublin has the best pubs in the world. No doubt about it. Those Irish pubs you see in every city in the world are modeled on Dublin's pubs.
I've spent 30+ years drinking in them and here is my guide to the best pubs in Dublin.
I've put together 7 pub crawls in Dublin for you to follow. One for every night of the week. They all have a different mood and vibe, but most importantly, these are real Dublin bars where locals drink, not tourist filled spots.
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- The Guinness Crawl: Pubs along the walk to the Guinness Storehouse
- The Classic Pubs: The traditional classics in Dublin
- The Camden Crawl: Where Dubliners go to party
- The Whiskey Trail: Dublin's best whiskey bars
- Cocktail Night: We have more than just Guinness these days
- Irish Music Sessions: Our best music bars
- Seaside Drinks: Sea views and lovely pints in a local seaside village
1.The Guinness Crawl
You're probably going to the Guinness Storehouse while you are here. I'd recommend going at the beginning of your trip so you can learn about Guinness and understand why we love it so much. The Guinness Brewery is a 20 minute walk from the centre (Trinity College), so it's easy to work up a thirst as you walk! These pubs will help quench that thirst for you
The Lord Edward
The Lord Ed is my local pub in town. I lived 100 short meters away from it and when Niall behind the bar would see me through the window as I ambled my way towards the pub, he'd start pouring my pint. That is service.
The Lord Ed is untouched in years which is nice as Dublin modernizes. The same regulars have been sitting in the same seats for years. It's a bit of old Dublin.
Harkins
Harkins is in the shadow of the Guinness Brewery. 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 Brewery that most tourists miss.
The Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse
The bar with the best view in all of Dublin. As you do the Guinness tour, you work your way up the floors until you reach the top floor where a free delicious pint is waiting for you at the Gravity Bar. You have 360 degree views over all of Dublin.
You can do the regular Storehouse 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.
2.The Classics Crawl
It's easy to find good pubs anywhere in Ireland, just look for Irish family names. These are the classic Dublin pubs, all 100+ years old with names like Bowes, Mulligan, Grogan, and McDaids. Known locally as Old Man Pubs.
You'll even see on dating profiles "prefer old man pubs to clubs".
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.
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.
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.
Grogan's
Maybe the most classic of them all. During summer, Dubliners treat the Grogan's outside area like a second home, with the street atmosphere spilling onto surrounding streets
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.
Not Sure Which Area of Dublin To Stay?
My post will help you pick the best area and hotel to stay in Dublin.
Ireland by Locals
3.The Camden Crawl
I love the old man pubs. I rarely venture beyond the pubs above, but sometimes you're in the mood for a party. Tourists go to Temple Bar, Irish people go to Camden Street. It's a 15 minute walk north of the tourist area and it's like there's an invisible border because it's all locals here. We call it the Camden Mile and it's full of bars & restaurants that are very lively. It's a late night spot too.
Cassidys of Camden Street
Cassidy's can be an old man pub, a party pub, a place to watch the game. On Wednesday it is traditional music night and I mean real traditional. Musicians playing for the love of the music and not for tourists.
Devitt's Of Camden Street
Devitt's has everything. There's always music on. Their large whiskey collection is lit up brightly behind the bar to tempt you into making bad decisions. The food is good too. A very professional staff, even the bouncers are friendly. Sometimes a younger crowd, but always welcoming. I always stop here.
The Sitting Room at Delahunt
The Sitting Room is unexpected. I nearly don't want to ruin the surprise. Where Ryan's is raucous, this is sophisticated calm. If you prefer a quieter cocktail, you'll love it here.
Everywhere
Every second door on Camden Street is a pub. Stick your head in and see if you like the atmosphere. Flannery's is very late night, Anseo is hipster craft beer, Coppers, well Coppers is legendary in Ireland. It's the perfect conversation starter for anyone you meet on Camden Street "are you going to Coppers later?". Spoiler, if you're over 25, you're probably not.
Plan to eat here too. More info here on food.
4.The Whiskey Trail
I love my Guinness, but some nights you just want a few sips of some golden Irish whiskey. Neat. That's the only way. None of that ice stuff here.
Bowes
Close to Temple Bar, but miles better in quality. A small & narrow bar, tight but comfortable. Probably has the best whiskey selection per square foot in the city. A very social bar where you will get chatting to the people next to you. Unless you're lucky enough to snag the snug near the front door. If you get it, you may not leave.
The Swan
The Swan is an under appreciated bar. Maybe because it's caught between two busy areas, but it's quieter, so you can always get a seat and they have a very well selected whiskey menu. Ask for advice, the staff know their whiskey.
The Cellar Bar, The Merrion Hotel
In the cellar of Dublin's most luxurious hotel, but not somewhere you'll just stumble upon. You have to know it's there. A small discrete sign shows you the way. Whiskey always tastes better in a cellar. The Cellar Bar is small which means the whiskey selection is curated. Taste something you haven't heard of. It'll come at a price, but this is an experience you will remember.
37 Dawson
After all that whiskey, you want to have fun. Whiskey doesn't have to be sipped in a library. You'll find that at 37 Dawson. They have four different bar spaces and is open late.
5.Cocktail Night
Mixologists in Dublin, the home of the pint of plain. What is the world coming to? But cocktails are here in a big way now. And they're setting up on the north side of the city. The less stylish side of town, where rents are a little lower and they can focus on quality not quantity. Visitors tend to stay in the posher Southside of town, but the first bar on my list is so good, it's worth the walk on the north side.
Bar 1661
I'd heard so much about this place that after a long day of walking tours, I treated myself to a seat at their bar. I was given a hard back book which turned out to be the drink menu. I quickly closed it and asked the mixologist performing miracles with drinks and foam for a recommendation. He interrupted his growing list of orders and asked me about my preferences. He cared. I tasted and nearly renounced Guinness on the spot. Nearly.
This is the best cocktail bar in Dublin. Venture north!
9 Below
Let's get back to more familiar surroundings on the south side of the city close to St Stephen's Green. 9 Below is in the top 3 of every best cocktails in Dublin list. No wooden bar stools here, it's all soft seating & low lighting. Very atmospheric. They have a movie theme which I think is distracting. But for ambience and cocktails, it's superb.
The Sidecar at The Westbury
I do like a hotel bar, especially in a five star hotel like the Westbury. Hopefully someone else is picking up the tab because it's not cheap but it's an experience as much as a drink. Art deco styling with impeccable service. Their mocktails are as good as their cocktails.
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.
6.Irish Music Sessions
I'm changing format here. You don't bounce around music, you sit and enjoy. One small problem is musicians and venues are always changing, so you'll have to do a little bit of digging here yourself. I'll point you in the direction and you do some research for the days you're here. Fair enough?
The guidebooks say go to The Cobblestone for Irish traditional music. It's very crowded with tourists these days.
Tuesday: Go to the Ruby Sessions. Tickets go on sale two days before. 3 acoustic musicians. It could be Ed Sheeran, it could be a new Irish artist. You only know when they step on stage.
Wednesday: Cassidy's on Camden Street for a real traditional music session. Irish style.
Thursday: Some real trad music in the Neptune on Abbey Street. They do some other good music there too. Check their socials. Dudleys on Thomas Street do a good trad session.
Friday & Saturday: There's music everywhere! For bigger concerts, check out Whelans or Vicar Street. You'll find top Irish bands and well known international bands there too. Watching a gig with an Irish audience is a different level.
Sunday: There's only one place to be and that is on my Sunday Session Traditional Music Walking tour. These places are too local to share and ruin. You gotta come with me to see them. It's worth it.
Ireland by Locals
7.SeaSide Drinks
On those days when it's too nice to be inside a bar, we go to the seaside. We have great coastal villages like Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey and Howth, but my favorite for a few Summery drinks is Malahide. It's 30 minutes from the city by train.
New Street is closed off to traffic, the bars set up tables outside. Put on your shades and people watch as you sip drinks in the rare Irish sun. Fowlers or Gilbert & Wright are where I like to go.
Gibneys is the best known, but I prefer to keep this for later in the day. Their beer garden and roof bar are packed later in the day when everyone has had a few drinks and is social. Very fun atmosphere and you will feel like you live here. There are absolutely no tourists doing this.
Then take the train back to town along with the other day-trippers. Or stay at the lovely Grand Malahide Hotel. I recommend this is my favorite Dublin Airport hotel even though it's not really an airport hotel. More on that here.
Those other coastal villages I mentioned are Dublin's most scenic and I do walking tours in them.
Ireland by Locals
Dublin Pub Crawls
If you prefer an organized pub crawl, 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 tour, I do private pub crawls.
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
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
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
