The Best Pubs In Dublin

Dublin is a city brimming with pubs. But fortunately for you, I've dedicated the weekends of my life to research and tested most of them out. Just for you. Here is my guide to the best pubs in Dublin.

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 Irland. It is even written in our constitution (I wish).

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. 

The Best Bars in Central Dublin

I did saying finding the good bars is easy, but families have fallen out over which are the best. All I can say is that they are my favorites in town. 30 years of pint filled research has gone into this list.

These bars are all in the City Centre area of Dublin or town, as we call it. Further down this page, click on my Temple Bar Alternatives to read about other areas of Dublin with good pubs.

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 the locals who go do this every week. So I moved home just in time for Rake The Ashes to stop playing here.

Davitt'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 light up brightly behind the bar to tempt you into making bad decisions.

The Thomas Moore

I just discovered this place. I've walked past it three thousand times but only recently popped my head in. A quiet Tuesday afternoon. Just the four of us in there. We all go talking, as you do. The friendliest lady behind the bar was our conductor. I saw a sign for a Sunday evening trad session. A good trad session is my weakness. I will be back to check it out.

The Horseshoe Bar

In the magnificent Shelbourne Hotel, if I am dressed up, I like to go in here and pretend I'm part of Dublin Society.

None of these are hidden gems, but they are the classic Dublin pubs. I need to do a guide to the more off beaten old man pubs to get you further away from the centre and out of your comfort zone. Subscribe at the bottom of the page to stay updated.

O'Briens

I was doing a tour just last week and it started to rain. A Dublin tour guide is well used to this possibility. So I said to my guests "let's go for a pint". They thought it was a splendid idea and luckily for us, the closest bar was O'Brien's. Just off the canal. Tucked away. It doesn't open until 5pm, even better. When the rained stopped, my walkees wouldn't leave the bar.

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The Lord Edward

This is my local in town. Untouched in years which is nice as Dublin modernizes. Niall behind the bar is always good for chat if you're having a solo pint. The same regulars have been going there for years, sitting in the same seats every night. A bit of old Dublin.

The Long Hall

A weekday afternoon, sat by the window in the Long Haul with a pint. This is life. This might be the most classically Irish bar in all of Dublin. It's a privilege to have a pint here.

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.

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.

The Bank

An old bank turned fancy bar. I'll bring my visitors who like finer things here. A good meeting point for its central location.

Grogan's

A sunny day, sitting outside with a pint and watching the beautiful people of South William Street? It’s Dublin perfection. Braver souls than me sit outside in winter too.

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 very tidy whiskey menu.

Temple Bar

Let's get Temple Bar out of the way. Ugh. It's awful. The whole Temple Bar area is overpriced, made for & filled with tourists. Avoid!!!

The Brazen Head is just as bad.

I hate to do this to an old friend, but I have to add The Hairy Lemon to this sad list. This one leaves a bitter taste. I have many happy memories of the Lemon when it was a proper pub but now transitioned into a tourist bar. I walk quickly by, head bowed, like passing an ex on the street.

In fact, if you see any Dublin guide that recommends these places, stop reading immediately. They've lost their credibility once they do.

Temple Bar Alternatives

Instead, here are seven infinitely better areas for your night out that will show you more of the city and having you meeting Irish people, not fellow tourists.

Traditional Irish Music in Dublin

The guidebooks say go to The Cobblestone for Irish traditional music. It's packed with tourists these days.

Instead, go to Rake The Ashes at Tucker Reilly's on Camden Street on Sunday nights. You'll hear Irish music surrounded by only Irish people. The craic is unreal. I brought a US friend there a few months ago and every single Sunday since, I get a text from her saying "I wish I was back in Tuckers with the Ashes". It's that good.

If you can't make Sundays, Cassidy's on Camden Street have a super local Wednesday night session, while Pipers Corner is another good option for trad music away from the crowds.

Missing Pubs?

Am I missing any pubs? Let me know in the comments. I'm always willing to go do more research!