What could be more Irish than a pint at a Dublin pub? Dublin is full of pubs and picking the best is down to taste and expectations. Traditional Dublin pubs are full of atmosphere and character. Here is a short list of popular pubs in Dublin.
GRAND CENTRAL
The Grand Central is a former bank. Renovated to classic proportions, The Grand Central features four central columns set around a central dome of beautifully restored 1920 architecture. Though partly destroyed in the 1916 rising, it still houses the original safes that were still being used up until recently in its former role as a bank. Today you can still enjoy some of the original features, high domed ceilings and hand crafted stone, but now complimented with plush leather seats and dramatic chandeliers. Superb food served all day.
10/11 O’Connell St., Dublin 1
T: 01 8728658
THE QUAYS
The Quays, in the heart of Temple Bar is one of Dublin’s liveliest pubs with a great mix of locals and tourists. Live Irish Traditional Music everyday makes the pub a magnet for those looking for a bit of craic. A full restaurant on the 1st floor with a superb menu.
Originally a grain store and more recently a warehouse for Dublin Woollen Mills, the Quays Bar has become a congenial watering hole for tourists from all over the world. Stone floors, old timber benches, old bits of machines from woollen mills and factories, old furniture, books and an amazing collection of bric-a-brac all evoke memories of times gone by. Unique surrounds only topped by the atmosphere, which despite the Old World Style, is young, vibrant and buzzing.
Good drink, good food and good service all contribute to ensure that the customer – so often taken from granted in the modern world – is totally immersed in the craic, washing around in the tide of traditional music which is part of the staple diet in The Quays.
11-12 Temple Bar, Dublin 1
T: 01 6713922
THE STAGS HEAD
Established in the 1700’s, last renovated in 1895 and was the first pub in Dublin to change from gas lighting to electricity. A favorite haunt for those in the literary world including Joyce and Kavanagh over the years, you truly capture a sense of the hidden Ireland when you accidentally stumble upon The Stag’s Head. Finding it is akin to discovering a rare treasure as it is concealed through a narrow passageway off Dame Street, although access can also be gained through Exchequer Street or Georges Street. When you enter inside this feeling of discovered booty is greatly intensified as a virtual paradise of culture and old world values confronts you. This is probably Dublin’s best preserved Victorian pub - and everything here is of authentic Victorian origin. Take time to look around and savour the sumptuously carved Victorian mahogany fittings, the mosaic marble tiled floors and granite tabletops. Everywhere before you is ornate stained glass and lamp fittings, all embossed with the stamp of the Stag’s Head.
1 Dame Court, Dublin 1
T: 01 6793687
KEHOES
Off Dublin’s premier Grafton Street. This is one of the finest Victorian pubs in Dublin. Unchanged since the 19th century, it is a buzzing vibrant pub with a fantastic atmosphere and a special place in the heart of Dubliners.
The bar is decorated in the style of an old Dublin pub, with stylish wood fittings, a very narrow bar and an intimate snug at the front and a bigger snug at the back. When the owner John Kehoe died a few years ago, the bar was sold for 2.3 million punts. The new owners opened up the musty interior upstairs where Kehoe used to live, with a bar and a little parlour with comfortable seating.
The atmosphere in Kehoe's is always convivial and friendly with a chatty clientele who are not hindered by loud bar music. Their pint of Guinness is one of the best in the city and there is a full range of beers at the bar. Get there early on a weekend night, as it tends to get very busy. Best experienced on a quieter weeknight, when the relaxed and easy ambience is a refreshing contrast to the more hectic pubs around the city centre. Guaranteed to be an enjoyable experience, Kehoes is well worth a look.
9 South Anne, Dublin 2
T: 01 6778312
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