Top 10 Dublin pubs for a Guinness

1. Central Hotel Library Bar

1-5 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2

The best thing about Central Hotel Library Bar is that nobody knows about it! There’s no entrance from street level and it isn’t clear that it is a public bar from the street level. The only entrance is via the hotel lobby, making it one of Dublin’s best-kept secrets.

Inside it is quite something; the oh so comfortable couches and agreeable armchairs beg to be sat in and are impossible to leave, while the tatty books and occasional piano recitals add real charm and charisma to the bar which boasts first floor views of South George’s Street below.

The vibe is laid back and relaxed and the clientele are mainly sophisticated but informal locals, making it a great place to go to get away from the hubbub and tourist hoards that frequent the numerous pubs and bars in the Temple Bar area. Although almost unknown, it is popular among savvy Dubliners and you’ll have to arrive early for couches.

2. The Hole in the Wall

Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7

The Hole in the Wall is another pub off the beaten track that you won’t find in many, if any, of the guidebooks. It’s someway out of the city center (you’ll have to hop on public transport to get there) but it is well worth a look if you fancy getting away from the riff raff.

A combination of several old houses knocked through, the Hole in the Wall holds the title of ‘Ireland’s longest pub’, possessing a bar that is almost 100 yards long. This is just as well as it’s usually packed with locals and people ‘in the know.’

One of its walls fuses with Phoenix Park and there is little distinction where the pub ends and the park begins during the summer months as much of the overspill from the pub end up in the park.

3. The Auld Dubliner

2 Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Situated smack in the middle of the Temple Bar District the Auld Dubliner is a great place to head if you want to be in the thick of it.

Featuring a bright mural, which includes a Jack Russell Terrier relieving itself, this is one of the better touristy pubs and has everything you’d expect of a traditional Irish pub- good craic, Guinness by the barrel load and regular live folk music.

The clientele tend to be thirsty young tourists and twenty something Dubliners in the main and it can get very, very busy at peak times. This isn’t a place to have a quiet pint and you’ll struggle to hear the music once the crowds get going, but it has a fantastic atmosphere and is a much better option than the over-hyped and ultra-touristy Temple Bar.

4. Messrs Maguire

2 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2

Messrs Maguire is one pub in the center of town that shouldn’t be missed and is a beer fans dream. Sprawling out over four floors it is a pub, late-night bar and restaurant all rolled into one and features its own micro-brewery which serves some of the best beers in town.

The brewery attracts people from far and wide, and, as a consequence, Messrs Maguire is rarely quiet, making it a great place to meet new people and enjoy the craic over one of their numerous house ales. The pub puts on traditional live music on Mondays which is also popular but Saturdays and Sundays are all about the sport on the huge TV screens that are dotted all over the pub.

5. Anseo

18 Camden St Lower, Dublin

Looking for somewhere a little bit different during your time in Dublin? Then Anseo is the place for you.

Situated in amongst a bizarre area which is a mix of fruit and veg stalls, charity shops and surreal dereliction, Anseo is a little Village Quarter bar with big heart and is like nothing else you’re likely to experience in Dublin.

The crowd is arty and local in the main and the vibes are fresh. You won’t find fiddles or harpists here as Irish folk ballads are not on the play list, with funk, groove and Afro beats the order of the day.

Anseo is distinctly average and understated inside but this adds rather than detracts from its appeal. It has an arty feel and is a fantastic place to spend a night out although be warned- the cramped surroundings will mean you come out dripping in sweat!

6. The Brazen Head

20 Bridge St Lower, Dublin 2

The Brazen’s Head couldn’t really be any more different than Anseo as it is about as traditional an Irish pub as you’ll find in Dublin and claims to be Ireland’s oldest pub.

The validity of this claim is uncertain however, this doesn’t put off the punters as the pub has attracted a constant and steady stream of Guinness guzzlers over the years including a number of famous names.

Leading literary figures like Jonathan Swift and music legends like Van Morrison have had pints in the pub which was also featured in James Joyce’s Ulysees.

With its bare brick walls and wrought iron castings it’s easy to see why it’s appealed to so many leading luminaries in the literary world and beyond.

The service is great and it also offers traditional Irish candlelit dinners accompanied by tales from Irish folklore as told by the renowned Irish storyteller John Daly.

Well worth a look if you stumble upon Bridge Street Lower.

7. The Long Hall

51 South Great George Street, Dublin 2

The Long Hall is one of Dublin’s prettiest pubs and another must if you love your beers tinged with a hint of 40s architecture. The lanterns, muskets and peculiar prints of downtrodden London that line the walls and the chandeliers and huge wooden arches that protrude from the vaulted ceilings are a real sight to behold.

The whole place screams of grandeur and on first impressions you’d be mistaken for thinking that this is a place for sophisticated higher society drinkers. However, you’d be wrong for thinking that as the Long Hall is a proper pub full of punters rather than clientele and the beers aren’t half bad either!

8. The Stag’s Head

1 Dame Court, Dublin 2

Built in 1770, the Stag’s Head is a little bit off the beaten path both in locale and spirit but is well, well worth stopping in for a pint.

Like many dyed-in-the-wool Dublin pubs, it is full to the brim with character. Centred around a Connemara marble surface the main bar is a vessel of Victoriana full of Victorian mirrors, while a stag’s head looms large over you while you tuck into your pint.

The old smoking lounge is a lovely lunch spot and serves some of the best pub grub in town. Upstairs by way of contrast is bookish and attracts a rowdy and random assortment of drinkers from Trinity students to brokers from the nearby Stock Exchange and the occasional tourist.

No matter who you are, everyone is treated as an equal in the Stag’s, as Quentin Tarantino found to his cost a few years ago when he was refused an after hours tipple for pulling rank.

9. The Cellar Bar

Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2

Think bat’s cave meets deep, dark vault and you’ll have some idea what the Cellar Bar is all about. This is a subterranean honeycomb dotted with private alcoves and a bar that serves over 75 labels by the glass.

Originally the Duke of Wellington’s scullery, this isn’t a place to come for more than a couple of tipples if you’re on a budget as it’s expensive and is the place where many of Dublin’s rich and famous come out to play including the politicos, legal eagles and well-heeled all-comers.

However its pretty panelling (subtly incorporating wine crates), fine menu and intimate atmosphere mean that it is a great place for a romantic date or final meal before you head home.

10. Gravity Bar

St. James’s Gate, Dublin 8

This is the bar at the top of the Guinness Storehouse at St. James’ Gate Brewery and quite simply is somewhere you must have a Guinness before you get on your plane home! It’s touristy as hell but provides unrivalled and spectacular 360 degree views of Dublin.

The bar is always busy thanks to the constant visitors that flock to the brewery to learn about the history surrounding Ireland’s favorite and most famous tipple.

If you do decide to take part in the tour (a bit pricey and disappointing for the money that you pay) then you get a ticket for a complimentary free pint in the bar. Though you shouldn’t stop at the one, as while the pints are slightly inflated in terms of price, the views truly are out of this world.

And that concludes our list of Dublin’s top places to go for a drink in Dublin although in all honesty the list could go on and on. Other pubs that are worth a mention include John Mulligan’s on Poolbeg Street which has been pouring pints since 1782 and O’Donoghue’s on Merrion Row which is the Big Daddy of Folk music and launched the career of the ‘Dubliners.’

10 of the Best Dublin Pubs and Bars

Craig & Caz at the Brazen Head Pub, Dublin

Ah, to be sure to be sure, Ireland would have to have one of the best pub scenes in the world. We had the pleasure of being a frequent visitor to many Irish pubs. I lived in Dublin, Ireland with my best friend for a few months, working in one of the most popular pub/restaurants in the bustling tourist Temple Bar area. We got to know the area, and the workers in many of the Dublin pubs really well.
Then when Craig and I married, I just had to take him back there for us to live for a year as I knew he would love the craic of Dublin. This time we had different jobs, lived in a great student area 1km from the city center called Rathmines, and we got to know a lot of local Dublin pubs outside of the Temple Bar tourist area.
Suffice to say we drank a lot of Guinness and created our list of 10 of the Best Dublin Pubs and Bars.

The Toast Bar

Toast Bar

The Toast Bar would have to be our favorite local bar. This Dublin pub opened at the bottom of our street not too long before we moved in. It is an extremely modern and trendy bar, and with its comfy couches, low tables, student atmosphere, and short stumble home, it easily made our best Dublin pubs list. The Toast Bar is on the main road of Rathmines about 1km from the city centre.

Rody Bowlands

A local favourite

Just a short walk up from the Toast bar in Rathmines, is this Dublin Irish pub, extremely popular with students and as a meeting place for those living in Dublin who came from the country. We walked past this pub for weeks before venturing inside. The nondescript red door outside deceived us into thinking it was just a small drinking establishment of interest for an older crowd. Then the word started to filter to us about the Irish craic that was to be found inside. We were absolutely stunned when we finally opened the tiny door to discover a gigantic pub that went back about 3 blocks and was completely filled to the brim with lively Guinness drinking Irish lads and laddies.

The Quays Bar

Traditional Irish craic at the Quays Bar

The Quays Bar can be found in the touristy Temple Bar District and is an absolute fave of mine. It was only a couple of pubs down from the Oliver St John Gogartys pub where I worked.  Every break and spare leisure time we had we could be found drinking at the Quays Bar or with the staff, who we became great friends with. It is a great Dublin pub to go to experience traditional Irish music and Irish dancing, Guinness, and a bloody great craic. It’s touristy, but that doesn’t mean stay away from it – it made our best Dublin pubs list for a reason.

Messrs Maguire

For a relaxed pint

Four stories high overlooking the O’ Connell Bridge and the River Liffey, Messrs Maguire is a fantastic pub to sit and  talk with friends. Messrs is a micro brewery pub inside an old 19th century building. It can get confusing to navigate through its maze of stairs, rooms and floors, so be sure to know what floor you are meeting your friends on.  Messrs can get very busy but usually not as rowdy as some of the other Dublin city bars. They have a great selection of home brewed beer and a coffee can also be had in their cafe – but really, is that what you came to Dublin for?

The Brazen Head

The oldest pub in Ireland

Dating back to 1198, the Brazen Head is the oldest pub in Ireland and where Craig celebrated his 30th birthday. It is a couple of blocks outside the Temple Bar District and just a short walk from the Guinness factory. It is certainly worth visiting for the history and character that lies within its walls. Traditional Irish music can be heard in any of its cozy rooms or from your seat in the cobble stoned courtyard during the warmer summer months. A visit to the Brazen Head will give you that traditional Irish pub experience you have been dying to have. And as the oldest pub in Ireland it just had to make our Best Dublin Pubs list!

Johnny Fox’s Pub

A rendevoux at Johnny Fox's Pub

Johnny Fox’s is quite a legendary pub to visit and really not that well known for backpackers – I discovered it through my brother who would take all his visiting friends there. This is one of those “off the beaten paths” pub experiences to whisper to your mates about. There is a catch though, you are going to need a car or some money for a cab (I’ve just discovered they now have  a booze bus that runs from the city there – bonus). Johnny Fox’s is famed as being the highest pub in Ireland, sitting on top of the Dublin mountains in Glencullen about a 25 minute drive from the city centre. Johnny Fox’s is a unique and atmospheric Irish pub, and is well known for its entertainment, and famous visitors such as U2 and the Coors.

The Porterhouse

The Porterhouse crowd

This is one of the best pubs in Dublin for live music – traditional, acoustic, and bands. It is situated on the edge of the Temple Bar district, so it does get quite a tourist stream coming through, although it is a favorite amongst Dubliners as well. There are four floors of drinking space with unique views over balconies to the live music below. Beers from around the world are flowing plenty and they also brew their own beers in the pub. Giant copper vats add to the decor of the pub which make for interesting photo opportunities.

Cafe en Seine Bar

A touch of Paris in Dublin

Cafe en Seine is a stylish bar on Dawson Street, just one street parallel to the main high end shopping Grafton St. It really is a bar with a difference and it is worth a visit to ogle at the decor alone.. As the name suggests it is quite 19th century Parisian in its design,  although the beer tends to flow Irish style. This bar has more of a young professional crowd with older genteel and tourists frequenting the establishment. A great New Years Eve party can be had here – buy your tickets early.

McSorleys Pub

McSorleys Pub is a local Dublin Pub in the student area of Ranalegh village.  Again it was at the bottom of the street I lived on with my best friend. If we weren’t partying in the Temple Bar district we could be found sipping some  pints of Kilkenny here with the local crowds. McSorleys is a great pub to catch some live sporting events, particularly any rugby matches and so for that it makes our Best Dublin Pubs list.

Zanzibar

Transport your self to an exotic land at Zanzibar

Zanzibar is one of the very few bars we visited North of the River Liffey. Plush velvet cushions, gigantic urns, palm trees,and eastern paintings decorate the spacious two story bar, giving an exotic and opulence Indian Ocean appeal. As it is a really popular bar, arrive early to beat the queues and be prepared to lose vast sums of money to the pricey beer that is sold behind the extremely long bar. Zanzibar is worth a visit to check out the design and to ogle at the good looking men and women that drink here. No wonder it made our Best Dublin Pubs and Bars list.

I could literally make this the longest post in history. After writing about one pub, I then remembered another and then another. Three things writing this post has made me realize – Craig and I have lived an extraordinary life, we have partied quite a lot while doing it, and that I am dying to be in Dublin right now for some good old Irish craic. You just can’t beat it.

Is there any watering hole that you think should have made the Best Dublin Pubs and Bars List? Let’s hear your thoughts…