15 bars worth the trip across Ireland, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Ireland guides.
The Long Hall ★ 4.7 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 51 South Great George's Street, Dublin 2, D02 DV74
The Long Hall on South Great George's Street in Dublin 2, a Victorian saloon since 1881 with original mahogany and mirror back-bar, the city's best Guinness pour.
Tip: The bar runs the length of the room; sit on a stool in the back snug to watch the bar staff work. Cash and card.
Grogan's Castle Lounge ★ 4.7 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 15 South William Street, Dublin 2, D02 H336
Grogan's on South William Street in Dublin 2, the artist's pub since the 1970s, the city's reference for a creamy Guinness and a toasted-cheese-and-ham.
Tip: Cash and card. The front lounge fills with regulars; the back room is the conversation room. Toasties stop at 18:00.
The Cobblestone ★ 4.7 · Dublin
north-inner-city · 77 King Street North, Dublin 7, D07 TP22
The Cobblestone on King Street North in Smithfield, Dublin 7, Tom Mulligan's family trad music pub, the city's reference for an unplugged session of traditional music.
Tip: Nightly trad sessions from 19:00, free entry. The back room is the dedicated session bar; arrive 18:00 for a seat.
L. Mulligan Grocer ★ 4.6 · Dublin
stoneybatter · 18 Stoneybatter, Dublin 7
L. Mulligan Grocer on Stoneybatter in Dublin 7, the Northside gastropub of black pudding arancini, Irish seafood chowder and chicken Kiev, no Guinness, small-brewer beers only.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The Wednesday early dinner is the calm window; Sunday lunch books two weeks ahead online.
Peruke and Periwig ★ 4.5 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 31 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, D02 DR58
Peruke and Periwig on Dawson Street in Dublin 2, a Victorian-cabinet cocktail bar on three floors, the city's reference for a Dealer's Choice and a Manhattan.
Tip: Three floors; the basement is the speakeasy room. Bookings essential Friday and Saturday; the ground-floor bar takes walk-ins.
The Stag's Head ★ 4.5 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2, D02 TW84
The Stag's Head on Dame Court in Dublin 2, a Victorian pub since 1860 with original mahogany and a stained-glass roof, the city's archetypal Dublin pub interior.
Tip: Two bars; the downstairs is the trad pub, the upstairs Parliament Hotel is the late bar. Irish stew at lunch is the value play.
The Bar With No Name ★ 4.4 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 3 Fade Street, Dublin 2, D02 NF77
The Bar With No Name above L'Gueuleton on Fade Street in Dublin 2, a hidden-entrance cocktail bar marked by a wooden snail, mismatched decaying furniture, fairy lights and an open fireplace.
Tip: Look for the wooden snail beside L'Gueuleton; the entrance is unmarked. Walk-in for cocktails.
P. Mac's ★ 4.4 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 30 Lower Stephen Street, Dublin 2, D02 XY61
P. Mac's on Lower Stephen Street in Dublin 2, a candlelit craft-beer bar with twenty Irish and US taps, the southside's reference for an Irish craft IPA.
Tip: Twenty taps weekly rotation; ask the bar for the Whiplash, DOT or Trouble Brewing pour. Cash and card.
Kehoe's ★ 4.4 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 9 South Anne Street, Dublin 2, D02 NY88
Kehoe's on South Anne Street in Dublin 2, a Victorian pub of original mahogany snugs and an upstairs lounge that was once the publican's parlour, a classic Dublin pub.
Tip: Three rooms; the snugs sit four. The upstairs is the parlour room; ask the bar staff to point you up.
The Big Romance ★ 4.4 · Dublin
north-inner-city · 98 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, D01 T2T3
The Big Romance on Parnell Street in Dublin 1, an audiophile bar with twelve Irish and US craft taps, vinyl all night, the Northside's most considered late beer.
Tip: Twelve taps and a serious vinyl system; the wood-fired pizza arrives until 23:00 Friday and Saturday.
The Palace Bar ★ 4.4 · Dublin
temple-bar · 21 Fleet Street, Dublin 2, D02 H950
The Palace Bar on Fleet Street in Dublin 2, a Victorian pub since 1843, the literary watering hole of the Irish Times pressroom, with a hundred-bottle whiskey list.
Tip: Three rooms; the upstairs parlour is the whiskey room. Tasting flights of three for EUR 18 Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Brazen Head ★ 4.4 · Dublin
the-liberties · 20 Bridge Street Lower, Dublin 8, D08 WC64
The Brazen Head on Bridge Street Lower in Dublin 8, established 1198 as Ireland's oldest pub, the present 1754 coaching inn serves Irish stew and trad sessions nightly.
Tip: Food served until 21:00 daily; nightly trad music sessions from 21:00. The back snug holds eight; the courtyard runs summer only.
Vintage Cocktail Club ★ 4.4 · Dublin
temple-bar · 15 Crown Alley, Dublin 2, D02 E229
Vintage Cocktail Club on Crown Alley in Temple Bar, a first-floor cocktail room behind an unmarked door, the city's most serious pre-Prohibition cocktail list.
Tip: Ring the bell, walk up the stairs. Bookings essential; the room is two seatings per night Thursday to Saturday.
The International Bar ★ 4.3 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 23 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2, D02 VH59
The International Bar on Wicklow Street in Dublin 2, a Victorian saloon and the city's longest-running comedy room, the basement Cellar Bar pours cocktails.
Tip: Three floors; basement cocktails, ground-floor bar, first-floor comedy nights from 21:00 most weeknights.
Davy Byrnes ★ 4.3 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 21 Duke Street, Dublin 2, D02 K380
Davy Byrnes on Duke Street in Dublin 2, the moral pub since 1798, the Joycean Bloomsday stop for a Gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of Burgundy.
Tip: Bloomsday on 16 June fills before 11:00; the back room sits forty. Seafood plates run all day.