30 bars worth the trip across Ireland, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Ireland guides.
Crane Bar ★ 4.8 · Galway
westend · 2 Sea Road, Galway, H91 A6T2
The Crane Bar on Sea Road Galway is the hub of traditional music; nightly trad sessions on a stage that launched music careers since the 1980s.
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.
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 North King Street, Smithfield, 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.
Tip: Nightly trad sessions from 19:00, free entry. The back room is the dedicated session bar; arrive 18:00 for a seat.
Tigh Neachtain ★ 4.7 · Galway
latin-quarter · 17 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 F9F7
Tigh Neachtain on Cross Street Galway is the most ambient trad-session pub in the west; low ceilings, open fire and live music most nights since 1894.
Roisin Dubh ★ 4.7 · Galway
westend · 9 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 N4AP
Roisin Dubh on Upper Dominick Street is Galway's principal live-music venue; the 400-capacity upstairs room has hosted every major Irish act since the 1990s.
L'Atitude 51 ★ 4.6 · Cork
Union Quay and Ballintemple · 1 Union Quay, Cork
Cork's most celebrated natural wine destination, trading from Union Quay with a 400-bottle list focused entirely on organic, biodynamic and natural producers.
MacCurtain Wine Cellar ★ 4.6 · Cork
MacCurtain Street (Victorian Quarter) · 11 MacCurtain Street, Cork
Star Wine List's top-rated Cork venue two years running. Run by sommelier-trained Trudy Ahern, it is a hybrid wine shop and evening bar with no kitchen.
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.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The Wednesday early dinner is the calm window; Sunday lunch books two weeks ahead online.
Monroe's Tavern ★ 4.6 · Galway
westend · 14 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 T6V2
Monroes Tavern on Upper Dominick Street Galway stages live music every night from trad to folk and rock in a corner pub that defines the West End.
The Long Valley Bar ★ 4.5 · Cork
City Centre · 10 Winthrop Street, Cork, T12 NW64
Established in 1842 and run by the Moynihan family since 1927, the Long Valley is Cork's most storied bar. The counter is famously long, the decor unchanged.
Sin E ★ 4.5 · Cork
MacCurtain Street (Victorian Quarter) · 8 Coburg Street, Cork
Translating as 'That's It' in Irish, Sin E has hosted live traditional sessions since 1889, making it one of Ireland's longest-running trad venues.
The Shelbourne Bar ★ 4.5 · Cork
MacCurtain Street (Victorian Quarter) · 16-17 MacCurtain Street, Cork
Ireland's best whiskey bar for four consecutive years, the Shelbourne holds over 540 Irish whiskeys and treats the category with the seriousness it deserves.
Cask ★ 4.5 · Cork
MacCurtain Street (Victorian Quarter) · 48 MacCurtain Street, Cork
Cork's award-winning boutique cocktail bar, operating without citrus for sustainability reasons and building its seasonal cocktail menu on foraged Irish wild.
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.
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.
Bierhaus ★ 4.5 · Galway
latin-quarter · 2 Henry Street, Galway, H91 WK71
Bierhaus on Henry Street Galway stocks 150 craft beers from Ireland and Europe, with 10 rotating taps and monthly tap-takeovers from leading Irish breweries.
The Mutton Lane Inn ★ 4.4 · Cork
City Centre · 3 Mutton Lane, Cork, T12 RV07
Accessed down a narrow laneway off Patrick Street that leads into the English Market complex, Mutton Lane Inn is Cork's most photogenic traditional pub.
Coughlan's Bar ★ 4.4 · Cork
Union Quay and Ballintemple · 7 Douglas Street, Cork
An award-winning live music venue on Douglas Street, one of Cork's best streets for character. Coughlan's hosts free gigs every week across trad, folk, jazz.
An Spailpin Fanach ★ 4.4 · Cork
City Centre · 29-30 South Main Street, Cork
Open since 1779, An Spailpin Fanach is one of Ireland's oldest continuously trading pubs and Cork's foremost trad music destination. The Lee Sessions trail.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tip: Three rooms; the upstairs parlour is the whiskey room. Tasting flights of three for €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.
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, Temple Bar, 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.
Tip: Ring the bell, walk up the stairs. Bookings essential; the room is two seatings per night Thursday to Saturday.
Oslo Bar ★ 4.4 · Galway
salthill · 226 Upper Salthill, Galway, H91 PN56
Oslo in Upper Salthill is the Galway Bay Brewery taproom on the promenade; 10 rotating craft taps, wood-fired kitchen and Atlantic views on the promenade.
The Hi-B Bar ★ 4.3 · Cork
City Centre · 108 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork
Run by the O'Donnell family since 1924, the Hi-B is Cork's most determinedly traditional pub, with a strict no-mobile-phones policy that forces genuine.
Rising Sons Brewery Bar ★ 4.3 · Cork
City Centre · 4 Cornmarket Street, Cork
Cork city's main craft brewery taproom, pouring Rising Sons' full tap range including Cork Pale Ale and Blackrock Stout direct from the tank on Cornmarket St.