Dublin

Against the Grain

Owned by a Galway brewery, this has a wide variety of Irish micro-brews and world beers. No generic commercial beers on tap. A vibrant pub with an eclectic clientele.

Wed-Fri 4PM-midnight, Sat noon-1AM, Sun 1-11:30PM

Bruxelles

Lively pub founded in 1886. Spread over 3 bars the music is loud and the atmosphere is buzzing. Outside is a statue of Phil Lynott, from Irish rock band Thin Lizzy. For metal, rock and indie music go downstairs.

Sun-Wed noon-1AM, Fri Sat noon-2AM

Dawson Lounge

Probably Dublin's smallest pub - 20 customers and it's packed.

Mon-Thu 4-11:30PM, Fri Sat noon-12:30AM, Sun 12:30-11PM

Frank Ryans

This pub and pizzeria has friendly bar staff and a mixed crowd of students, law types, trendies and locals. Expect weekly trad nights interspersed with Rockabilly, Country and Soul on the jukebox.

Mon-Sat 4-11:30PM, Sun 6-11PM

Grogan's

Castle Lounge

Wonderful trad pub, no music or TV. Great Guinness and a mixture of tourists and locals, with a hotchpotch of interesting art on the walls.

Mon-Thu 10:30AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30AM-12:30AM, Sun 12:30-11PM

Hartigan's

Popular student bar, good choice after international rugby matches.

Mon-Thu 12:30-11:30PM, Fri Sat 12:30-12:30AM

John Kavanagh's

The Gravediggers

Mournfully authentic pub from 1833 and little altered, where you toast the departed in the next-door cemetery.

Mon-Sat 10:30AM-10:30PM, Sun 12:30-10:30PM

Kehoe's

An excellent spot for a pint or a meal after a days' sight-seeing or shopping. Several snugs downstairs.

Daily Mon-Thu 10AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 10AM-12:30PM, Sun 11:30AM-11PM

Kennedy's

Trad-style pub serving good food and drink with plenty of friendly atmosphere.

Mon-Thu 10:30AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30-12:30AM, Sun noon-11PM

McDaids

This trad pub was a regular place for Brendan Behan and Oscar Wilde to ponder life.

Mon-Wed 2-11PM, Thu noon-midnight, Sun noon-11PM

Mulligans

Busy pub with great Guinness and plenty of history, having been frequented by James Joyce among others.

Sun-Thu noon-11:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM-12:30AM

Nancy Hands

Family-friendly restaurant and bar by entrance to Phoenix Park.

Sun-Thu noon-11:30PM, Fri Sat noon-12:30AM

Ned O'Shea's

Decent food and live music and dancing. Ned O’Shea (1937-2018) was a famous trad musician from Kerry.

Mon-Thu noon-11:30PM, Fri-Sun 8AM-midnight

O'Donoghue's

With two bars across a courtyard, it's famous for impromptu live music, and where folk group The Dubliners were formed. They have rooms.

Mon-Thu 10:30AM-midnight, Fri Sat 10:30-1AM, Sun 12:30AM-midnight

O'Donoghues

A comfortable bar with live music and TV sport. It's also a hang-out spot for some of the city's most well-known musicians, actors and DJs.

Mon-Thu 10:30AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30AM-12:30AM, Sun 11AM-midnight

O'Neill's

Excellent atmosphere in a Victorian style pub. They have great food with weekend lunchtime carvery.

Mon-Thu 10:30AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30-AM-12:30AM, Sun 11:30AM-11PM

Palace Bar

Trad bar with interesting decor complete with "snug" (small private booth). Live music upstairs.

Sun-Thu noon-11:30PM, Fri Sat noon-12:30AM

Peadar Kearney's

Named for Peadar Ó Cearnaígh (1883-1942) who penned Amhráin na bhFiann, Ireland's national anthem, and was uncle to the three Behans, authors and prolific drinkers all. The pub is a great spot for pre- and post-gig drinks next to Olympia Theatre, with a young crowd and live music from up and coming Irish trad bands. Mostly tourists here but a nice spot to talk to other visitors.

Mon-Thu 11AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM-12:30AM, Sun noon-11:30PM

Pygmalion

Busy bar and restaurant with Med food, best book if you hope to eat.

Mon-Wed 5PM-3AM, Thu Fri 3PM-3AM, Sat 1PM-3AM, Sun 1PM-1:30AM

Ryan's

Beautiful Victorian pub, part of Buckley Steakhouse chain. A good place for a pint or meal before getting a train out of Heuston.

Mon-Sat noon-10PM, Sun 12:30-9PM

The Bailey

Contemporary bar with tapas, presided over by a portrait of James Joyce. Nice outdoor seating, very busy on summer afternoons and evenings.

Mon-Thu noon-11PM, Fri-Sun noon-12:30AM

The Barge

McCafferty's

Friendly trad pub with four areas, good food and great decor.

Sun-Wed noon-11:30PM, Thu-Sat noon-2:30AM

The Brazen Head

Surely the oldest pub in Dublin, founded in 1198 - Ireland's oldest, in Athlone, is from 900 AD. Wonderful on warm, dry summer nights. Live trad music and friendly atmosphere. One of the bars is covered in signed currency notes, there's quite a collection but lacking any bitcoins.

Daily noon-11:30PM

The Cobblestone

They describe themselves as "a drinking pub with a music problem" and have nightly trad sessions.

Mon-Sat 2-11:30PM, Sun 1-11:30PM

The Long Hall

Atmospheric bar with Victorian decor, one of the last "long hall" bars in Ireland.

Daily noon-11:30PM

The Lotts

Cafe bar, elegant interior with chandeliers, a marble bar and comfortable leather seating. Live music many nights. Small outside seating area.

Sun-Thu 11AM-8PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight

The Odeon

This attractive bar at the top of Harcourt St is in a converted railway station.

Tue Wed noon-11:30PM, Thu Fri noon-2:30AM, Sat 3PM-2:30AM

The Oval

Good for drink and food, does an excellent Irish stew. Attracts a mixed age group. Lots of pictures of old Irish celebrities with a tribute to the Quiet Man.

Mon-Thu 10:30AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30AM-12:30AM, Sun 12:30-11PM

Bull and Castle

Gastropub and beer hall with a large selection of micro-brewed and international beers. Part of Buckley Steakhouse chain.

Mon-Sat noon-10PM, Sun 12:30-9PM

Button Factory

One of Dublin's top clubs and live venues. Main venue has 550 capacity, Crowbar is both a theatre bar and a 60-person venue itself.