Top 5 Must-Visit Beer Gardens in Dublin
When the sun’s out, you’ll never run out of things to do in Dublin. And when you’re done exploring, what’s a better thing to do other than to check out places with good food, relaxing atmosphere, and a nice pint of beer.
Dublin’s beer gardens can give you all of those in a heartbeat!
Average Cost of a Visit at Dublin’s Beer Gardens
Here’s how much you might spend for just one visit at a beer garden—this doesn’t include the cost of food.
Also keep in mind that the prices of drinks might change without prior notice.
Top Beer Gardens in the City of Dublin
Our review of the best beer gardens in Dublin is guided by the following:
1. Horse Show House
Variety | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Conveniences (seats, shades) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Decorations & music | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Cost of Drinks (Higher score = better value) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Customer reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Overall Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Communication | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Efficiency (speed, accuracy) | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
What we love about Horse Show House is that it’s always buzzing with excitement. It’s a really large venue perfect for sports enthusiasts because there’s a huge cinema screen for watching football—and it’s also great for large parties as well!
In fact, according to some patrons, they already held BBQ parties for a large group of people at the beer garden. The place is a beautiful outdoor venue you can decorate based on your theme, and it has such a casual and relaxing ambience!
Other than the free sports viewing, there’s also good music, which can particularly be heard outside at the beer garden. What’s better than enjoying your food and beer with good music as a backdrop for good conversations?
We also appreciate that you can enjoy the beer garden regardless of the weather. It has covered areas to stay for the rainy days, which is an advantage to a lot of customers.
Pricing is reasonable—for both the drinks and food. And we love that there are a lot of options for both, even gluten-free options for food!
Another thing we love—the pub has a smoking area. The patrons who can’t stand the smell of smoke won’t be too bothered by it.
The staff is amazing! They’re very helpful and attentive—we like that they’re always on the lookout for customers who need help so they can immediately attend to them.
Just a couple of things that might be a turn-off for some of you—long lines at the bar most especially on busy days. The bar sometimes closes earlier than advertised time too, so you might want to get the last round of your drinks before it.
Pros
- Gluten-free options for food
- Smoking area
- Perfect for large groups
- Great atmosphere
- Good music
- Caters to large BBQ parties
- Helpful staff
- Fantastic food with a lot of options
- Large venue
- Has TV screens for sports matches
- Cover for rainy days
Cons
- Fully packed on weekends
- Bar closes early at times
- Long waiting time for cocktails
Customer Reviews
Amazing food and drinks with great customer service
We came in last week for food and a couple drinks, and I have to say, the service was amazing, the food was spectacular and the drinks were gorgeous! Nothing was too much trouble and the staff were ever so friendly, we had such a great time!!! Highly recommend it. Thank you Horseshoe house team!!!—Aarony, Trip Advisor
Reasonable and quality stay
I didn’t spend much time indoors on my first visit as it was a lovely sunny day and we had a BBQ organised in their Big Cool Beer Garden! Indoor and also outdoor sheltered area available with TV screens to watch the rugby matches or whichever they play. I’ll be back — Sona Slovakova, Google Reviews
2. The Living Room
Variety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Conveniences (seats, shades) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Decorations & music | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Cost of Drinks (Higher score = better value) | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Customer reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Overall Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Communication | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Efficiency (speed, accuracy) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
The Living Room’s beer garden is quite special if you ask us because it’s like a common room for three pubs. Oh yes—it connects three bars so it has quite the lively, fun atmosphere!
It’s actually one of the reasons why some customers love it here! They told us that having three pubs gives them more options for food and drinks so they always go to The Living Room with their friends.
It’s also fully covered with glass panels so even if it rains, the customers will still be able to enjoy their beer and food without any inconvenience. And—there’s a huge television screen in there to watch sports if you’re into it!
Another addition that we appreciate is the arcade area. There are arcade machines that can occupy your time just in case you want something else to do!
And oh—there’s a pizza shack in the corner. We’re not the only ones gushing about it—it’s on every customer’s list as well!
In terms of pricing—there are drinks and food that might be a little bit too pricey for you. However, there are also options that won’t empty your pockets so that’s good news.
The staff are always eager to help the customers too. Just one call and they always attend to your concerns, which to us is really good customer service.
The only thing we don’t like is that it’s full of smokers, so even though there’s a smoking area, if it gets too crowded, you can still smell it. And also, sometimes music can get a little too loud, which might not be relaxing for some patrons.
Pros
- Lively atmosphere
- Common beer garden for several pubs
- Beautiful and huge beer garden
- Good food
- Wide range of drinks
- Friendly staff
- Large TV
- Arcade machines
- Pizza corner
- Smoking area
Cons
- Some drinks and food are pricey
- Music can be too loud for some
- Full of smokers
Customer Reviews
Lively and friendly atmosphere
Great sports bar. I usually go here when my crowd of friends is heterogeneous. The beer garden is a great spot that connects very different pubs. This way, the crowd there is all mixed and you can move between the pubs very easily. Great chances to find someone random for a chat. I always have a good time here. — Giuseppe Avella, Google Reviews
Great selection of drinks
A total local spot to watch sports! If you’re a huge football fan or rugby fan! this is your spot hands down! It’s massive with indoor and outdoor seating/bars! Huge huge projection screens all over and the drinks are great! Great staff all over and be sure to tip them, they greatly appreciate it! If you love smoking, seat outside and if you cannot stand smoking, sit inside (my pick). Cannot get better than this for a sports bar! — Ron M, Yelp
3. The Bernard Shaw
Variety | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Conveniences (seats, shades) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Decorations & music | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Cost of Drinks (Higher score = better value) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Customer reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Overall Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Communication | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Efficiency (speed, accuracy) | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
What makes The Bernard Shaw stand out to us is its quirky vibe. The thing about this place is that it supports local artists, so you’ll see colours and art everywhere, which makes it unique and aesthetic for customers!
We love that it also has a different layout than a typical beer garden. There are so many food stalls around that offer several choices and also an impressive selection of craft beers!
The beer garden has several chairs and tables. It’s also like a common area since anyone who buys from any food stall or pub can sit in here.
And this makes it really perfect for large group gatherings. We don’t think having somewhere to sit and enjoy conversations and a good beer with friends will be a problem at The Bernard Shaw.
According to some customers we’re able to chat with, they consider The Bernard Shaw a family-friendly place. They love that the kids can enjoy eating food while parents enjoy their meals with good beer and it’s also fun to roam around and take pictures.
We also love that there are regular music performances, which makes the atmosphere warm and cosy. It’s really a bit of an all-around entertainment place—good music, nice place, fantastic food, and great beer!
It can get really busy and loud though, which might not be for those who want a slow and relaxing vibe. Drinks are also served quite slowly during these peak hours—understandable but not exactly convenient.
Pros
- Plenty of space
- Warm and cosy atmosphere
- Perfect for large gatherings
- Impressive selection of craft beers
- Wide range of food choices
- Quirky and fun decors
- Supports local artists
- Regular music performances
- Clean place
- Kid-friendly
- Has food stalls
Cons
- Can get really busy
- Slow service
- Some drinks are expensive
Customer Reviews
Impressive selection of craft beers and cocktails
The interior is filled with an abundance of quirky decorations, street art, and vintage furniture, creating a hip and laid-back atmosphere. The bar not only serves an impressive selection of craft beers, cocktails, and spirits but also hosts regular live music performances and DJ sets, ensuring there’s always something exciting happening. The outdoor beer garden is a fantastic addition, providing a relaxed and comfortable space to socialise and enjoy a drink with friends. The staff at Bernard Shaw are friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do, enhancing the overall experience. The bar’s commitment to supporting local artists and hosting creative events further adds to its charm. — Xenia, Google Reviews
Welcoming atmosphere with great variety of food and drinks
I just love Bernard Shaw and everything about it. The atmosphere is extremely welcoming and cosy. All the staff members are so amazingly friendly and caring, special shout out goes to Laura! The drinks are great as well and both the variety and quality of the food on offer is perfect. I live in UCD, but always find a way once in a while to visit this Dublin gem! Keep it up. — Honzik Sumik, Trip Advisor
4. The Bath Pub
Variety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Conveniences (seats, shades) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Decorations & music | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Cost of Drinks (Higher score = better value) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Customer reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Overall Service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Communication | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Efficiency (speed, accuracy) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
While The Bath Pub has a lot of good features that’ll attract customers, for us, its best feature is its people. It’s the type of place that’ll make you feel welcomed simply because the staff are friendly, warm, and accommodating.
Location-wise, it’s an ideal place as well since it’s a walking distance from a stadium where sports events and concerts are held. It tends to get a little too busy because of those events, so the place is often full.
However, we’re quite happy that despite being seemingly crowded, there’s a space for everyone. The staff will find a table for its customers no matter what that some actually wonder how the heck they got a table!
The place has a lovely warm atmosphere and a good view, especially outdoors. And what we love about it more is that the beer garden has a cover and a heater, so even during cold months, customers can enjoy the area.
We also love that there’s a variety of food and drinks. The Bath Pub even gives free food on Friday nights, so if you’re around the area, make sure to take advantage of this!
Another thing we appreciate—the place is well-maintained. We admire that even with all the crowd, the place manages to be spotless clean and cosy.
Just a little tip from us though—if you’re going as a large group, make sure to reserve in advance since it can get really full. Not to worry though—The Bath Pub has an easy booking system so you’ll easily get confirmation!
Pros
- Walking distance from a stadium
- Plenty of seating areas
- Covered outdoor patio with heater
- Friendly and accommodating staff
- Warm atmosphere
- Mixed crowd
- Great selection of drinks and food
- Free food on Friday nights
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Well-maintained and spotless
- Easy booking and confirmation
Cons
- Staff forgets orders on busy days
- Needs reservations for large groups
Customer Reviews
Easy booking for large groups
We organised an event with around 20 people at the Bath Pub. The booking was made really easy and we got a quick confirmation. We were sitting outside, in a warm and cosy area and the staff was really nice. — Ann Marie, Trip Advisor
Trendy Urban Feel
Bath pub has a trendy urban upbeat feel, while still being a local neighbourhood pub. We went on a Monday night, which was pretty quiet, but still had a few patrons on the patio. The bartender was warm and welcoming, and offered for me to sample a couple of beers on tap before settling in on one. Very welcoming atmosphere. I’d for sure return, or be a regular if I lived in the neighbourhood.— Nancy M, Google Reviews
5. TapHouse
Variety | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Conveniences (seats, shades) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Decorations & music | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Cost of Drinks (Higher score = better value) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Customer reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Overall Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Communication | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Efficiency (speed, accuracy) | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
When we say TapHouse, two things come out from people’s mouths: lovely beer garden and fantastic food! The customers rave about the food as much as they rave about the large selection of beers, and we think that’s a good thing!
We love to have a good drink with people we know, but having something to enjoy it with—like savoury food perhaps—makes the experience more amazing. And that’s what a beer garden is—good drinks, good food, and good atmosphere!
There are vegetarian options in the menu, which we’re pretty sure is good news to some customers. We’re also amazed by the impressive selection of unique alcoholic beverages—there’s a drink for every type of preference!
What we’re most in love with however is TapHouse’s really cosy rooftop bar where the view’s really nice (overlooking the streets). We love that some areas are covered as well, so customers can still stay in the place even when the weather’s bad.
Just a heads up—Taco Tuesdays are busy days so it tends to get a little chaotic. The staff get your orders mixed up and sometimes can’t immediately attend to your concerns—a little understandable, but can also be improved.
We also recommend booking a table in advance. While TapHouse has ample seating for everyone, the rooftop bar has lesser tables, so it’s better to have a reservation.
Pros
- Taco Tuesdays
- Cosy rooftop bar
- Large selection of beers
- Lovely and clean beer garden
- Ample seating
- Really good food
- Many vegetarian options
Cons
- Mixes up customer orders
- Staff are sometimes inattentive
- Needs reservations
Customer Reviews
Interesting beer selection and amazing food
Always a great selection of interesting, well-kept beers on tap, good food and lovely staff. We just organised an evening out here for 70-ish industry friends and colleagues who’d flown in from all over the world for a conference. Everything went without a hitch. Taphouse had better food, beer, service and craic than the Guinness Storehouse Experience™ everyone went to later in the week. — Steve A, Yelp
Wide selection of unique beers
Enjoy this pub – lots of nooks and crannies and if you are early a lovely outside balcony – always attentive staff are ready to serve you from a wide selection of interesting beers. Beer selection is constantly rotating. Food is a bit over the top but some nice options. All a bit on the pricey side — Ed Smith, Google Reviews
FAQs About Beer Gardens in Dublin
We’re ending our review with this—to fully experience Dublin, don’t forget to check out the city’s beer gardens! For more pubs to visit, try the Best Pubs in Ireland.