Pub life is one of the things people rave about whenever they go to Ireland’s largest city. The best pubs in Dublin aren’t difficult to find—you can find them all over the city, but most especially in Grafton Street, O’Connell Street, and Parnell Street.
In this article, we’ll be listing down the top pubs you can visit if you’re in the city. We’ll also talk about the other factors you might want to consider in going to a pub like the atmosphere, prices of drinks, and the location.
With that on our agenda, let’s start!
Average Cost of Drinks in Dublin Pubs
Dublin is Ireland’s most expensive city. The prices here are slightly higher than in other cities, but not unbearably so.
Please note that the following rates are based on various sources. While reliable, these rates might change at any time without prior notice.
Top Pubs in Dublin
We’ll review some of the highly-rated pubs in Dublin using the following criteria:
1. The Celt
| Food menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Beer list | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Atmosphere | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Locally recommended | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
What we love the most about The Celt is its authentic Irish pub atmosphere. Servers are friendly and accommodating, and you have Irish folklore music playing in the background as you enjoy a pint of beer!
According to some locals we talked to, The Celt is a popular bar not only for locals but also for tourists. Most of them are fascinated not only by the Irish hospitality and friendliness but also by the food and drinks.
The Celt has an extensive food menu that has several Irish favourites. According to the locals though, you should try the Irish stew as it’s the pub’s specialty—and we just have to agree!
Just don’t expect to be served with huge portions though. Most of the dishes have small servings, which is probably a disappointment to big eaters.
There’s also a decent selection of drinks. Order any local beer or specialty drinks and the pub probably has it!
We also want to commend the staff for being very attentive. The pub gets fully booked, but you can walk in without reservations and they’ll do everything to get you a table fast.
Speaking of the speed of service, the staff are quick on their toes. They ask for your order, and you’ll have them at your table in no time!
The ambience is great as well! Everyone’s just friendly and doesn’t care whether you’re a tourist or a local—they’re all welcoming!
Pros
- Authentic Irish pub atmosphere
- Friendly atmosphere
- Accommodating staff
- Has several rooms with seats
- Has live music
- Great selection of pints and food
Cons
- Gets fully booked
- Food served in small portions
Customer Reviews
Great selection of drinks and food
Huge traditional pub in the heart of Dublin! What might seem a small pub from the outside, reveals its immense rooms and spaces once inside. Everyone kept telling me to pay a visit to The Celt and when I finally did I wish I had gone there sooner. Lovely pints and great selection of food (I went with a traditional Irish stew and it was delicious).—Matteo Bernardis, Google Reviews
Cosy pub with great music
Very cozy, authentic pub as far as I can say that as a non Irish person haha. We had a snack and a few drinks. The waiters were friendly and fast. It’s actually one of the few pubs we went to where Irish music played over the speakers and not some pop stuff.!— Lena Rohden, Google Reviews
| Food menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Beer list | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Atmosphere | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Locally recommended | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
One of the advantages of The Stag’s Head is its location. Located in Dublin city centre, near Grafton Street, it’s frequented not only by locals but also by tourists because it’s easy to visit!
In fact, according to some local patrons, it has become their habit to visit The Stag’s Head after work. Wherever they want to relax and hang out, they go straight to the pub to have dinner and enjoy it with a pint of beer or whiskey.
We love that the pub has a great selection of food as well as drinks. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone—you get to feed your hungry stomach and also relax and enjoy the night away.
The Stag’s Head plays traditional music and also offers themed nights. Different things are happening every night so you won’t get tired of hearing the same music all over again.
We also love that the pub has that traditional Irish atmosphere. The staff and regular patrons are so friendly and accommodating you’ll feel instantly welcomed the moment you step inside.
In addition to this, the Victorian decoration adds to the homey atmosphere as well. It really looks like a place where you can relax and just have light conversations with your friends or colleagues.
The pub can get really busy though, so if you’re a walk-in, expect to wait a long time to get a table. Also, during busy hours, the staff tend to forget your orders so you might need to follow up.
Pros
- Victorian decorations
- Prime location
- Traditional Irish pub ambience
- Known for its pint of Guinness
- Has a great selection of drinks
- Friendly staff
- Serves good traditional Irish food
- Has live music
- Perfect for after-work drinks
- Reasonable prices
Cons
- Long wait for tables
- Staff forgets to serve you during peak times
Customer Reviews
Great location
Stags Head had been on my list of must-see pubs and it lived up to my expectations. Great location, friendly attentive staff, and fantastic food! Loved the decor…the giant stags Head over the bar and stained glass. Food was fantastic! Add to your list if you’re in the city!—Sarah McD, Google Reviews
Great pints
One of Dublin’s fabulous old pubs where the Guinness is fantastic and flows well. Frequented by locals and tourists alike it has a busy feel most days with a decent atmosphere. They serve good food here with a reasonable selection of dishes available at reasonable prices. The pint is always great here as they sell a lot, one of the prerequisites for good Guinness. There is a basement bar for live acts and they cater to small groups or parties too. Well worth a visit.—The Irish Chef Abroad, Google Reviews
3. Devitt’s Pub
| Food menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Beer list | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Atmosphere | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Locally recommended | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Devitt’s Pub might be known for its pint of Guinness, but it’s not the only reason the locals and tourists flock to it. The regular patrons also boast about the food, and we think you need to take their word for it!
They recommend trying the Irish stew and Dublin coddle—arguably the best in Dublin. Other than that, the other home-cooked foods on the menu taste great as well–and they’re served in huge portions so you’d better arrive hungry!
In addition to this, other than the traditional regular Irish food, the menu also has vegetarian options. There’s always something for everyone on their menu!
We also love that there’s an extensive list of drinks you can pair with the good food. The pub has imported gins, Irish whiskies, and local beers for you to choose from.
We also love the atmosphere in the pub. It’s relaxing and warm, most especially because there’s traditional Irish music playing in the background.
The food and drink prices are reasonable as well! We love that you don’t have to splurge just to have good food and drinks.
Just make sure you call for reservations if you want to get a table—the place can get quite full! Also, avoid engaging with the bouncers—we think they need more training in customer communication.
Pros
- Prime location
- Serves home-cooked meals
- Arguably the best Guinness in Dublin
- Serves a wide variety of drinks
- Has traditional live music
- Friendly servers
- Food served in generous portions
- Decent prices
- Consistent business hours
Cons
- Can get too crammed
- Not-so-friendly bouncers
Customer Reviews
Friendly waiters
Devitt’s Pub left a great impression! The waiters were incredibly nice and attentive—really top-notch service. They serve traditional Irish cuisine with generous portions, and the Guinness was delicious. I really liked the vibe of this pub.—Tetiana Andrieieva, Google Reviews
Good food
Super cool and cozy pub. It was really busy when we went but the service was great and the food was surprisingly good! We got the Dublin coddle, burger, roast, and wings. I typically have my doubts about ordering a side salad at a pub but this one was delicious. We went back later in the night for live music and it was crazy packed but a nice atmosphere if you can find a place to stand..—Sabrina, Google Reviews
4. The Old Stand
| Food menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Beer list | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Atmosphere | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Locally recommended | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
The Old Stand is one of those places that would remind you of traditional and authentic Irish pubs. It has a cosy interior that’s well-lit, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes you instantly feel at home.
For one, it’s located in an area where it’s nice to walk around. The vicinity is safe and accessible to anyone so you won’t have a hard time finding the pub.
According to some of the patrons, they usually go here to watch a game. The place can get lively whenever there’s sports playing on the TV, but it’s light and not overly noisy that you would want to leave.
The food is great! We love that the pub has an extensive list of traditional local food that is served in huge portions. We also love that it has a wide selection of drinks that would taste divine partnered with the flavourful food.
Another thing we love is the friendly staff. Other than welcoming you warmly, they’re also easy to approach or call whenever you need assistance.
The only thing we see as a little off is that sometimes, the barman is inattentive. He can get so focused on the sports playing on the TV that he sometimes forgets to pay attention to the customers asking for drinks.
Another thing is that sometimes, the bar closes without prior notice. This can be a little inconvenient to those who travelled far just to visit the pub.
Pros
- Great atmosphere
- Friendly staff
- Nice vicinity
- Excellent food
- Wide selection of drinks
- Lovely and welcoming interior
Cons
- Closes without prior notice
- Inattentive barmen
Customer Reviews
Excellent atmosphere
Wonderful atmosphere and the staff is brilliant. Gerry (sp?) was especially nice. I ordered the club sandwich and my wife had the Irish stew, both of which were excellent. When Gerry learned we were visiting on our honeymoon, he gifted us a shot and chatted for a bit, also offering to take a few photos of us. Would recommend it to anyone visiting Dublin. Excellent food and even better service.—Douglas Haught, Google Reviews
Plenty of beer choices
Plenty of beer choices on tap, sport on the TV and the staff taking care of you make for a great pub. Seems to have been there for many years and still retains its charm. Gets busy so get in quick! A seat at the bar always appeals, and there are hooks under the bar for your coats and bags.—Bojan Kovacevic, Google Reviews
5. The Bleeding Horse
| Food menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Beer list | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Atmosphere | ★★★★★ (4/5) |
| Locally recommended | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
As a pub, we would have thought that the patrons would boast about the great selection of beers first, but while they love the beers, they love something else more than that. The Bleeding Horse has the best spicy chicken wings in town you shouldn’t miss!
The chicken wings are also served in huge portions so one order might be enough! They’re spicy and very well-seasoned and seem to be everyone’s favourite food along with Irish stew and fish and chips.
We often say this—when you want to know the best place to drink or eat food, follow where the locals go. These people already know where you can find the best things, and there’s no doubt they’ll lead us to the best pubs in town.
The Bleeding Horse is also a sports pub by the way. So it can get really loud and lively whenever there’s a game on screen.
What we love about it is even though people get a little noisy at times, everyone’s in good spirits. The atmosphere inside the bar is nice and welcoming, which is a plus for us!
We also love that there’s live music which adds to the already nice ambience of the place. It’s not too loud either, so even if it’s playing in the background, you can still have a decent conversation with your companion.
Just watch out for your orders during peak hours! Sometimes when there are too many people, the staff mix up orders, which is pretty inconvenient since you have to wait longer to have your food served.
Pros
- Great chicken wings
- A sports pub
- Nice atmosphere
- Fantastic beer selection
- Has live music
- Clean and well-maintained
Cons
- Can get really full
- Some orders get mixed up
Customer Reviews
Best chicken wings in town
Chicken Wings are lovely good portion for a good price …was there while football was on so a bit of Hektik all over the place but the waitress really friendly worse to pick inside—Volker Scherney, Google Reviews
Fantastic beer selection
We came here last night for a couple of drinks with friends and loved it. Been here twice today already, we’ve just eaten here and the food is great. Highly recommend the wings and stew. Fantastic beer selection and all was kept really well. Great place and wouldn’t hesitate to come here again.—Scott Boseley, Google Reviews