Exploring Dublin’s Best Pubs Experience

The famous and historic pubs of Dublin are renowned for their unique atmosphere, great pints and live music. Whether you are visiting for the first time or a local, experiencing the pub culture of the beautiful city is sure to be an unforgettable experience. With a city packed with cosy traditional pubs and music venues, we have compiled the ultimate list of the best pubs in Dublin. So if you’re looking for the perfect pint and a cultural experience, here are the must visit pubs in Dublin.

John Kavanagh: ‘The Gravediggers’

John Kavanagh’s iconic pub, also referred to as ‘The Gravediggers’, is located on a quiet street just outside the white-gated Glasnevin cemetery and has been serving pints since 1833. The pub is steeped in history, having been owned by seven generations of the Kavanagh family and while they all held a tradition of service excellence, James Kavanagh and his wife made many lasting changes and refurbishments to the pub before handing it down to Philip who is currently managing the pub. The warm and inviting atmosphere makes it an ideal spot to enjoy a refreshing pint of Guinness or Smithwick’s Ale, complemented with some traditional Irish fare.

The Stag’s Head

Located just a few doors down from Dublin’s city hall, the Stag’s Head is a Dublin institution. This traditional Victorian bar offers a range of hearty food and ciders as well as delicious Irish Stew on Fridays. With its effortlessly elegant decor, live music and witty banter on a daily basis, it’s no surprise why this pub is so popular among locals and visitors alike. The Stag’s Head has been around since 1890- making it one of Dublin’s oldest traditional pubs in town.

The Porterhouse Central

This very popular craft beer pub and restaurant is located at Central Plaza in Temple Bar. The Porterhouse Central serves up delicious dishes of seafood, steak and even vegetarian options, along with an impressive range of craft beers, ciders, whiskey and cocktails. The bar also has an outdoor courtyard and two upstairs balconies with amazing views over Dublin city. Live music is performed every weekend so you can fill your night with delicious food accompanied with tunes from some great local bands.

McGowan’s of Phibsboro

This well-known family-run pub has been around since 1774. Set in the bustling city district of Phibsborough, McGowan’s is well known for their fantastic selection of ales, stouts and lagers. With an inviting social atmosphere featuring traditional music sessions around its open fires, McGowan’s truly captures a unique spirit of Irish charm. To top it off, McGowan’s also serves up fresh seafood dishes and classic Irish grub which can be enjoyed in their high-ceilinged bar and in their beautiful courtyard area which was recently restored to its original splendor in 2018.

The Long Hall

The Long Hall in Georges Street is one of the oldest city centre bars in operation having served drinks since 1766. It has maintained it’s traditional values with welcoming locals that share stories about the area’s rich past. The19th century style bar is darkly cozy with wooden furniture, large mirrors on almost any wall creating the perfect atmosphere for an authentic pint of Guinness. The bar opens early too with an offering of delicious breakfasts and brunches throughout the day and night. Accompanied with its locally sourced food, craft beers and Guinness, The Long Hall keeps it’s clientele happy throughout the day of 365 days in the year.

Grogans Castle Lounge

For those looking for live music alongside their pint this Grogans Castle Lounge is worth checking out. Located in South William Street, Grogans is a vibrant venue hosting live music sessions every night from local artists along with hosting monthly events like Punk Nite, Indie Night and Sunday Sessions. Their Sunday Sessions recently featured James Finnerty and Daniel Kelleghan Clarke which was incredibly popular with visitors and locals alike. If you’re looking for an evening with good music, great drinks and warm atmosphere then Grogans Castle Lounge won’t disappoint!

Toners Pub

Established in 1818 this legendary pub serves up delicious pints of Guinness alongside old whiskey barrels and a traditional interior- just as it was almost 200 years ago! The well-known pub situated in Baggot Street Lower is often frequented by tourists and locals alike because of its cozy interior, traditional music-filled evenings, live sports screenings and old memories still attached to its walls. Toners offers up lots of varieties of foods using local organic produce to crafted hotdogs burgers, fish sandwiches which can be accompanied with some lovely craft beers on tap.

O’Neill’s

Having been founded in 1885 this cavernous pub located in Suffolk Street houses Ireland’s oldest whiskey bar which contains more varieties of whiskey than anyone else in town .O’Neill’s features a wide variety of refreshing beers including their own Brewery Hilden beers which can be enjoyed while listening to some classic Irish tunes from one of their nightly live music sessions located in their Whiskey Bar on Friday’s or their Main bar on Saturdays!

For a truly unique experience try out the Blind Pig at O’NEILL’S- where classic cocktails are given a twist using scientifically devised methods such as liquid nitrogen chilling or caramelised popcorn foam creations! It’s also worth noting that O’Neill’s also specialise in craft beers and they are known as one of Ireland’s premier pubs when it comes to serving luxury Irish whiskeys from renowned distilleries throughout the country!

From traditional pubs founded more than 200 years ago to modern bars serving up craft beers, there is something for everyone when it comes to experiencing the best pubs in Dublin. Whether you’re looking for a quiet pint listening to classic Irish tunes or excited for a night out in one of Dublin’s most vibrant venues, understanding the different pub scenes will give you some amazing experiences during your time here in Dublin.

To make your experience extra special why not book a tour to join locals who can help you navigate your way through some of Dublin’s secret gems!