Best pubs in Dublin: 13 drinking dens to visit on your next Irish city break

You’ve touched down in the Irish capital, and within hours you’re cocooned within the timeworn walls of one of the best pubs in Dublin, a ripped-open packet of Taytos and a pint of Guinness settling on the table in front of you. For many people, this is what a visit to the Irish capital is all about. Even better if a pair of musicians start to pluck and strum a few tunes in the corner as you fall into easy conversation with your fellow punters. I’ve spent many happy hours holed up in places on this list – whether quietly catching up with friends in the tucked-away snug in Kehoe’s or celebrating a big family birthday on a frosty December night at The Blue Light up in the Dublin Mountains. At a time when many pubs across rural Ireland are closing, it’s heartening to see new life being breathed into old-school boozers in the capital, proving that the Irish pub may be deeply rooted in tradition but its modern incarnation is ever-evolving. Here’s a pick of the best drinking dens in Dublin – from long-time favourites run by generations of the same family to revamped takes on the local watering hole.

The best pubs in Dublin

O’Reilly’s

Best pub in Dublin for: new-look, old-school vibes

The cosy interior of O’Reilly’s is actually the result of a 2025 renovation that kept the original wood-panelled pub feel but added an extra shine and pops of colour, including a red banquette and patinaed green wallpaper. The old apothecary bottles on display nod to the building’s former life as a chemist shop – as does the deco-esque shopfront – yet it’s only pints and good cheer being dispensed now. There’s live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and Bambino across the road slings pizza by the slice for post-pub munchies. This place might not have been on the radar before but its revamp is drawing in a new wave of curious customers.

Address: O’Reilly’s, Merrion Row, Dublin D02 HY07
Website: oneillsmerrionrow.ie

Grogan’s Castle Lounge

Best pub in Dublin for: an arty backdrop

The darkly varnished walls of this always-buzzing spot are hung with abstract and colour-popping pieces by Irish artists, alongside a stained-glass panel depicting the pub’s interiors, down to the intricately patterned carpet. The crowd – more often than not sipping Grogan’s fine Guinness pour – spills out onto the terrace, which itself spills onto a pedestrianised street. The pub is particularly fun to visit at Christmas when every inch of space is bedecked in paintings for the annual art show; and Dublin expats are in town to catch up with old friends. Plus the no-frills toasties are legendary.

Address: Grogan’s Castle Lounge, 15 South William Street, Dublin D02 H336
Website: @groganscastlelounge

MJ Wright

Best pub in Dublin for: food

It’s hard to believe that this family-run pub in a beautiful red-brick building on George’s Street hasn’t been here for generations. Built on the site of much-hyped Rustic Stone restaurant, it has all the hallmarks of a timeless boozer; there are even open jam sessions on Sunday afternoons when anyone can come along and join the musicians. The first-floor dining room serves Carlingford oysters, burrata from County Cork buffaloes and dry-aged beef and Guinness stew, and on Sundays there’s a roast with all the trimmings. Some dishes come with vegetables from the chef’s own kitchen garden. A good spot for a feast with a gang of friends.

Address: MJ Wright, 17 South Great George's Street, Dublin D02 HD76
Website: mjwright.ie

Mulligan’s

Best pub in Dublin for: drinking with the locals

One of the oldest and best pubs in Dublin, Mulligan’s was originally an illegal shebeen until it became licensed in 1782. It’s now run by a third generation of the Cusack family, and describes itself as a “no-nonsense pub with a cast of regulars and a lack of modern pomposity”. Interiors are creaking and characterful, and over the years punters who have graced its bar stools include James Joyce and John F. Kennedy, then working as a Hearst newspaper journalist (its links with the printed press are strong as The Irish Times offices were just over the road on D’Olier Street until they moved in 2005).

Address: Mulligans, 8 Poolbeg Street, Dublin D02 TK71
Website: @mulligans_poolbeg_st

John Kehoe

Best pub in Dublin for: people-watching

In a prime location on a pedestrianised street off the main shopping drag, Grafton Street, brightly painted Kehoe’s (as it’s called locally) is the place to see Dublin street life play out. On a sunny day, punters spill out of the 220-year-old pub and sip pints beneath its blossoming flower baskets. On a cold winter’s day, the snug is the spot to bag, with a secret hatch to the bar and well-worn wooden benches. Friendly staff and a buzzy atmosphere make this a great spot for a post-shopping pit stop.

Address: John Kehoe, 9 South Anne Street, Dublin D02 NY88
Website: kehoesdublin.ie

Bowes

Best pub in Dublin for: a post-Temple Bar hideaway

Temple Bar’s boisterous atmosphere can be a little overwhelming at times, even for the most seasoned carouser. So if you require something a little more authentic, say, head east on Fleet Street and look out for the old mounted clock in the distance. Bowes is a bit of a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot, but inside, it’s a warm and gregarious place with fine Guinness and even better craic. Opened in 1880, it has more than 200 bottles of whiskey on its wooden shelves, from American bourbons to Japanese single malts (the Irish Whiskey Society was founded here in 2009).

Address: Bowes, 31 Fleet Street, Dublin D02 DF77
Website: bowespub.com

The Cobblestone

Best pub in Dublin for: music

“A drinking pub with a music problem” goes the snappy tagline at The Cobblestone, but this is a friendly pub that takes its music seriously. And in a city with musicians proudly displaying their craft every night of the week, the journey from the city centre to the Cobblestone’s corner spot in the Smithfield area is well worth the trip. With superb musicians tapping out quality trad sessions to a receptive audience, this lively pub is built on respect for Irish culture – little wonder as owner Tom Mulligan’s family have been playing music for five generations.

Address: The Cobblestone, 77 King Street North, Smithfield, Dublin D07 TP22
Website: cobblestonepub.ie

The Blue Light

Best pub in Dublin for: the views

It’s a bit of a trip out of the city centre to the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, but The Blue Light’s terrace offers views of the city stretching as far as the hazy outline of the Howth peninsula. Dating back over 300 years, the pub takes its name from the ship’s light that signalled to smugglers that the coast was clear so they could safely land illegal rum, tobacco, wine and brandy. If you’ve been exploring the mountains or hiking the Wicklow Way, there’s no better spot for a post-walk pint; the cinematic views are at their best as the sun goes down and the city lights begin to flicker on. Just like those smugglers long ago, there’s still a feeling that you’re hiding out up here.

Address: The Blue Light, Barnacullia, Sandyford, Dublin D18 PF72
Website: thebluelight.ie

John Fallon's “The Capstan Bar”

Best pub in Dublin for: a post-whiskey tour pint

In 2015, the first whiskey distilled in Dublin for almost 50 years passed through the Teeling Distillery in the historic Liberties district, and there’s nowhere better for a post-tour pint than the curiously named Capstan Bar. Just a five-minute walk from Teeling, this centuries-old street-corner pub in the shadow of St Patrick’s Cathedral pours some of the city’s finest Guinness. Grab the cosy snug if you’re lucky, and order a ham and cheese toastie made on Brennan’s batch bread, often served with a pot of mustard.

Address: John Fallon’s, 129 The Coombe, The Liberties, Dublin D08 NP52
Website: @johnfallonsthecapstanbar

Davy Byrnes

Best pub in Dublin for: literature nerds

Writer James Joyce lived in European cities such as Paris, Zurich and Trieste, but his stories were almost always set in Dublin and one of the most vivid literary references to his hometown was at Davy Byrnes pub on Duke Street. Joyce himself drank here many times, and the main protagonist of his masterpiece Ulysses – Leopold Bloom – drops by the pub in chapter eight and orders a “gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of Burgundy”. Bloomsday, a joyous annual celebration of Joyce every 16 June, is particularly fun here.

Address: Davy Byrnes, 21 Duke Street, Dublin D02 K380
Website: davybyrnes.com

John Kavanagh’s (aka ‘The Gravediggers’)

Best pub in Dublin for: a peaceful pint of Guinness

Is where to find the best Guinness the most subjective question of them all? There’s no doubt that Dublin is the finest city for the black stuff, but where it’s served is a whole different animal to ponder. With an evocative name and an even better drop of Guinness, John Kavanagh (aka The Gravediggers) in Glasnevin might be the pick of them all. Located next door to Glasnevin Cemetery (where many of Ireland’s most famous historic figures are buried) and dating back to 1833, it has an unfussy interior, and the lack of music and television means you can enjoy a peaceful pint. Order a bowl of traditional Dublin coddle when you’re here too.

Address: John Kavanagh, 1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin D09 CF72
Website: facebook.com

The Long Hall

Best pub in Dublin for: the decor

From the Palace Bar to the Stag’s Head, Dublin is home to several lavishly decorated Victorian pubs, but few can match The Long Hall on South Great George’s Street. The red-and-white-striped awnings outside make it seem a little twee at first glance, but upon entering, it’s like stepping back in time to a glamorous 19th-century époque. Virtually unchanged since 1881, its cosy lounge is blanketed by a glossy crimson ceiling, with elaborate wooden partitions, antique clocks, globe lamps and red leather bar stools. The service here is excellent too, so settle in, order a pint and admire the splendour of one of Dublin’s great pubs.

Address: The Long Hall, 51 South Great George's Street, Dublin D02 DV74
Website: @thelonghalldublin

O’Donoghue’s

Best pub in Dublin for: musical heritage

It’s only right that you’ll likely be greeted by raucous trad sounds swirling from inside the narrow old bar at O’Donoghues. Musical heritage runs deep here, with the Dubliners performing some of their earliest gigs within these walls in the 1960s. Black-and-white photos of that legendary band line the walls of this surprisingly capacious pub, with its airy courtyard, quieter second bar and upstairs space (though lead singer Ronnie Drew’s piercing blue eyes aren’t as vivid in sepia). There are rooms upstairs if you want to minimise the commute home.

Address: O’Donoghue’s, 15 Merrion Row, Dublin D02 PF50
Website: odonoghues.ie