It’s only right that Dublin, that most gregarious of cities, is the undisputed standard-bearer for the humble pub. And while St Patrick’s Day is an excuse for the rest of the world to don green hats and bark at anyone who’ll listen about their distant Irish heritage, it’s also a reminder that everybody should sample Dublin’s pub culture at least once in their life.
From nursing a quiet afternoon pint on an old mahogany counter to enjoying the rowdy hum of an evening trad music session, there’s a different character to each Dublin pub experience. And though the city offers some magnificent restaurants, museums and galleries, its beating lyrical heart is found at the bar.
Here are a few of Dublin’s best watering holes:
1. John Fallon’s “The Capstan Bar”
Best pub in Dublin for: a post-whiskey tour pint
Back 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, while lined behind the bar is a splendid Irish whiskey selection with prices hanging from small cardboard tags. While many modern hipster bars love a bit of exposed brick decor, the smoke-black bricks behind this bar are the real thing, though sadly the antique heater sitting at the back of the room is purely decorative. Grab the cosy snug, if you’re lucky.
Address: 129 The Coombe, The Liberties, Dublin 8, D08 NP52
Website: facebook.com/JohnFallonsTheCapstanBar
2. Bowes
Best pub in Dublin for: a post-Temple Bar hideaway
Temple Bar’s boisterous atmosphere can be a little overbearing 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, cosy and gregarious place with fine Guinness and even better craic. Opened in 1880, it’s also home to over 200 bottles of whiskey on its wooden shelves, covering the gamut from American bourbons to Japanese single malts (the Irish Whiskey Society itself was founded here in 2009).
Address: 31 Fleet St, Dublin 2, D02 DF77
Website: bowespub.com
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