What an amazing experience here while in Dublin! The reviews speak for themselves. Pub is internationally known and we certainly found out why. Pints were perfectly poured. Service was impeccable. Made us feel like a couple of locals. Beautiful bar! Will definitely return on our next trip to Dublin! read more

Darkey Kellys - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Good music, good food and drinks! What better way to spend our last evening in Dublin. Food was amazing! The green curry chicken was so creamy and just the right level of spiciness. My sister had the lamb and said it was incredible. Service was decent, not overbearing. read more

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I asked the Internet for a list of great Irish pubs and Darkey Kellys was near the top. So before dinner, this was a stop. And yes, it's hopping with live music, lots of people sitting and talking, some food being consumed. I sat at the bar which gave me a great opportunity to see dozens of Guinness pints being poured. Yes, Darkey Kellys is full of tourists and not many locals. But it is in the tourist district, adjacent to the Christ Church Cathedral, Dublinia and others. [Review 1993 of 2024 - 173 in Republic of Ireland - 23015 overall] read more

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Stayed at the Harding Hotel and this pub was attached to the downstairs of the hotel. We had an amazing time hanging out at the pub, having a Guinness for the first time while listening to local Irish music. The people of Dublin were very welcoming! Both of the burger and the fish and chips were fantastic! read more

Darkey Kellys - Outside entrance to the pub - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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Potentially the best pub food I had while in Dublin and that's after a lot of places. Extensive menu of Irish classics. Big portions and big tastes. Lamb Shank: Love how fall off the bone tender the lamb was. Sauce was savory and went great with the mashed potatoes. Loved the cubed root veggies. Also appreciated that they only gave two pieces of broccoli, since that's more than enough. Seafood Chowder: Very creamy and very smoky. Tons of mussels, a lot more than I expected. Lots of smoked fish too. The flavor here was very intense! Unlike any chowder I've ever had. read more

Darkey Kellys - Lamb Shank - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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During our recent (first) trip to Ireland, we spent a day in Dublin before exploring the rest of the countryside. And the first Irish (a very proper) Pub we visited was Darkey Kellys! And what an AMAZING pub! The ambience was great, food and drinks (had my 1st ever Guiness), but MOST importantly...the Staff was EXCEPTIONAL! And one employee really stood out above the rest, James. He was very engaging, so patient, and really made us feel welcome (in a sea of tourists)! In the course of 3 full days in Ireland, we visited Darkey Kellys three times and each time was better that the last. James is a master at what he does and we will always hold Darkey Kellys in a special place. A MUST visit!! read more

I stumbled upon this cute pub without knowing its history. From the pub's website: "For generations Darkey Kelly was known in Dublin's folk memory as the woman who was burned at the stake for witchcraft but new evidence uncovered suggests that although she was innocent of witchcraft she still had a dark side to her character. The discovery of bodies under the floorboards of the brothel she ran in 1761 suggests she may have been Ireland's first serial killer!" Okay, maybe this pub is not supposed to be cute, but the ambiance and food are great. Locals frequent this pub. I didn't have the opportunity to listen to traditional Irish music here, but just grabbing a table here makes me feel like a local. I got the Fish & Chips and the Guinness Chocolate Mousse; both were great. The fish could have been seasoned a little better, but the batter for the Fish & Chips was light and airy -- did not taste greasy at all. The homemade tartar sauce and green pea puree that came with it were delicious. The Guinness Chocolate Mousse was pretty rich with way too much whipped cream, but I just removed some of it. I would definitely come here more often...if I had more local friends, that is! read more

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Great atmosphere and drinks. Highly recommend it! Fish and chips looked great but tasted good. read more

Darkey Kellys - Great selection of beers. Guinness was silky smooth! - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Best food we had in Dublin, hands down. We came in on a busy Friday night and the band was great, so the place was packed. No real seating announcement so we assumed it was first come first serve. We found two seats on the side of the bar and the rest of our party stood. The bartender was an awesome dude, even though it was busy he always made sure to get our drinks, etc. Both bands we heard were awesome, with a mix of traditional irish music and some hits us Americans would know. Foodwise- we got the lamb shank and the beef stew, along with a side of wings. Both entrees were absolutely massive- we highly recommend splitting as it was a ton of food for one person (and even for 2). The stew was great with a darker sauce, and the lamb shank fell off the bone and came with a ton of veggies. The wings were good and on the smaller side, which was nice. The only issue with this spot is one staff member, who I am not sure if she was acting as the manager that night. She came over and shoved our seats to the side, saying we were too close to the drink pick up area. We hadn't moved the chairs when we came in- we had just sat down at the only 2 spots we could find. OK- we didn't mind moving over. A party behind us using 7 stools at a 4 top were leaving, and I asked them to take one chair to the bar as they left so one of the remaining 2 of us could sit while we ate. When I did this, this manager once again came over and berated me, saying this table is reserved and we cannot move chairs and that she would "try to find us a table to sit at ASAP". Look - there was no posted seating system at the front and I know they do not take reservations. I was unsure why paying, EATING guests were berated for wanting to sit, using a chair that wasn't even used for the next group of 4. Also, the manager kept working the bar and never "found us a spot" like I knew she wouldn't. Overall still a 4 star because the food, the music, and the bartender were amazing. read more

Nice bar, live local talent for music, bartender is great, food was delicious. According to the local "Norm, who has his seat at the bar for 21 years, not in season". read more

Darkey Kellys - Lamb is very good - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Looking for live music and great food? This is it! It's busy and always packed but you can always manage to start with a drink and order food. They were quite fast! read more

Darkey Kellys - Beef stew.... Simply the best! - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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We spent the day wandering Dublin, passed the Guinness store was closed. Towards the end of our day we found Dark Kellys and since my Mother in law is a Kelly, we gave it a try. Traveling with 2 disabled people is never easy to accommodate, but the staff did their best. 4 meals ordered, 3 fish and chips and one burger. The food was excellent a d tasted great. Good size portions. A great little bar with awesome patches supporting first responders from around the world. Found some from my home states and even one supported my beloved Border Patrol. The staff was friendly and the patrons were very nice as well. You get the props and honor of serving me my first Pint in what I call the Motherland..... read more

Darkey Kellys - Seattle, San Diego, and Border/Customs support patches - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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We wanted to make sure we had traditional Irish food while in Ireland. We were there for 10 days and tried several restaurants from Dublin to Cork. Darkey Kelley's by far had the most delicious food. So much so, that we ate there 3-4 times. They have the best fish and chips in Dublin and beyond! We found that fish and chips can be hit or miss but not there. We had the burger, stew, and another dish that I forget. Every dish we had, we thoroughly enjoyed. The musical entertainment was also great. Even though it was packed each time we went, we loved the environment and that's saying a lot bc I don't like others sitting too close and on top of me esp when eating. We definitely plan to eat there again when we return. read more

Darkey Kellys - Fish and chips - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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Amazing food, I had the bangers and mash...deliciously yummy! Hubbies fish and chips as well.

We were too early to check in to the NYX Hotel. The front desk manager suggested Darkey Kelly's for lunch. Great recommendation. Walked into a quintessential Irish pub. Dark wood and plenty of old beer advertising posters. Servers were very friendly and helpful. We ordered some traditional pub grub. Fish chowder, Irish stew, and fish & chips. All very good. read more

Food, service, ambiance, all fantastic! They have the best fish and chips ever! The Guiness stew is excellent, and their home brew velvet stout was absurdly good. I hate to recommend them too much because then it will get too crowded. read more

Absolutely loved this pub and restaurant. Another yelper described it as a hopping bar, and I couldn't agree more! And don't sleep on the food. My colleague had this spot on her wish list of places to visit so we came here for a group dinner. We walked in around 7pm with quite a big bunch and no reservations. The bar area and restaurant itself was packed, but the staff was super accommodating in finding space for us. The ambiance here is spot-on. They had live music the night that we visited which was a of fun, and the decor was charming. I know it may be a deemed a tourist bar, but we actually met quite a few locals that mentioned they frequent this spot. I wasn't even sure I was hungry so I asked the waitress if they could whip up something light for me. I went with a green salad and balsamic chicken, and a side of scallion mashed potatoes (which ended up being a huge portion and very filling). While I ordered a 'no frills' meal, my colleagues went all out so I got to try quite a few bites from other plates. The Braised Lamb Shank entree was massive and beautifully plated. This was easily split between 2 people. The other dishes we tried were Beef and Guinnes Stew, and the Thai Green Curry. Each one was delicious. Drinks were great and came out quickly despite how busy it was. Overall, just a great experience and space. read more

Darkey Kellys - Outside - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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The food was amazing, loved every dish we got. The wait staff were very friendly and the service was great. We got there a bit before the rush so it was nice and not crowded at that point. read more

It was St. Patrick's Day weekend and the whole temple bar was crowded beyond belief! And still, we found a nice table at Darkey Kelly's for drinks, good CRAIC, great service in an ambience that was off the hook. If you like, live music and lively people, get yourself there! read more

Darkey Kellys - Big portions for dinner - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Loved this pub! My wife and I wanted Trad and this was the place! Very high energy and good vibes! Our bartender Tig (sp?) was perfect. He poured perfect Guinnesses (this IS Dublin, after all), and recommended a terrific whiskey for us: Green Spot! We went back the next night too! read more

Darkey Kellys - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

We sat at the bar as no tables were open. Shared a fish and chips dinner (very tasty). Great live music. Bartenders were nice and helpful. It was busy and people were waiting for our seats once we were done. Good location (easy to find and walkable from our hotel). read more

Great atmosphere! Good live music. Excellent food, drinks and service! Will definitely revisit!

Amazing food. The beef stew was excellent and the fish and chips were the great, better than any of the others we've had in Dublin. Service was great very tentative and friendly. read more

It had a newer and fresher feel compared to the other pubs we encountered. Not a bad thing, simply an observation. It was a bit tucked away but so happy we stumbled across this place. The staff were exceedingly friendly and attentive. The binders and mash were exceptional. The presentation was wonderful. The bangers ere delicious and the potatoes were an excellent foundation. The Devine gravy wrapped up the dish to perfection. Absolutely recommended. read more

Darkey Kellys - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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No food and the place kinda smells guess they have a holiday party no food in the customer 20 minutes for nothing.

If you are looking for a lively Tourist Bar with Genuine Irish Music 7 days a week, this is your spot. Please don't take "Tourist Bar" wrong. In this case, it just means they are not playing. soccer and rugby in lieu of Irish Music. It's also not TGI Fridays, it's fairly authentic with some rebel songs intermixed with Irish standards. We arrived on a Sunday Night at 6:45. They don't take reservations so you can expect to wait. There is no one in charge of a list so recommend you figure out who is in charge and checking back. It worked. We were a table of 4 and we waited on the patio with a beer for about 35 minutes. You could easier sit out and eat on a temperate night. However, you'd miss the music which is the whole point. Once we were seated at the table, it took about another 20 minutes to get a order in. You kind of have to wave for attention. The food actually came quickly after that. The food was very good. Stand out was problemly the Seafood Chowder which came with loaded with Mussels and Brown Bread. The Vegan Burger, Fish and Chips, and ubiquitous Beef Guinness stew were all spot on and served at proper temperature. Also of note, They have like 100 irish whiskeys on the menu. If you are from out of town, and want a quintessential irish experience, won't be disappointed read more

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Got recommended this by a friend and it was so worth it!! The food was big portions and so worth it!! They got a big group in quick and were able to get us service fast!! They have a lot of traditional irish dishes well worth the try! Kinda hot on warmer days but well worth it for the food. read more

Darkey Kellys - bangers and mash - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

The food here was amazing. Reasonably priced too (for Dublin). I had the fish and chips and my partner had the bangers and mash. I think she's a convert now. Beers are reasonably priced too (again for Dublin) and the bar staff were professional and fun. We went on a live music night but said outside in their patio. Music was great, patio was quaint and cozy. Even during the heat wave Definitely would recommend. read more

This was a perfect Irish pub experience! Irish music playing heavy wood furniture & stools, great drinks, friendly service. Fish and chips was lovely, Crispy and light! Strawberry drink was great I had to have two. We weren't rushed at all. read more

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I was in Dublin 3 days and ate their Guiness Irish Stew 2 of the 3 days for supper. It was awesome! Live traditional Irish musicians played each time I was there and the staff was friendly and attentive. They have a HUGE selection of whiskeys and lots of beer on tap. I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a great traditional Irish Pub! read more

Darkey Kellys - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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What a great pub! The food was great! Check out their bangers & mash and their Irish beef stew.

Food was amazing and the espresso martini was equally amazing. The only draw back was the time it took to get our meals but certainly worth the wait! Hoping to make it back for the baileys cheesecake' read more

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Man oh man the stew. Where do I begin? Comfort in a bowl? A dish to warm the bones? Just full of vitamin yum? Have you ever had a dish that tastes good to the last spoonful? This was it. I wasn't expecting this much flavor, nor was I expecting to be wowed by a stew. But hey, that's one of the best things about traveling and going to spots off a gut instinct. Having tried the Irish stew at a few other famous pubs here, this is bar none the best in Dublin. The live music was great. My buddy had the fish and chips but my other friend who had the carbonara said it was one of the best he's had in the city. Once again though. The S T E W. Epic. read more

Darkey Kellys - Guinness stew - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Loved the live music the fish stew was filled with mussels in the shell and was Amazing the bangers and mash had a delightfully light texture we sat outside and I ordered our food and drinks at the bar and the food was delivered to us. read more

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Great live music and an even better crowd. The energy was amazing and made for such a fun night. read more

Darkey Kellys - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Two weeks of fantastic Dining across the island and this lunch stood out as one of the very best for multiple reasons. My wife got the seafood chowder and it was essentially an order of delicious mussels on top of a delightful seafood chowder. I got their Cajun chicken bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich which was excellent. I got a local brewery red ale, Brogue, I believe. Very nice. I then perused their EXTENSIVE whiskey list and ordered a Big Smokey by Teeling. I didn't even see it available on the Teeling distillery tour! It was, also, amazing. The staff was super attentive and always hustling. Very convenient to St Patrick's Cathedral. read more

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Great burger, whiskey, and beer. A perfect pub to visit while in Dublin. Bartenders and other staff were happy to give pointers. read more

Darkey Kellys - Bar - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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If you're ever in Dublin, Ireland, don't bother with Darkey Kellys! The music may be somewhat traditional, but to have it blasting on speakers is not! We were sitting at the bar in the back, a very decent distance from the stage and I couldn't even hear my husband who was sitting on the bar stool right next to me. Have you ever given a bartender your order when you cannot hear each other? I'm going to guess he knows how to lip read! It was impossible for him to hear my husband's order. I sure hope the guy is wearing some kind of ear protection because he will go hard of hearing, if not deaf, sooner rather than later. If the bands skip the sound system, it would have been good, but it was pure stupidity to have the music blasting the way it was. I couldn't get out of there soon enough! Too bad, we would have had fun if it wasn't for the noise levels! read more

We went around 6pm on a weekday and from the outside, there didn't seem to be any music but once you open the door.. the place was alive with music and a lively crowd. The person in charge of seating told us that there was 4 ppl ahead of us and maybe a 1/2 hour wait. But it was really quick.. maybe 10min to get a table. We had hamburgers and steak and everything was delicious. I had the Red Lolly and it was delicious! Our waiter was nice and friendly. And there was a wide variety of people - young, old and families read more

Nice pub to start our first day in Dublin. Just what you picture for an Irish pub with good eats and great beer.