So I've been hanging out in Astoria now for roughly about almost 3 years and am familiar with the Long Island City/Astoria part, the Steinway area (my fave!) and the Broadway into Ditmars part. I've seen Doyle's bar and walked by it now for almost a year and a half at this point...since July when my boyfriend moved up the block from this bar.
It looks like a regular, Irish pub from the outside - charming, yet being a Manhattan native I've seen my share of Irish pubs and each time I walked by I wanted to hop in, but didn't because well...no real reason, but with so many bars in the area we just never made it in here.
Last Friday I went to my beau's apartment from work, he wasn't home as he was doing laundry to prepare for his bestie from CT who was visiting and staying over the next day. We went in the direction of the Laundromat but realized we had 35-40 minutes to kill. He was flushed, a little clammy and not feeling so great. Wasn't entirely sure whether or not he had a fever, but definitely sure he was a little sick or coming down with something.
He wanted a Hot Toddy and felt it would help make him feel better. I wanted an ice cold beer as I had a rough week, so I suggested Doyle's since it's on the corner and right by his Laundromat. SO HAPPY I did. This charming pub has many redeeming qualities:
1.) Newly remodeled - I had never seen the inside before so I honestly can't speak as to what it was like before, but now it's got comfy booths, dim sexy lighting (not too dark, just right!), simple/minimalistic light fixtures give it a nice, classy pub feel - was totally surprised as the outside (in my opinion) doesn't match the inside, this isn't a bad thing - just an observation.
2.) Bathrooms - Yes, this is a QUALITY. People go to bars to drink, drinks make us want to tinkle. Being able to tinkle in a clean bathroom is all too often a luxury at a bar. I literally stopped in my tracks when I entered a clean smelling bathroom with a squeaky clean new steel sink & faucet, clean toilets, perfectly kept stalls, no graffiti or etchings...it was amazing. One of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen at a bar. Awesome.
3.) Prices - Food menu is your average Irish bar foods, but everything sounds pretty delicious and I've heard that the Irish Nachos here are to die for. I'll definitely check them out next time I'm here. My boy's Hot Toddy (and other cocktails) are $6 (not awful, especially when it's heavy handed and well made). Jameson on the rocks is $6 and beers on draft (imported and domestic) are $6 all day, every day and I was really impressed to see Blue Moon's Agave Nectar on tap here along with Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (a Hefeweizen style beer brewed by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan in Freising, German) which I totally got my boyfriend into. He described it as "oooh, that's refreshing!" and he's right. Not many Irish bars have a spectacular draft beer selection, kudos Doyle's :).
4.) Friendly Bartender - Friday night the man in charge of the bar was Brendan. Brendan is friendly a hoot and gave me a generous sample of Blue Moon's Agave Nectar in a pretty crystal class. He also makes a MEAN Hot Toddy. If I remember correctly he also had a light Irish accent. Winning.
Doyle's is a real neighborhood bar and a great place to WATCH SOCCER on their wall-mounted flat screens, enjoy some food and have a good time away from college frat boys and other annoying folk.
Also the jukebox here is FANTASTIC and was churning out awesome music - any bar that plays Johnny Cash and Arctic Monkeys gets several golden stars in my book. Love this place and will probably be a regular in no time :). read more