I can't believe that it has taken me so long to write about this one, but this place is truly the quintessential neighborhood pub. The atmosphere is rich with local charm and friendly conversation, and the moment stroll into Gravediggers, you're immediately aware that you are in a real pub, not some Temple Bar tourist trap. My bartender was friendly and poured one of the best pints of Guinness that I have ever had. As soon as I took my first sip, I knew that Gravediggers was home. Yes, it was a bit of hike get to this temple of Guinness goodness, but I would gladly do it again... and will the next time I'm in town. read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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We were told that the gravedigger Tavern was a must see so we hopped in an Uber and went a few miles to the John kavanagh Gravedigger tavern. It's next to a huge graveyard and was established in 1833 so the gravediggers could have a place to talk and drink their favorite beverage. There are two sections one is for drinking and the other is for eating. The folks there were super friendly as we first had a pint of delicious beer then we wandered to the food side. The service was excellent as I had the potato soup which was delicious and cheap. My wife and daughter split the Irish rolls and they fell in love with them. It was a great experience and I would definitely highly recommend anyone in Dublin to visit this place. This place is for anyone looking to have a pint of reasonable priced beer and delicious reasonably priced food plus the allure of the graveyard and all of its many different gravestones. read more

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Probably my favorite meal in Dublin. Worth taking a taxi out of city center. If it was closer to our hotel I'd have eaten here multiple times. Great looking pub with great service. read more

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Our friend from Dublin told us to come here after we had gone to a few tourist pubs . This was the real deal . Right next to a cemetery. Its name came by the pub passing beer to the grave diggers long ago (so we were told ) This pub is hustling spilling out to the street. I asked how many glasses of Guinness are poured daily I was told it's too busy to count ! True read more

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The Gravediggers pub was better than I expected! Very friendly staff and cozy historic pub dating back to 1833. Right next to Glasnevin cemetery you will need to take a taxi from the city center (20 minutes) but worth it. Some of the best tasting Guinness on earth! read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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The service was quick and extremely friendly, the appetizer Irish spring roll, I had the Beef Barley Stew and the Coddle soup which are both delicious. If you come to Ireland stop by Gravediggers for lunch and a pint of Guinness. The decor was authentic and comfy. Stop in and see for yourself. read more

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Arguably both my favorite Irish pub and best pour of Guinness I had in Dublin. Stellar read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

The Gravediggers is a Tapas- type of restaurant. The food was super good and not in abundance to allow for tasting several tapas. I loved it. read more

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SOOO GOOOD!!!! I CREAMED MY JEANS!!!!! the experience was revolutionary !!!!! The Guinness= creamy af. Like mothers milk!!! Sis I'm dead as a chile. It was a real creamer read more

Definitely my favorite pub in Dublin. Situated next to a beautiful graveyard from the 1800's.. you have to check it out for sure! Walking in, it's like stepping back in time with ancient wood doors, nooks & wood burning fireplace. Don't expect a huge bar as it is rather small with absolutely no stools!! Many tables around the bar that are weathered & look to have been in use for many years. Expect lots of locals with their dogs that are quick to spark up a conversation about the history of the area! I chatted with the town Barber for 3 hours over many pints. Service was great & very prompt and this is definitely the BEST pint of Guinness I had & I had many! They ring a bell when you tip/ ask for Becky and you won't be disappointed. Must see joint// talk later PS- try the peanuts read more

Stopped in on one of our last nights in Dublin and so glad we did!!! What a great place to grab a pint and eat some fantastic food! Service was great super friendly. Not a big place which kinda made it even better, if you have a chance stop in for sure n grab a pint and a bowl of the coddle or the seafood chowder read more

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In the search for the finest Guinness pour in the land, John Kavanagh is a must. They do an absolutely perfect pour. The folks are friendly and the place is popular with locals. read more

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An amazing bar in Dublin!! The bartender was so kind and welcoming, he provided so many historical facts about the pub! The ambiance felt like a true Irish pub from the 1800s- we even got to see the area the woman used to have to sit! Make sure to sign the guest book! The served the best pint of Guinness I've had by far and had an amazing atmosphere! Definitely stop here during your travels in Dublin!! read more

On many ventures to Dublin, this is the first visit I made to here in May 2022 and this definitely one of my top 5 bars in Dublin...It's located a little bit out of the city limits but worth the visit...sitting in the pub you would think you stepped back in time a 120 years ago....What a blast I had...It's a mixture of locals and tourists but mostly locals which gave us a warm welcome....Don't miss out on this one....you will be sorry !!! read more

Great Guinness and great food. The staff are friendly and attentive. Unique location right beside Glasnevin Cemetery.

My wife and I were in Ireland for two weeks and made our first visit on night #1 as we heard this was the best pint you were going to find and it definitely didn't disappoint. The pub was very busy but service was really quick and the pint was as advertised, damn near perfect. Brought our friends back about a week later when they got to Ireland. A little bit off the normal track but worth the trip! read more

The food here was perfect, take a picture of the Menu on the way in and order anything - it was all awesome, oh and did I mention the best Guinness pour in Ireland. read more

I stayed at a b&b not far from gravediggers while my wife was in St James hospital. at night I had to find food and walked toward the pubs. I meet a couple on the sidewalk and they told me to go across the street and walk down this narrow road and I come to John Kavanagh. I did, and when I got there, there were people everywhere on the sidewalk and street. I went in looking for food and got the thrill of my life. The owners, staff and patrons were all so welcoming. The service was great, i loved the small menu and the food was great. everyone asked me questions about my stay and when I tried to settle up , one of the owners told me it was taken care of. I thanked her and returned the next three days. I've had friends travel to ireland and they've eaten and drank there and loved the experience as well. My wife made it home alive thanks to the Irish doctors and I'm on my way back, with my brother, to finish my tour of Ireland in March. 1st stop will be John Kavanagh The Gravediggers to up grade my T-shirt. Love those people. Oh, I never paid for a meal there, other patrons always paid. I donate to others in there honor. My name is Gary Shiek from Minnesota. God bless the Irish. read more

Coddle + Guinness ! Everything else was just ok but those 2 alone are worth the 5 stars

Visiting Dublin and a good friend brought me to this pub. I have nothing negative to say about it. The Guinness pour was amazing and the food was the best I had on the whole trip. Everyone was friendly and if you want a truly great experience, go here. read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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Great pub! Like stepping back 100 years great pint, no TV this pub is all about conversation and Guinness,and you will find plenty of both.I love the fact it hasn't sold out,like many other great pubs.No walk of fame or cheap trinkets here,Just great banter and good beer the place oozes charm long May it continue. read more

We visited the Gravediggers because we wanted to try their coddle. We had seen this restaurant on one of the travel/food network shows who raved about the coddle. Unfortunately, on the day we arrived (it was either Sunday or a Monday that was a bank holiday) they said they did not serve any hot food and that coddle wasn't available everyday. They only served food from their refrigerated area (that they offered to heat up for us). We decided not to eat here but instead ordered a Guinness. Despite not having any hot food for us, we enjoyed our visit here because service was very friendly. Next time we're back in Ireland we'll make sure to visit this place again but call in advance to see if they have any coddle. The restaurant wasn't really within walking distance so we had to take a cab here and back to the city center. read more

As good as it gets, in my opinion. After walking around the (amazing) Glasnevin graveyard, we stopped into this pub. We had just flown into Dublin earlier in the day, first time to Ireland. 1. The service - beyond friendly. Chatted with us, so very friendly. Made great food recommendations and checked up on us often. 2. The food - I got the coddle. Don't be afraid- I know at first glance it looks kind of ...different... but it's so warm and hearty and delicious. The meat is falling off the bone and they'll bring you all the bread and butter you want. My partner is vegetarian and they had a lot of great vegetarian (and gluten free) options, and he was very happy with his food. 3. Ambiance - great location, right next to a fantastic graveyard. The pub has been around apparently for a few hundred years and has a great vibe. Also, very clean restroom facilities. I was expecting something not as nice considering the age of the facility. Overall, what a great way to be welcomed to Ireland. read more

Absolutely loved this place! From the minute we walked in, we were greeted by such nice people. I wasn't sure what to order, and our waitress walked me through her favorites on the menu. She suggested the chili enchilada special. Now keep in mind, I'm Mexican-American, and my favorite Mexican dish is enchiladas. So I was a bit skeptical that the enchiladas had chili, but ordered them anyways. They were so good! Loved every bite. I actually made them when we got back home because I was craving them. My husband wanted to come here specifically to try coddle. He also loved his meal. I tried it as well, and it was so heartwarming and comforting. This was also the place we had the BEST pints of Guinness. I had two, and honestly could have ordered another one, but it was only 13:00 and still had more to do that day haha We can't wait to visit Dublin again and come to Gravediggers. Absolutely great food, pints, and such nice people. read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Chili enchiladas. This was a special on the day we visited. Very good! - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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Average. Decent pint, poured the wrong way no two part pour here. Barman has a bad manner. First thing he said was that they are closing in 5 minutes. Not worth the trip read more

Forget Temple Bar. Forget spotless Irish pubs with freshly polished wood and fancy embossed Guinness pint glasses. Forget your preconceived notions about Dublin pubs. Just go to Gravediggers (Kavanaghs). This was, hands down, my favorite pub in Dublin. Two reasons: One, the most exquisite pint of Guinness I've ever had, and two, the inappropriate but highly entertaining craic courtesy of the regulars. I've been in my fair share of Irish pubs in Ireland and also around the world. Kavanaghs rests in my mind as one of those special places that immediately levels its patrons as commoners on fair playing ground - you walk in and you're suddenly a member of a community, and no one gives a crap where you came from or what you do, as long as you're a conversationalist. We went on a sunny Saturday at noon, perhaps not the most common time to visit this place. The cigarette stragglers were in belly-laugh form outside the front door and the loyal regulars were huddled up at the doorway, chatting and taking the piss out of each other. We got warm welcomes, amazing pints, lots of ridiculous banter, and an invitation to sign the guest book. All this, and we're not even that interesting. Imagine the carpet that they'd lay out for people who are actually funny! Head out of Temple Bar, eschew the trendsetters downtown, and make time for Kavanaghs. Your soul needs it. read more

John Kavanaghs - or the Gravediggers as it is more commonly known - is a great place to have a pint and a toasted special of an afternoon. No sports on the television (no television at all, in fact), no music on in the background. Nothing at all to impede the activity that the pub was ergonomically designed to facilitate: good conversation. The pub is somewhat out of the way, tucked away as it is next to Glasnevin Cemetery. You'd have to make the effort to go to the Gravediggers, buy people do. Apart from having a lovely original interior, the pub also has a grand little courtyard for sitting out in on the rare occasions that the weather permits. The Gravediggers has been around for a long time, and is part of Dublin's rich folk-history. The pub features in a scene in Ulysses, and the phrase "going for a jar" was coined in relation to the pub. Back in the day, there were no off licences, and people would buy whatever bottles they needed from the pub. But during the First World War, there was a shortage of glass bottles, so people would get their porter home by filling up big ceramic jars - "going for a jar". Least that's according to oul' Kavanagh behind the bar, but you couldn't believe half the stories that he'd tell ye. read more

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Suggested to me by a friend who remembers the place fondly even several years after he visited. John Kavanagh The Gravediggers does not disappoint. If you are after a traditional Irish pub a little bit off the beaten track then this is your place. If you want to be transported back in time then this is your place. If you want to have a chat with locals then this is your place. If you want to while away an evening drinking a few pints of Guinness and enjoying some tapas or some traditional Irish food then this is your place. The Gravediggers is found at the rear of Glasnevin Cemetery in the middle of a small collection of houses. Although there were other tourists inside I believe that they found it mostly by accident or perhaps like me it was suggested by word of mouth. It receives 5 stars straight away because they served the best pint of Guinness I have had in my life. My love of Guinness has waned over the years and in Australia and the UK it is done a disservice by being served 'Extra Cold' in a lot of places. The Gravediggers clearly know their city's foremost beer well and look after it. One half of the pub has been left in what I can only imagine is it's original decor with dim Victorian lights and dark lacquered wood panelling everywhere. No tv's, no music, barely any advertising that blankets every wall in most modern pubs. If this side doesn't interest you the other side of the building where they serve food has been modernised but kept basic still with some padded saloon seating. It doesn't have irish boozer appeal of the older section but I realise why they modernised this area. The two sections of the pub are separated and you have to walk outside to go between them unless you are staff who use a door behind the bar (or at least I found no internal door). The staff make you feel like a local immediately by being welcoming and as firendly with tourists as they are with the locals, they really love their work which you can tell through their demeanour and banter, joking with each other and the patrons. The menu is a selection of hot and cold tapas and traditional irish dishes which I believe they change every night. As such it's not extensive and their is a reasonably short window between 6pm-9pm to enjoy it, but everything we had was extremely good in small to medium serves so you could order a couple of things every now and then and while away an evening. One of the staff even asked what I thought about one of the dishes which was on it's first night on the menu. It was a kind of de-constructed colcannon; a hash made with bacon and kale served on a potato mash. My only reservation is might become even more popular over time as more people find this gem, and next time I drop in which I would definitely do when in Dublin I would find myself at the end of a massive queue of tourist coaches which would just kill that 'happened upon a treasure' feel. read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - The Foley recommended, John Kavanagh The Gravediggers. - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

I have nothing but high praise for this pub and it's incredibly friendly staff and beautiful wooden space. Favorite pub in Dublin! read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Listed as the best pint of Guinness in Dublin, hard to argue. You do have to go next door for food. But well worth it. I had the coddle and it was amazing, I wanted to lick the bowl but had to behave. Great food, great pints, great staff. You won t go wrong visiting here. I also grabbed the Apple and Berry Crumble for dessert, wow! read more

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I have a bunch of Dublin mates that live in Glasnevin and they seem to get a nose bleed anytime I suggest meeting in the city centre for a jar or three. They love this part of Dublin and I can't fault them, it's a great spot in North Dublin. So it was one of their birthdays last Sunday and we headed to Kavanaghs. Trust some local boys to take me to this local spot. Walked in through some swing doors which was fun and brought out the cowgirl in me. It's a very basic no frills pub, which is something I really appreciate as it lends itself to a cosy intimacy. The lads told me that locally it goes by the name of The Gravediggers. The reason being the gravediggers from the graveyard that is just down the road from it used to stick their shovels in through the window so that the bartender could put some pints of the black stuff on it and they would pull it back out and enjoy. It reminded me of the money collection box that some Catholic churches use. It all adds to the character of the place, having said that leave the shovels at home folks. read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

I finally made it here to see what all the fuss is about. It didn't disappoint. It's a classic old Irish pub beside glasnevin cemetery that really feels like it is steeped in history. That's because it is by all accounts! I'll leave it to others to explain the illustrious past of this fine establishment. All I can say is the pints are good, the food is surprisingly tasty and it's as cost and lively as it gets. Good prices too, much cheaper than the tourist trail in the city centre. They also sell cool tshirts- I bought one, even though I was not a tourist! read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - A great pub - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Was here yesterday for a quick drink with a bunch of Yelpers after an amazing tour of Glasnevin cemetery and museum! What an amazing way to end the afternoon. The pub has an old world feel, it's like stepping back in time to days when the oil lads were singing ballads in the corner. It was a little full so we ended up streaming out onto the street which was also nice! I can't wait to get back for another peek! read more

John Kavanagh The Gravediggers - The Gravediggers - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Walshes(sometimes misspelled as Walshs) was my absolute favorite Dublin neighborhood pub for atmosphere, but I'd say this might be number 2. It's nice and laid back, no pretense, exactly what I want in a bar. There isn't a crapton of beer selection not surprisingly, but it had Smithwick's available so I was more than happy about that. It is technically called Kavanagh's, but most people refer to this bar as Gravedigger's Pub. I honestly didn't realize this bar existed, till I saw this place casually mentioned in one of the exhibits in the Glasnevin Cemetery museum as a common hangout for (obviously) grave digging workers. Just be cautioned if you sit in the bench away from the wall at a table, those will be narrow and easy to make that bench wobble. So I'd sit against the wall, though parts of those benches along the wall are a little narrow. I had to sit on the edge of the table I was at on the wall bench, to feel comfortable. I won't deduct a star for that, since I'm sure this bar has always been that way ever since it opened in the 1800s. The traditional half of the bar on the left only serves limited bagged snacks like chips, but there is a lounge/restaurant to the right where you can get regular food. Neither myself nor my family went over there to see what that was like, so I can't comment on how their food menu was like. I'd definitely be up for coming back here, if I'm ever near Glasnevin Cemetery again. read more

It is the best pint of guinness, poured greatly, in the right glass! That's for all of Ireland, and I've been from northern Ireland down to Dingle and Kinsale, therefore it is the best pint of guinness in the world! Period, plain, and simple! Simple, great, Irish pub. Can't tell you how much I love Gravediggers and I've been to about 370 Irish pubs now in the U.S. and Ireland. Get there sooner than later if you like true Irish pubs and guinness! read more

This place is steeped in history and you really do feel like you are stepping back in time, having a drink in the bar. Really friendly and welcoming atmosphere, great place for a chat with friends. The lounge does a lovely Tapas menu in the evenings and on Friday they have oysters that are the best value I've seen in Dublin. The staff are really friendly and service is efficient. They let you drink on the green outside as long as you get a plastic glass, and on a sunny Friday after work its really buzzing. read more

It felt just like the first day of school. My heavy feet stumbled closer to the hole of a doorway sucking me in, and my nerves rattled as I hoped desperately that they would like me. I needed to be liked here. I needed to stop feeling like an outsider, like a...the word is hard to say...like a tourist! So here I was, trying to fit in by going to the oldest family-owned pub in Dublin, the way Japanese tourists buy cowboy hats to fit in with Texans. What has my curiosity brought me to? Oy vey, it's not too late, save yourself! But I couldn't. The Gravediggers beckoned, nay requested, nay - commanded - and I acquiesced, fully entranced, to the mysterious invitation. "Hi! Are you here for lunch?" came the cheery greeting. So far, so good... "Yes, ma'am, I am." "Great! Well, you can sit anywhere you like, our menu is this board in the back," the *gee-yor-geous* blonde woman cheered. Huh...well, that was easy. I guess we'll be friends! By the way, the chalkboard in the back really is the menu. You see, the menu is different every single day at Gravediggers. Every single day, the son of John Kavanagh comes up with new delicious delights to please the palates of his patrons. And every single day, those palates are pleased. Oh yes, they are pleased, oh yes. I ordered the bean and chorizo soup, and a pint of Guinness for good measure. Oh, and hey, help myself to some water while I wait the few minutes for that pour? Don't mind if I do. Delicious. Pleased palate. I told you so. Two men off to the side getting rambunctious. REALLY rambunctious. Seemingly good-natured, but rambunctious enough to get kicked out of a lesser pub. But not here. Why? Well, this place is all about human interaction. All about the most human of activities, eating and talking, sharing a meal with others, sharing a drink with others. Also, because one of those rowdy ramblers was none other than Mr. Kavanagh himself, proprietor. Oh, and that gorgeous blonde who so welcomed me? His daughter. I learned all of this the old-fashioned way - through friendly conversation, and it's all to the credit of the folks here. See, I'm used to the German stand-offishness, and left to my own devices, probably would not have struck up any warm conversation. But here...it wasn't my choice really. I was overwhelmed with the spirit of the place. For a place called The Gravediggers, this place is damn cheery. Eventually, I sauntered next door, to the original saloon part of the pub. Man, it looks like it hasn't seen sunlight since it first opened in the 1800s. The swingin' saloon doors do a good job of blocking out that vile poison from the sky. Here is where I encountered the true treasure of Kavanagh's - the barman. He is there seemingly every day of the week, all day long. He leans back against his shelf of bottled goodies, glint in his eye, humour in his voice, smile on his face, and the best pint of Guinness poured anywhere in Dublin maturing on the rail, every day. The day we first met, I had just wanted a look-see, out of pure historical interest. But I stayed. And stayed. And stayed. And met regulars. And talked with them. And stayed. And a couple hours later, I left with more rose on my cheeks than the Botanic Gardens next door. Yes, it's the mighty craic at Gravediggers. I easily persuaded myself to stop by again on my last day in Dublin and surprise my new friend for breakfast . The damn bastard even remembered my name. Powers, "up", and a pint of Guinness, he served me. That's when I met J- M-, another regular who's gotten on in years but still manages to breakfast as I was, but with more frequency. According to legend and lore, there used to be a hole in the wall in the back of this place where the gravediggers working at Glasnevin cemetery next door would grab their pints. If there were, that hole is now sealed up, and that's a good thing. Because that is history. There are good people in the here and now who deserve your earnest attention. Take away the food, take away the Guinness, take away the whiskey. You've got people. And they are the mightiest craic. read more

Came from Mayo with my father for his 60th birthday as a surprise as gravediggers is well known to have great food and pints aswell to see Collins grave, had a great time there the food was excellent and the pints were everything we imagined , the staff were attentive , fast and very polite which made the whole situation all the more upsetting when Kieran the cook or as he likes to point out that he runs the place which I hope is untrue ,because it would a serious shame if this is how the owners of the place treats guests, became aggressive and very dismissive refusing service saying until we pay our tab we wouldn't be served any more which is grand so we offer to pay and continue to which he had no idea what to say or do as he was so busy painting this image to himself that we were trying to leave without paying a tab simply because 3 people from the table left to see the grave and come back while the remaining attempted to order some more drinks and food, when we spoke to the manager who had just started was lovely however KEIRAN over heard us speaking to her and lands down to the table from the kitchen with a terribly defensive attitude whether this is due to Ego or just personal reasons but he had his mind made up about us and created an issue out of absolutely nothing and when the conversation wasn't going his was he walked away and left it to the manager , so why get involved if you're not going to resolve the situation but only escalate it.To end I can't fault the girls on the floor and the man behind the bar But KEIRAN has no business being non the front of house and should maybe stick to the food and leave the customer service to the people who know what they're doing. read more

There are few things I love to do more than grab a drink on a sunny warm day and lie on the green outside the pub with my dog. The tapas ain't bad too! I know a lot of tourists come here after Anthony Bourdain popped in but it has not lost any of its traditional charm. I have lived in Glasnevin my whole life and still go here all the time. Tourist or not while your here make sure you drop into the cemetery and make the walk across to the Botanic gardens. read more

There are people out there that will tell you with a straight face that this pub has one of the best pints of Guinness in all of Dublin. When you ask why, they will then either stumble about, making up reasons they know nothing about or just say "I don't know, it said so on Tripadvisor". The truth is, my Yelp friends, that most pints of Guinness in Dublin will be very, very good (for those of you who enjoy that sort of thing), and while they may vary to the slightest degree based off how they are poured, the temperature they are chilled at, etc, you will never really notice the difference, and any perceived quality spike is based solely on you being told it was there. Now, will all that negativity being said, this is still a nice, friendly pub with wonderful owners, a relaxing, old-world feel to it, a welcoming crowd, and yes, a fantastic pint of Guinness. We came here as a part of a tour, learning about the macabre history of Dublin (won't spoil any tour for anyone, but suffice it to say there is a reason it is known as the Gravedigger Pub). I recommend it to anyone seeking a pub away from the hustle and bustle of Dublin's younger set. ...and yes, I am starting this year off reviewing a place in a country 99% of my Yelp peoples do not live and may not visit, meaning most of you get nothing out of this. Suck it. All of you suck it....happy new year. read more