My coworker played a nasty trick by sending us here by way of Enniskerry. The backroads here are so insanely narrow, and the hills incredibly steep, not for the faint of heart! By the time we reached this place, we felt we earned every drink and nibble of food. By the time we ventured here, it was my 7th day of driving on the "correct" side of the road for the first time in my life, so the route here was certainly the final boss which required all my driving skills and full focus. The food was delicious and felt like something home cooked by your grandparents. Although I get the impression from locals that this is kind of a touristy place, I did not get that vibe from the atmosphere here. There were people from out of town asking about the dancing show, which is in a separate room and you need to purchase tickets for this in advance. The service here is what you would expect from Europeans: friendly, but slow. They seem to want to make you feel welcome to stay and not rushed out the door. I always feel awkward having to ask for the check, but I am getting better at it Overall, the experience was just what we were looking for: something warm and cozy after a week of dreary, cold Irish weather overlaid on top of our 12+ hour workdays. The table we sat next to were some local roofers who had far more difficult and dangerous jobs than we did, so we ended up leaving this place with a sense of gratitude for our jobs. Energized and refreshed from the long journey, we plowed through the rain and mist back down the mountain to our hotel in Dublin. The main roads here are far easier to traverse than the backroads. read more

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Great food, fun atmosphere! Reservations are a must because this place is jam packed all the time. Wish we could have gotten dinner and a show tickets, or been there for live music. Cocktail service is a little slow, but understandable given they seat like 500 people read more

I'm almost positive the guy was named Stephen (or Steven), who helped us out with the dinner and a show. It was our honeymoon, he saved a special table for us and even had them pull my wife up on stage to dance with the Irish cloggers! He was a super funny and cool guy and really seemed to like his job, or at least pretended to, lol. Charming and cool. And our server was beautiful and wonderful, wish I could remember her name. This pub overall is everything Ireland should be, even if the show is mostly for tourists...it's a wonderful show. The music, the jokes, the dancing, it's all brilliant, and the performers are wonderful. Guinness is top tier, and the food...oh the food. Phenomenal. We can't recommend the dinner and a show enough. Thank you Johnny Fox, and thanks you Stephen/Steven! read more

Went there last Wednesday (6/4/25) and enjoyed a great show!! Loved the atmosphere. Food was average pub food, nothing to complain about. Had the seafood chowder, pate, seafood pie and Guinness steak pie. All were good. We'd definitely go again for the experience. read more

Wow!!! If you are ever in Dublin take a drive in the country side and go to Johnnie Fox's! It's an amazing Pub. The food is amazing, fresh and amazing! The Waitress was incredible, typical Irish charm. Take some time to look around the Pub and look at all the cool stuff. read more

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I've been to Johnnie Fox's 4-5x over the past 12 years...they never disappoint! It's always busy, (so make a reservation if you can), but you'll be glad you went! This time I bought a pullover hoodie as a souvenir. I had their pureed veggie soup, and lamb shank with mashed potatoes and veggies. Very good. read more

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You have to come to Johnnie Fox's if you're in Ireland! The ambiance is lively and the service is perfect. We had a group of 20+ and they treated us well. The food is delicious, I had the chicken entree. I also had a few of their espresso martinis. Would love to come back to try more of the food read more

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Fantastic food! We had the prawns and the beef and Guinness stew! I enjoyed visiting with the pub's cat as well. read more

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How does Johnnie Fox's have top quality seafood... being a pub... at the top of a mountain? This establishment is proof that Southern Californians do not do Irish pubs justice ("Irish" nachos - yeah, no thank you. I'll save my carbs and lactose-intolerant stomach for treats that are worth the blood, sweat and tears). I ordered a bit of everything since I was visiting from the US and I have to say, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING from the food to the staff to the décor to the music, was just incredible. The people here are so warm and friendly, yet witty as all heck! The drinks are great too but the biggest standout, like I hinted at before, was the seafood tower. It does not get fresher than this (the pictures are proof!), which is the craziest thing to me because this pub is way high up in the mountains. If you're a body builder on vacation and are starting to feel guilty about the rib-sticking traditional food you're trying (I was), this seafood tower is the dream cuisine. It's still traditional, it's tasty AND it's protein-rich. Can SoCal get a REAL Irish pub instead of these whack Irish pub-wannabes? There's also so much history and cool artifacts all around so get that cardio in and explore! It's beautiful and worth the dizzying, stomach-churning drive up the mountain. Definitely bring a jacket because there is a significant temperature difference from the start of the mountain! read more

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The highest pub in Ireland and it was Good fun, worth the trip. Cute seating out side with a gorgeous vista and great food with the show if you get your reservations in. Our whole group enjoyed the food prix fix with the show. The show was very entertaining with a lot of audience participation if desired. read more

Johnnie Fox's Pub - Dinner and a show. - Gastropubs Near Me - Dublin, D

The highest pub in Ireland & the most festive! The food outrageously delish & the Hooley show, a new wave of entertaining! From singing, comedy, Irish dancing to tap dancing & so a belly full of good Irish fare or seafood. Make sure to make reservations for the Hooley Show. You pick from an app, dinner then dessert & make sure to save your appetite for it all! Very large portions & absolutely savory & satisfying! It's wonderful for a large groups as well! The Whiskey Cake had raisins so didn't know that, not a fan. Other than that the other desserts looked delish! By dessert time, I was already full also! Full bar & great service. Lots to take pictures of with all of the history written on the walls. Outdoor & indoor seating a bar & lice music in the other room as well. A limited cigarette machine for smokers & an outside area. Excellent views & large parking space. Make sure to plan your ride to & from if you will be drinking!! read more

Highest bar in Ireland! I had delicious veg soup, bread and chips. Live music was fantastic. read more

Johnnie Fox's Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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I enjoyed my experience here. There was live music playing for dinner. We were seated in a nearby room, but could hear the music just fine. I was concerned about the mixed reviews on the service and shrinking portion sizes. I was advised by a taxi driver to get the lamb shank, because it was remained delicious and the portion hadn't shrank over the years like other items on the menu. I'm glad I took that advice! Excellent service and excellent food. If given the opportunity, I would return again and attend one of the Hooley Shows I've heard are great there. read more

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Fantastic for tourists to Ireland or Dublin. But also so fun for locals!! The food is crazy delicious with alot of options, the atmosphere is eccentric and historical and the staff is super friendly. The live music just makes it all an incredible night out. read more

Recommended Johnnie Fox's by several locals, as it is a staple to Dublin nestled in the township of Glencullen. I highly recommend driving around early morning to see the beautiful countryside before stopping at Johnnie fox's. We didn't make a reservation, but depending on time of day, it might be recommended. The food was so delicious, fresh, and authentic. They even have one of the longest running Irish events in Ireland. They offer a set menu with live music, and I can't wait to go back to Ireland and check the show out. read more

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My family visited Johnnie Fox's while on vacation from Chicago. My wife and I visited about 10 years ago while in Ireland and wanted to visit with our kids and wives. As great of a show as we remembered and had a great evening!! You will regret if you don't see the show here!! read more

I can't say enough good things about Johnnie Fox's Pub and Hooley show. The food was outstanding, the music was great and the dancers were phenomenal! If you are looking for a great evening out pick Johnnie Fox's. You won't be sorry! Even if you don't see the show the bar and view are breathtaking. read more

I quite enjoyed my dinner at this hidden gem. The decor was quite eclectic, but it worked! I don't think I would want to go in the winter though, as it is VERY high up a mountain. The food was delicious and the staff was friendly and helpful. We were attended to as needed, but were not overly bothered by the staff. There were several rooms in the restaurant, and a few of them had bands. Different types of music in each room, and the acoustics were such that we didn't hear the other musicians while listening to our chosen group. I would definitely go back, but as I said, not in the winter!!!! read more

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Great food! I had the Lamb Shank! And mussels for starters. The apple pie was OMG perfect with the ice cream. They were perfect. No complaints read more

Johnnie Fox's Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Great quality of food and fun, music and vibes were amazing! Guinness 00 was tasty, lamb was insane and the hake wonderful and tasty read more

Yelp 100 Challenge 2018 - #92/100 Known as Ireland's highest pub, Johnnie Fox's was established 230 years ago in 1798. It's a pub and restaurant that showcases live music and comedy. It's also a museum. We had a chance to have lunch there and enjoy their famous seafood chowder and brown bread. I love their beetroot, almond, and ricotta salad. Sister opted for the chef's soup, which had a gamey lamb flavor we are not into. Service was friendly. Toilets were clean. It was interesting to see overhead toilet tanks. Parking was adequWould've loved to listen to their live music and watch the comedy shows. Maybe next time. read more

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Great night out when you are in Dublin. Bus service to/from Dublin makes it easy. Expect to pay a little more for drinks, but the musicians and dancers are fantastic! read more

Wonderful! The ambiance is great. Very friendly staff. We ordered the chowder and mussel and they were both delicious! Reasonably priced and an overall treat. They have great merchandise to purchase. The women's t-shirts are a little snug, but feel free to try them on to see how it fits. Apparently that was a big hit for me read more

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Beautiful location in the hills above Dublin.. . friendly staff, wonderful fun Hooley show. And, the food is delicious!!! Of course, drinks are good, too!:) read more

JOHNNIE FOX'S IS THE BEST PLACE EVER!!! It's a bit of a trek to get to but so so so so so so worth it. It's the highest pub in Dublin and also one of the oldest, established in 1798. It's nestled high in the mountains and is basically the only form of civilization for miles. When you get there, there's basically like... junk everywhere. Outside and inside, it looks like that crazy aunt of yours' place that's a complete hoarder and has like 50 cats. The ceilings have latrines hanging from them, there's underwear and knives and pictures of old men everywhere and it's like they decorated with every single item they found in every 19th century store in Ireland. It's so tacky AND I LOVE IT. We attended for the Hooley, a wild night of traditional Irish live music and Celtic dancing. I think it was like 70 euros ish per person and included a three course meal. I had the soup of the day which was butternut squash, it wasn't my favorite to be honest but it wasn't bad. A little bland. I had the lamb stew and LOVED it, and for desert I got the whisky cake which was good but a little sweet. I loved the frosting on it. My mom got the lamb and goat cheese salad and the cured lamb was really good (tried a bite), the salmon, and the banoffee pie which was SOOOOOO good. I liked it more than my dessert. The food was mostly good but honestly the food doesn't even matter at a place like this. What matters was the entertainment and atmosphere. The Irish band was sooo fun, with talented musicians that are hilarious and entertaining. One of them in particular had an incredible voice. They played songs like whiskey in the jar, Danny boy, Molly Malone, and a new favorite of mine "I wish I was single again." The Celtic dancers were amazing. I can't believe how those girls keep a smile on on their faces the entire time they're jumping around and doing all this complicated foot work. The men were great too and there was the most talented little girl in the show. I was seated in the front row and I'm an absolute shit dancer and I just had a feeling when the two girls took two men from the crowd up to dance that I'd be next when it was the guys' turn. I was right. I got dragged on stage and was absolutely atrocious but it was so much fun!! I highly recommend a night at Johnnie Fox's. You won't regret it! read more

The restaurant keeps the charm of a 19th century pub. Prides itself as being one of Ireland's oldest pubs as well as being the highest pub in Ireland. The food selection was superb and arrived quickly. We ordered the vegetable soup with brown bread, pear&blue cheese salad and the Irish Lamb stew- all were delicious! Wait staff was super friendly and prompt in taking our order and setting the table. read more

Food was ok not many options staff are rude. No smiles, not one person asked if we're okay we sat waiting for 20 minutes before we were asked if we wanted any drinks!? Don't recommend read more

Good 'ol Irish food! We loved our experience here. Not only was the food great but so was the atmosphere. They have a decent three page menu with options for everyone, included large main courses, decent appetizers, and of course the desserts (gluten free options as well). They have some of the favorite Irish chicken, ribs, duck, fish, and prawn dishes. With true farm house style decor, surrounded by an atmosphere filled with fun and friendliness. The options sounded so delicious, we were looking at the menu for almost twenty minutes trying to decide! We started off with four slices of their home made grainy bread with the house packaged butter, and enjoyed their house lemon soda. Tasted like a mix of sprite and the weight loss packet flavor of lemonade you can add to water. But it was tasty! We decided to get the ribs and prawn. The ribs easily fed two. Came with a handful of sweet carrots and two pea pods. Beautifully cooked and fried steak like French fries, seasoned to potato perfection and came with one single prawn that didn't have a flavor of butter or garlic to its name. Came full fledged, shell face and all. They have entertainment each night, we enjoyed a lovely gentlemen who sang and played guitar. He played many common Irish melodies and it was an excellent addition to our meal. We sat at a small table, all were most nearly reserved so be sure to make a reservation! They had seating for large parties or a table for two. Your surrounded by decorations of old Ireland and the farming days. It was a lovely dim lit place that made you feel right at home and took you way back to the old days of Ireland. read more

Johnnie Fox's Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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An eccentric little place on the hill- almost like an Alice in Wonderland experience with the whimsical decorations and the colorful chamberpots on the walls. We went to see one last show of the Elders while we were here. The place was packed and filled with many rooms (here we go down the rabbit hole). It took quite awhile for our food (and other tables who had ordered before us getting their orders- seemingly because a certain seafood pie was taking awhile to cook). The desserts looked tasty as well as the mussels. The seafood pie was absolutely massive- a flaky crust of assorted fish and mollusks. And coming with a side of veggies and mashed taters. For 13 euro, not bad and I couldn't even finish the whole thing. The show was great too read more

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I have visited this Pub three times. Decor is amazing. Every inch of this place makes you feel absolutely comfortable. Cozy spaces with old stuff are so sweet. It looks like a small museume. I love the food there. Kitchen is pretty awesome. Good menu of drinks. A little bit far away from Dublin but if you dont have a car you can use bus, luas or cab for getting there. There are too many tourists in this pub so this place could be not so quiet for someone. If you plan to spend your vacatiin in Dublind you have to visit this Pub as a museume and have an amazing dinner - you tottally will love it! read more

Johnnie Fox's Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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This place has been around circa 1722 or so, the highest elevation pub in Ireland. If you are staying in Dublin and want a true pub experience this is the place to go. Id is about 20 plus miles away so you need a car, a taxi or a bus service to get up there. There is live music every day. The place is busy always so it is best to make a reservation, specially for dinner. Many celebrities have come here over the years. I have been here few times and tried a variety of dishes, never been disappointed. If you like lamb stew, this is the place, their seafood chowder is also very good, fresh fish of the day and everything is between. It is a landmark so a must go to place in Ireland. read more

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Fantastic food and a storybook interior. Great company and it was just a marvelous day!

This claims to be Ireland's highest pub, which is located in the Dublin Wicklow mountains. It only takes about 10 minutes to drive from the M50 to here, but feels like it's in the middle of the countryside. It has a really old school pub feel to it, with sawdust on the ground. There's so many odds and ends to the pub, with live music in two different spots, and a cosy fire. The staff are very friendly, and the food is excellent. It's a very Irish menu with a focus on seafood. But some classics in there too like bacon and cabbage, and fish n chips. The seafood chowder is good for a starter, but it's quite similar to the fish pie that comes on the main menu. Recommend one or the other, but not both together which I did, as it's good to mix it up a bit. Prices are very reasonable and the bar afterwards is relaxing. Highly recommend. read more

Came here for the pub's history and tourist factor and was won over by the amazing food! From central Dublin, you are able to catch a bus to Johnnie Fox's at 6:30 pm and leave at 11:30 pm. We had reservations for 9 pm so we were able to spend time exploring the multiple rooms in the pub, admiring the beautiful views outside and listening to the variety of live music. For apps, we got the seafood chowder (best I have ever had) and the mussels which were bathed in a thick and creamy garlic butter sauce. Both were excellent and worth the trip alone. The chowder was full of big chunks of fish and mussels and had an addictive smokey flavor. It was, of course, served with the famous brown bread which was great for dipping. For my entree, I choose the ribs with shrimp. The shrimp were huge and perfectly cooked and the ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and had a great sauce on them. Overall, the experience was well worth the bus ride out of town. Make sure Johnnie Fox's is on your Ireland itinerary. read more

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An absolutely wonderful traditional Irish pub with incredible food and a wonderful gathering of Irish art, collectibles and bric a brac!! Well worth stopping just to look around if nothing else. But personally I would also eat there!! read more

Lovely food, lovely staff! Lovely Guinness... And it was just before Halloween - and a lovely venue for that. read more

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Doesn't look like the fanciest pub in the world but the food is amazing. The fish pie especially is a work of art. Pleasantly surprised.

We did our best to not eat at "touristy" spots during our time in Ireland. It was our last day, and we were down the street. Definitely worth the spot. Although we didn't get to sit outside and enjoy the awesome chairs and view, we did get a spot next to the fire near the bar. Menu has plenty of selections. We went with the lamb stew and the seafood pie. Lovedddd both. The seafood pie has a thick cream with large chunks of fish. The lamb stew is not as thick as beef Guinness stew you receive around Ireland. They also have my favorite around this time of year, Mulled wine! Enjoy this swanky spot! read more

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This place is a hoot... Been here many times, and it never gets old Long picnic tables with lively neighbors, great I rish music and dance and the food is good (and of course any Guinness this close to the Guinness Brewery is gonna be great!) read more

Amazing, amazing staff. I wish I'd gotten her name (nickname "the wicked witch" for her huge laugh brimming with personality). They were fun and made sure we had a great time. We had some of the wait-staff do the "After 8 challenge" (After 8 chocolate mint on your forehead, and with no hands wiggle it down to your mouth) and they had a blast playing with us. Huge portions for your food. I ordered the filo shrimp which was a little salty but still very good (loved the aoli dip). I also ordered the chicken which was HUGE; tender and came with a side of steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Live music guy took requests and also added to our great time :) Amazing craic & amazing service. read more

Johnnie Fox's Pub - Chicken - Gastropubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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