We loved the atmosphere, very authentic. . The service was great and the food was delicious!read more

If you want to experience a true Victorian pub in Dublin, The Stag's Head is a beautiful place to…read morestart. Tucked down Dame Court just off Dame Street, The Stag's Head is one of those rare pubs that feels genuinely historic rather than designed to look old. The building dates to the late 1800s, and the interior retains the ornate features of a classic Victorian "gin palace"--rich carved wood, stained glass, brass rails, and a warm, glowing bar that feels wonderfully preserved. We stopped in around 4:30 pm, which turned out to be a perfect time to visit. There were other patrons enjoying drinks and food, but the atmosphere was calm and relaxed rather than loud or rowdy. It felt like the kind of place where locals drop in for a quiet pint on their way home from work before the evening crowd arrives. The staff were excellent--friendly, welcoming, and attentive without being intrusive. The food was very good (we failed to take photos because we were too busy enjoying it). As a vegetarian, I was thrilled to see the Impossible burger front and center on their menu; it was deliciously prepared with guacamole on a brioche bun, and not an afterthought on the menu. My companions both chose the Irish Beef Burger, and said it was excellent. One thing to know: this is a traditional Victorian pub, so cocktails aren't really part of the program. Expect beer, wine, or spirits rather than mixed drinks. In a place like this, that actually feels exactly right. Other pubs do serve mixed drinks. Between the history, the ambience, the quality of the food, and the wonderful staff, The Stag's Head is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've experienced a real piece of Dublin.

We always visit Searsons on trips to Dublin. Located in the nearby area of Ballsbridge, I'd best…read moredescribe this place as an upscale Irish pub/sportsbar. However, Searsons goes way beyond traditional pub grub. I had a gnocchi dish, with roasted tomatoes, and a little melted cheese, that was delicious. My wife had a roast beef dinner, that was massive. My son had traditional fish 'n chips, so you can go the expected route as well. The pub has their own brews on tap, as well as well known beer and cider brands. I should not forget to mention that the Irish coffee here is perfect. Finally, the service was attentive and very friendly. On a Saturday night, the pub was full and hopping with Men's and Women's Rugby, plus a Premier League game, on the telly. Very fun environment!

Vacationed in Dublin from the US. Loved Searsons! Seven of us sat outside on their beautiful…read morepatio and had a fine time of it. I wolfed down the beef lasagne and a side of garlic bread, washed it all down with a cold Guinness. It was practically my first meal in Ireland and ultimately one of the best. I would love to return for more but I'm 3600 miles away. If you're nearby Searson's, just go. Loved it!

The Old Storehouse is a Dublin pub with casual seating, live music, Guinness on tap (of course),…read moreand delicious eats. My husband and I stopped by for dinner and I ordered a caesar salad and their fish chowder. The caesar was great but my gosh the fish chowder and accompanying brown bread rocked my socks. So, much so, that I did what I never do--I revisited this spot more than once on the same trip (so many places to explore I almost never do this!). That fish chowder is craveable. They do live music on occasion as well and so we were able to enjoy that while sipping our Guinness. The prices are reasonable and the service is friendly. They aren't as small as they look at first glance, on one of our visits, we sat upstairs which has a second dining area. Amazing! Get to it!

Loud music, cheap drinks and good food…read more Place was absolutely packed with people in town for the American Football game so service was dreadfully slow. Had to excuse ourselves from the table multiple times to freshen drinks. The food was good. Once again, absolute star was the Buffalo Wings! Ireland? I mean what??? Perfectly cooked, sauced nicely, just spectacular! The band was playing a mix and of Irish Music and American Rock songs played to Irish tunes. Very fun and well engaged with the crowd. The restaurant itself is cozy and very warm. A great night was had by all!

During our pub crawl, one of our stops was O'Donoghue's. Zero regrets. The vibe in here was good,…read moreeven though it was more of an old man pub. Like most pubs in Dublin, it had TONS of character and feel. We got a booth above ground level and then got to ordering. This was my first time trying Yellow Spot Whiskey. It was amazingly smooth. We also ordered Kopparberg cider, a few pints of Guinness, and Fish and Chips. The drinks were great, and the fish was tender and delicious. The server who helped us was amazing. Yet another one of the happiest places on earth discovered. If you're doing a pub crawl or just want a good pub with good food and good people, O'Donoghue's is a must-try. 10/10.

Went for lunch in the afternoon. Place was relatively empty. Few folks chatting at the bar. Service…read morewas nice. Wanted to finally try the iconic Guinness stew. It was a decent portion. The stew was warming. It came with soda bread and a pad of butter.

Fabulous pint of Guinness and very good Cabernet. Very highly recommended as the best pint of…read moreGuinness in Dublin and I was very happy to enjoy. Very nice and historic pub. JFK has his first pint of G here! This a pub that you should definitely visit!

One of the old place with traditional wooden decor. Stopped by for a pint or two to enjoy and to…read moreappreciate the good old bar. Really love the vibe here, laid back and just enjoy the present with friends and/or strangers. Great service and great beer.

WOW cannot recommend this show enough. My husband actually learned about it on our aer lingus…read moreflight and we decided to get last minute tickets for our first night in Dublin. The show is put on in the basement of a pub. We got there a little early and enjoyed a drink. There is also a bar in the performance area itself as well. We had a blast! What a great way to kick off our Ireland visit. The performers were top notch and the show was a blast without being too long. They covered history, comedy, music of course, and dancing! We really enjoyed it. We plan to bring our family and get tickets again next time in Dublin.

I was in Ireland for a work-trip, and one of the evenings we got dinner and show tickets for the…read moreIrish House Party. I can't speak to how much the food or show costs because it was covered by the work trip, but I can say I had a great time. The food was pretty good, I had a Beef & Guinness Stew which was pretty tasty. When we were there it was pretty packed, so the service was a little slow with some new employees in training. The dinner show was in a downstairs space and bar, the band was very good playing a wide range of traditional and contemporary Irish songs. They were funny too. For tourists, I'd recommend this place.

The Waterloo Bar fuses old-school pub vibes with a well-curated, welcoming interior. From the…read moreoutside, it plants itself confidently among Dublin's historic streets with a façade that promises hearty fare and good pints; inside, the space is warm and inviting with dark wood, exposed brick, beautiful murals, and comfortable seating that encourages lingering. My party of six walked in on a Wednesday night at around 7:30pm; at that time, the restaurant was about half-full, but filled up over the course of our meal. The menu has plenty of options ranging from healthy salads to traditional Irish dishes to your standard hearty pub fare. Drinks are also fairly priced here, and they have a good range of ales and lagers on tap (and of course, the classic Guinness). I opted for their Rustic Dublin Coddle (€20.50), which is a sizeable bowl of warming soup with two chargrilled, tender pork sausages, smoky bacon, soft potatoes, and onion, served with toasted sourdough bread. I appreciated the clean taste of the soup (made with an herbed chicken broth), which cut the rich fattiness of the sausage and bacon. I do wish the soup had been served with a more traditional Irish brown bread, but the sourdough was tasty nonetheless. Another great dish was the Waterloo Prime Irish Beef Burger (€19), which is a large patty of juicy, prime Irish beef served atop a toasted bun, with red onions, baby gem lettuce, pickled gherkins, and a tangy smoked Dublin cheddar. Some friends ordered the Superfood Salad (€15), which has a plethora of fresh vegetables and grains, but they noted it was quite bland, even with the French dressing. Yes, it's a bit on the pricey side for a pub, but I find Waterlooo Bar unique in that the atmosphere feels classic but lively: you get that laid-back Dublin pub energy with a hint of sophistication that makes it great for both casual meals and nights out. The food is solid if not stellar, the vibe is fun, and prices are reasonable for the area; a satisfying pick for an Irish pub dinner.

This bar was around the corner from our hotel. It was our last night in Dublin, it had been super…read morewet, rainy this day and we craved good food. The Waterloo hit the spot. The service was excellent. We sat at the high top which was still very comfortable. I had the beet salad and the chowder which was what I needed on this gray day!

This was probably one of my favorite places in Ireland to get a true Irish meal. They advertise…read morethat they have traditional Irish food and trust me, they have the most authentic, scrumptious Irish food in all of Dublin. Guests seat themselves in one of the many cozy tables located in this bar. If you're stopping in for dinner, I recommend trying the bangers and mash. The gravy on this dish is simply out of this world. I never tasted something so savory! Pair it with a tall pint of Guinness and you'll be in heaven. Service was fast and friendly. Plus the prices were reasonable for a hearty dinner that will leave you eager to come back again and again.

Stopped in for a quick dinner and pint! Great atmosphere and friendly staff. I had their Fish n…read moreChips that was simple but tasted great with a pint of Bulmer's Cider! There are a lot of pub and dining options in Dublin and this is a great place to take a break.

Doheny & Nesbitt -- 4-5 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland…read moreVisited: June 2026 Five stars. Doheny & Nesbitt is the most authentic, atmospheric, and essential pub in Dublin -- and a visit here is not just a drink, it is a genuine encounter with the soul of the city. Why Doheny & Nesbitt is the best pub in Dublin: This iconic Victorian pub has stood on Lower Baggot Street since 1828, when John Heron first opened its doors. Nearly two centuries later, it remains one of the most photographed pubs in Dublin -- a protected structure and a masterwork of Victorian pub architecture, with dark mahogany woodwork, intimate snugs, gas-style lighting, and nooks that seem designed for lingering conversations. Walking through the door is like stepping back into the Dublin of Yeats and Joyce, yet the energy is entirely alive and present. The atmosphere is unmatched. Three floors, multiple snugs, live music seven nights a week, and a crowd that spans suited professionals, Dublin locals, politicians, literary figures, and travelers from around the world. Doheny & Nesbitt has earned its reputation as what locals affectionately call "The Doheny & Nesbitt School of Economics" -- for generations, it has been the unofficial meeting place of Dublin's political and media class. You feel that history in every corner. The pints are poured with the precision and patience that only an Irish institution of this caliber can deliver. A Guinness here is a benchmark. The cocktail and whiskey selection -- reflected in their beautifully curated Drinks Bible -- is equally impressive, with an excellent range of Irish whiskeys and seasonal cocktails. The pub food is genuinely good: hearty, fresh, and perfectly matched to the surroundings. The staff are the heart of the place -- friendly, quick, and authentically warm in the best Irish tradition. On a busy evening, the bar hums with the kind of easy conviviality that no new bar concept can manufacture. Steps from St. Stephen's Green, the Conrad Dublin, and the Shelbourne Hotel, Doheny & Nesbitt is perfectly positioned as the ideal Dublin pub stop before or after dinner. For anyone asking where to find the best traditional Irish pub in Dublin, the most historic pub in Dublin 2, or simply where to experience authentic Dublin pub culture -- the answer is here, at 4-5 Lower Baggot Street. Do not miss it.

Doheny & Nesbitt was our first pub stop in Ireland. It was the day we landed, and after taking the…read morecool Vintage Tea tour around town. After the bus dropped us off, we took the short walk over to enjoy a wee pint. Gayle, Fern, and Don chose Guinness Stout, while I went for a Murphy's version. We arrived late afternoon when the there were available seats. Service was good, people were friendly, and this place soaks of Irish history going way back. We were also excited to be in Ireland and perhaps let our conversations go on a bit long. By the time we looked up, the place was packed and it was time to move on. Maybe we should have had something to eat, but the tea bus fed us well. I would have also liked to walk around the multiple floors of this place, but maybe next time.

Very laid back atmosphere with a neighborly atmosphere . The service is top notch. Feels like the…read moregood old sitcom Cheers, where everybody knows your name. The Guinness here has a warm rounded ending and a nice coffee aftertaste. I dislike beer in general but here the Guinness is perfectly balanced, poured, and delivered with care. Guinness in the states is nothing like here. My husband and I ordered the Ruby Tuesday Jerk Chicken with Jollof Rice and the Oxtail Stew. Oh wow! The oxtail is so tender and juicy with a little kick of spice. You got to come check it out yourself!

Always a great stop ! We love it. Every time we stay in town we stay at the mespil and the…read moreWellington is a must see every time.