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McDaids

3.8 (33 reviews)
InexpensivePubs
Closed 10:30 am - 11:30 pm

McDaids Photos

MCDAIDS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Quiet
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - McDaids

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Top floor (bar was not operating)
Ella M.

Did you know that the building housing this pub can be traced back to the late 18th century and is reputed to have been the city morgue? Over the years, many literary greats were regular visitors here but the 50's and 60's were the decades when the pub truly established its famous reputation as being one of the most iconic literary pubs of Dublin. Don't you love how every pub in Dublin has a unique and beautiful history? I sure do. Keep in mind that McDaids only serves drinks and no food. There are two floors (the third floor holds a restroom) - during my visit, the bar on second floor was not operating. However, you could buy a drink at the bottom bar and bring it upstairs (nobody will kick you out, one thing I love about Dublin). I went here for a drink and had the good ol' jamie and ginger which was refreshing. Prices are fair and comparable to pubs around. If you are in Dublin, do stop by McDaids and enjoy a drink or two!

McDaids
Melanie M.

Fab pub full of old charm character and punters! This ain't your party pub but it is a great place to go and have an excellent pint of Guinness and listen to all the old men chat and moan. McDaids played a part in Dublin's literary history as the local of playwright and novelist, Brendan Behan sat, drank and wrote in here and maybe even based some of his characters in The Hostage and Borstal Boy on people he met and drank with here! McDaids was also the one time haunt of Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O'Brien, J.P. Donleavy and Liam O'Flaherty. The pub exterior has hardly changed from the Victorian times and the interior is grand and dark and dimly light! Just want you want from a pub. But if you are coming here on the weekends be warned it does get crowed as full of tourist as it is a well know pub in the guide books!

Well Stocked smaller bar upstairs
Michael A.

Friday night is probably not the best time to go here, it was far too packed and quite uncomfortable. I like a pub with some seating ... and on first looks there was none, and then I discovered it had an upstairs. Up a rather steep and dangerous staircase you will discover a smaller bar with extra seating. After discovering the bar the next thing to hit you is probably the dank smell of the ... well I'm not sure what it was ... but it drove away several groups of potential clients. Another thing that really annoys me is when they clear the drinks while there is still over two inches left in the bottom of your pint

Jeff C.

I've been coming here on Six Nations jaunts for 10 years. It offers an experience that pubs just don't have in the US. It's ornate with with precarious climb to the toilet. Brilliant!

Antonio P.

Nice pub, nice beer, nice atmosphere. Great place to hang out with friends for a pint after work. I totally recommend this pub.

The worst thing about McDaids!  Waiting for it to open!

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10 months ago

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8 years ago

Nice place for having a beer or cider. It's not so big so it's quite quiet. Lot of local people.

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McDaids Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - McDaids

Austin Clark and Brian O'Nolan, who as Flann O'Brien wrote the wonderful book At swim two birds!

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The Stag's Head - Bacon & Cabbage

The Stag's Head

(313 reviews)

€€

South Inner City

My 1st to go bar upon landing in Dublin. Got to say, it's the best Dublin's preserved Victorian…read morepub. The authentic Victorian setting, the Victorian mahogany fittings, the mosaic marble tiled floors and granite tabletops, the mahogany bar, capped with red Connemara marble, follows the classic Victorian architectural pattern. The staff are helpful, friendly and patient since their accent is hard to understand sometime. My 1st beer and 1st Irish food, all I can say is what a meal, just simple delish. Being here is just a wondrous experience, the place is cosy, warm and the friendly of the people. So glad I picked this place as my first of Dublin.

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.

O'Reilly's - Courtesy of Sub Lounge website

O'Reilly's

(60 reviews)

South Inner City

The Sub Lounge (formerly O'Reillys) was a real find. Not something you'd expect to come across at…read morethe end of an alleyway under Tara St Station, Sub Lounge takes its visitors on a gothic journey into a haven of magical otherworldliness. A group of us wandered down the dark alley one Sunday afternoon, a little anxious about what we might discover... Pleasantly surprised to find ourselves inside a Sleeping Beauty-like cavern of candlelit wonder, we stopped to marvel over the interior before giving the solitary bar man his rush of the century. The place was empty before we arrived, but luckily we'd brought a large enough group to make the entire place our own. The candelabras, mood lighting and high, domed ceilings make this place enchantingly atmospheric, but let's not forget the practicalities. Recipe for a good night with a large group: large tables - check, cheap beer (3.40 a pint!!!) - check, pool table - check... Ok this place is a winner. And get this - they even have a foozeball table! Rad! The toilets are definitely worth a gander... many, many mirrors, and easy to get lost in after a few pints of the dark stuff. OMG - 5 euro COCKTAILS Thurs - Sat night. Done. Sold. I'm there.

After finishing work I went to meet a few friends here for after work drinks. It started out very…read moregood the first waitress we had could not do enough for us we even ordered a few wedges and chips these were really good. Me and 1 of my friends decided to order some cocktails so we went to the bar to see what we could get I ordered a mojito and a White Russian for my friend. I should have known it would be a disaster when the female bartender had to as the waitress how to make it needless to say it was not very good. After a while my friend decided to get one more round before we left. Well to say we were shocked is an understatement. When the waitress came over she went to order a drink to which the response was cant you see I'm busy what's wrong with you going to the bar, as she turned and walked away and went back to the bar to chat with another member of staff. The girl that had been looking after us earlier I think had finished which was a shame. Needless to say we didn't stay for another drink. This would put me off going back I could understand if it was busy but service like this is not acceptable

Windjammer

Windjammer

(13 reviews)

South Inner City

Local bar, very cool people…read more Tons of beer on tap, with some liquor options. Great service, and love the location. Be mindful of going during a sports event! It gets slammed.

The Wind Jammer on Townsend St is one of Dublin's "early houses", that is, pubs that open at half…read moreseven in the morning. The Wind Jammer is not, however, one of the really fun early houses. For fun early houses that serve already somewhat inebriated people, try The Chancery. The Wind Jammer is the type of early house that caters to shift workers and Gardaí from Pearse St coming off the night shift. Apart from a few couples the morning after the Trinity Ball, they wouldn't let in too many post-club revellers. The door is closed most early mornings, and they have a CCTV camera to give ya a good hard scrutinising before they'll let you in. The only time I was there for early pints, there was only one other group of young lads there and the barman looked like he was about to stop serving them. During the rest of the day and night, the Wind Jammer is a quiet pub frequented mainly by old, grumpy locals, who would sooner bite your head off than ask you the time of day. If you're really desperate for a drink and can't make it til half ten when the rest of the pubs open, by all means go to The Wind Jammer. Otherwise, there isn't that much else to recommend to it. Oh, one other thing. The Wind Jammer is the closest pub to Windmll Lane Studios, so U2 and The Saw Doctors among others have retired there for post-recording session pints over the years. Not the type of thing that would interest me, but sure it might interest you so I thought that I'd tack it on the end there

McDaids - pubs - Updated May 2026

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