A darling amongst the Rathmines contingency, Murphy's is a dearly loved Irish pub situated in the heart of Rathmines village. The moment you enter the pub it feels instantaneously Irish with an abundance of authentic Irish memorabilia such as pictures, crests and rustic furnishings. This is small-town Ireland at it's best; a pub geographically located in the capital Dublin but exudes a time-honoured, classic Irish rural-community backdrop. Here, true to the bucolic, countrified vibes the place gives off, they never forget a face and owing to this act of friendliness as well as overall affability the pub radiates you will feel you've been a regular for years. The second time I went in there the bar tender even knew what drink I was going to order before I so much as opened my mouth. The pub often boasts a decent sized crowd so this is in no way a reflection that their clientele is either so small or foreseeable that the staff are not kept busy but in fact earnest evidence of the staff's assiduousness. The table service too is first-rate and you can order drinks from the staff whilst they are clearing the empty glasses from your table and go up and pay for them at the bar later on, the place is that relaxed. Murphy's is well sized and there are a lot of different places to sit, ranging from cosy corners with comfortable couches to lots of rustic tables with chairs, as well as the expected large contingency of bar stools making this place a perfect watering hole for groups and couples alike, whether you're visiting for a quiet drink or something a bit more raucous such as a session with your mates or to watch the match on one of the three well positioned plasma screens. It wouldn't be an Irish establishment without it providing an ample smoking facility outside, and they do, dutifully. It may be in the form of an old garage but it's big enough to accommodate about 20 people at one time, you can take your drinks out with you and importantly it features a garage roof to provide safe haven against the tumultuous Irish weather. There's nothing like a heavy shower to annihilate any enjoyment from what was set out to be your time to kick back with a cigarette. The garage door itself stays open and looks out on to the road behind the pub. The drinks are no cheaper nor more expensive than what you would expect from a high-quality Irish pub with a Guinness priced at €5.50. Pleasingly, Murphy's also serves soup that is bursting with flavour and hearty toasties (€3) before 5pm everyday. I have often enjoyed a hearty lunch of this kind in there whilst taking refuge inside from a wintry Dublin. Just talking about this place makes me want to go back right away. It is not often in Dublin you find somewhere so characteristically Irish yet unique unto itself owing to its meticulous service and how it remains ablaze with sincerity. read more