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San Mateo, CA

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O'Neill's Irish Pub

3.5 (261 reviews)
InexpensiveSports Bars, Irish Pub
Closed • 11:30 am - 1:45 AM (Next day)

O'Neill's Irish Pub Photos

Business Info

O'NEILL'S IRISH PUB ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - O'Neill's Irish Pub

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Vish E.

Standard Irish Pub Surprisingly for an Irish pub - they did not have an Irish Red Ale - head scratcher Good location for a quick drink and chat The cute bartender knew how to pour a perfect Guinness :) 4 stars !!

Grace M.

This is a fun no frills Irish bar with tons of regulars. Enjoy trivia on Wednesday nights at 8pm, or come in for a weeknight Guinness. Sometimes there's a food truck out front, or you can visit George's next door and they will bring it over to you. You can also bring in food. My favorite is the Calisqueeze on tap.

Jasmine Y.

We came on a Saturday and it was a super fun karaoke night. The energy was up and the crowd was vibing. Beers were only about $6! A must come for a quick drink or even a night out

Jessica G.

Stumbled upon O'Neill's Irish Pub after dinner in downtown San Mateo when my friends and I were looking for a second location to keep the night going. Lucky for us, it just so happened to be karaoke night (Saturday at around 9 PM)! They checked our IDs at the door and we settled at one of their larger tables for our group of 8. As some of our group went up to the bar to get drinks, they got started on the music. I appreciated that the DJ started the karaoke night off with group songs. They had so many mics and were handing them out to the different groups so everyone could sing along from their tables. After 3-5 group songs that everyone loved and could sing along to, they started to take requests for solo singers. It was fun to see individual singers go up to their "stage" area to sing their songs of choice. Now, I will say, the crowd and vibe was more of a rap/hip hop/alternative rock karaoke with a couple 80s/90s pop songs sprinkled in between. So... if showtunes or ballads or current pop is more your vibe, might have to check out another bar. Or maybe it was just the crowd that night. Either way, it was all a great time and everyone was having fun. No one was being sloppy or annoying and the DJ kept the party going. A great bar if you're a large group looking for plenty of seating and good drinks!

Digital jukebox
Olivia M.

Very standard dive bar! All drinks are fairly cheap and the bartenders are all super friendly. The bar itself is what you expect on the smaller side and very lively on weekends. They also have a jukebox! The only annoying thing here is the security. They are fairly rude and not professional. Not a rager of a bar but cheap drinks + location make it a good watering hole.

a pint of guinness
Brian C.

I came here with my family for a special event, and really enjoyed the vibe and mood of the pub. My family and I are Irish and we wanted to go to an Irish pub to celebrate the signing of my last professional contract as an athlete. We grabbed a few or more pints and some whiskeys to add to the mix. We were able to sit in the corner booth and enjoy a good time with each other, while celebrating a special event. The bartender was great and the guests were friendly. Really had a great time here and thanks for letting us take part in this special memory at your establishment.

Happy Hour
Dalengua T.

Great place for happy hour. Great atmosphere, with lots of selection, spacious and great service.

Guinness
Derrick G.

Great ambiance great vibes. Great place to chill with the lads in downtown San Mateo. Parking a little tricky but there are a few lots nearby. The Guinness was tasty shoutout to Monica! Dope bartender will be coming back

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1 year ago

Friendly staff and fun downtown bar. Came here last night with a friend's to celebrate my birthday. Will be back

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1 year ago

Best bar down town San mateo. Friendly bartenders & Good selection of beers. Great for groups.

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3 years ago

Typical old school Irish bar. If you're looking to go to a no frills Irish bar where you can get your drink on, this is the place

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Bartender was great--she really knew how to make a great lemondrop. She had a big crowd but we were served pretty quickly

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Ask the Community - O'Neill's Irish Pub

Review Highlights - O'Neill's Irish Pub

“Went to O'Neill's last night and was very happy to have a perfectly poured pint of Guinness.”

Mentioned in 26 reviews

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Molly Os - Western Burger, a savory delight that's sure to satisfy your cravings. We proudly offer a selection of delicious meatless burgers

Molly Os

4.5(124 reviews)
5.4 mi
•$$

I don't know why it took us so long to visit Molly O's. Probably cuz we don't drink much, we…read morehaven't really thought to walk in here but I can confirm this place is great for non-drinkers too! We came for lunch and was super impressed. The space is beautiful with free, easy street parking in the area. The vibe is casual and friendly. The food is reasonably priced and good. The two of us shared a shepherds pie and a fish & chip. The shepherds pie was flavorful and comforting. The fish tasted fresh and the beer batter was delicious. Even the fries were extra yummy; it probably has something to do with the light batter and freshness of the ingredients. Aside from Guinness on tap, they've got lots of delicious drinks too. The owner, Oliver, had taken our order. He was friendly and down-to-earth; we enjoyed chatting with him. He shared the restaurant is named after his grandma, Molly, who stops by from time to time too. It's a sister restaurant to his parent's place Fiddler's Green in Millbrae, which has been opened for 35 years. We'll definitely be back!

Nice Irish pub downtown San Carlos. Many tempting items to choose from…read more I got the regular fish and chips with 3 Fillets steak. Fries cold slaw and I also got a Diet Coke Service here is wonderful They have upstairs and downstairs dining. I sat downstairs Food was delicious. There is street parking and a parking lot down the street

Photos
Molly Os - Pull up a stool and let the good times flow at our lively bar - where every drink tells a story!

Pull up a stool and let the good times flow at our lively bar - where every drink tells a story!

Molly Os - Our mouthwatering Irish Nachos - a crowd-pleasing favorite!

Our mouthwatering Irish Nachos - a crowd-pleasing favorite!

Molly Os - Guinness on tap!

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Guinness on tap!

McGovern's Bar - The bar

McGovern's Bar

3.7(159 reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$

As a native San Mateo resident of over 50 years, I've been going to this bar since I was of legal…read moredrinking age in the 1990's, but I realized that I have never left a review for it, so here it goes! Originally ran by the sweet Irish owners Seamus & Geraldine McGovern, this bar has stood the rest of time, tech, change, culture, and the ever rise of rents in downtown San Mateo. Their success is pretty simple: good, honest, friendly service & neighborhood feelings. The location is outstanding, easily accessible from anywhere due to the fact that it's in the heart of downtown. Parking is ample/a plenty, and its proximity to restaurants, shopping, and entertainment such as the movie theater makes it an excellent destination to go to meet up with friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Everything is within walking distance and/or public transportation such as the bus, Caltrain, or even bicycles & skateboards. Fast forwarding to 2025, the formula pretty much remains unchanged. It has changed ownership from the older McGovern family to the younger Coit family and it still feels the same. Matthew used to bartend there for years and he is now the owner, but he pretty much runs the bar like Seamus & Geraldine did for decades. He also added & updated a few things to bring McGoverns to the modern tastes & cultures of going out to a bar. He's added entertainment including live music on the weekends, karaoke, trivia nights, and even open mic/stand up comedy nights. Almost any night of the week, there's something going on here. He's also added a stage, beer pong tables, a better juke box, video games, and air conditioning, which is good because this bar can get pretty crowded & stuffy with sweaty people drinking, partying, dancing, and just having a good time. The service is reliable & professional, thanks to long-time faithful bartenders like Asa, which is always nice to get service from. Matthew has added his own passion & interest in beers & whiskeys to the standard line up. Local microbrews & IPA's are now on tap next to the long time regular beers. He has bottles of craft beers, ciders, seltzers, and even good wine as an option. For those looking to splurge & venture out a bit, there's also top-shelf limited availability & new whiskeys to sample as a flight or to buy as shots & glasses. And of course, there's good cocktails & mixed drinks for those that are into those. All in all, this is a great place to meetup, hangout, or just do some reading or work. It's very spacious, has two entrances/exits, a massive beautiful decorative bar, and even a few booths and bar tables in case you want some privacy, quiet, or ambiance if you're on a date or having conversation. It isn't too noisy, it isn't too claustrophobic, it is t too chaotic. It's just the right blend of spacious & well-used space, enough things like music, tv, and games to keep you engaged, and mostly, good service, great drinks, and friendly people. This place has always been like Cheers to me, it's where everybody knows your name, even if I don't come around/go out much anymore because I'm an old hermit crab now. But on the nights that I do, I'll always remember to stop by here and have a good time.

We ran into this bar on a sunday night after having dinner for my friend's birthday near by. We are…read morenever usually ever in San Mateo area, so we are so glad we found this spot. Such chill and hip ambiance. We did not order food and not even sure if they offer food. Honestly, we were kind of drunk already when we stumbled upon this place. I do remember the people were super nice and it was karaoke night! So here we were singing our hearts out. It was definitely a vibe. They had pool tables too where my friends played for a bit. Overall, we had a wonderful time!

Photos
McGovern's Bar - Beer taps

Beer taps

McGovern's Bar - Irish Whisky selection

Irish Whisky selection

McGovern's Bar

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Alhambra Irish House - anthony's midori sour is DELICIOUS

Alhambra Irish House

4.3(251 reviews)
7.8 mi
•$$

It's always a pleasure coming in and being recognized by Anthony even when I haven't stepped foot…read morein Alhambra for a while. He has always treated us with friendliness and welcoming and notice that we many of the people already know who he is so makes you feel welcome. It's a super laid back place if you just want to catch up with friends or enjoy a great chill night alone you have great company around you.

TL: DR: I want to really Iike this place! Overall some good food, but disjointed…read moreservice/management. The fish meals are overly fishy in taste (not fresh). AMBIANCE 2/5: nice ambiance but they cram way too many tables and chairs that make it hard to pass through between. Some tables are even up against pillars which means you sit crooked to sit at the table next to a pillar. Definitely not ADA friendly if even as an average sized person I have to squeeze in sideways to walk between tables. They have fun events like trivia. SERVICE/MANAGEMENT 2-3/5: staff is very nice but they're running around disjointed, which often leads to delays in getting your order / taking your order late. It seems like training because it isn't server specific. You usually have to flag down staff. There's not enough menus for all the tables so you have to share menus often 1 menu for a 4 top. Sometimes you seat yourself, sometimes you don't. They lose reservations. FOOD 3/5: the shepard's pie and curry chicken are good. Any of the fish dishes taste not fresh, fishy. The fish and chips is one large piece of fish (why not cut it up?) and the cod fries taste very fishy.

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Alhambra Irish House - Guinness

Guinness

Alhambra Irish House - Vodka fettuccine with shrimp and sausage (instead of the chicken--the chicken is so bland). This is elite

Vodka fettuccine with shrimp and sausage (instead of the chicken--the chicken is so bland). This is elite

Alhambra Irish House - Irish ice coffee

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Irish ice coffee

The Burren House - Fish & Chips

The Burren House

4.4(228 reviews)
30.1 mi
•$$

They have the BEST food in San Rafael. When we walked in another patron told my husband, "You'll…read morenever have a bad meal here" and he was absolutely right. We enjoyed the jumbo pub wings in the jerk dry rub and sweet chili flavors, a rueben sandwich with hand cut fries, and a burren burger with hand cut fries. Our favorites were the wings and the hand cut fries, but the sandwich and burger are solid options. We visited during a world cup soccer game and the atmosphere was that of a pub or sports bar with lively cheering fans and regulars. I highly recommend trying it if you're in the area.

This review is for the service only, not the food or drinks, which we never got to try. My husband…read moreand I arrived around 4:30 or 5 pm on a Saturday and said we wanted a quick bite. The hostess pointed towards the back and said, "Grab a seat!" This was friendly and normal. So we walk towards the back and start to sit in a booth with four seats. Mind you, the place was EMPTY except for one other table and a waitress folding napkins at another table. Immediately upon us trying to sit down in the booth, and jumped up and asserted: "You can't sit there!! We need that table for four people! Take one of our two-tops." Now, if a place is busy, of course we will do that. But my husband is a larger man and much more comfortable in a wider booth, which is partly why we came early. We asked nicely but the waitress demanded to know who told us we could sit there, then went up to the front to fact check our claim with the hostess. It was so offensive and off putting, we just left. It was embarrassing and rude. Too bad they hire staff that have no manners. They chase away long term business this way because you can definitely believe we told all our friends about this terrible experience.

Photos
The Burren House - Great Irish pub feel. Very authentic. Makes you feel right at home.

Great Irish pub feel. Very authentic. Makes you feel right at home.

The Burren House - Tofu coconut curry

Tofu coconut curry

The Burren House - Homemade Irish Brown Bread and wings.

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Homemade Irish Brown Bread and wings.

Highlands Sports Bar & Grill - Classic cheeseburger and fries

Highlands Sports Bar & Grill

4.2(184 reviews)
5.5 mi
Sports on TV
Locally owned & operated

Highlands is a staple place in downtown San Carlos. I have been meaning to review here for a while…read more I typically come here every Thursday for music bingo! Due to the World Cup they are putting a pause on that event. We did decide to go back this Thursday for the USA watch party and it was so fun. They were absolutely packed when we got there but the staff is so kind and accommodating they got us a table outside and even moved it so we could all see the tvs! As soon as we were getting sat the waitress recognized us and asked if we wanted to put in some drinks so we wouldn't have to wait long, huge plus they really do connect with their customers. We ordered our food and everything came out really quickly which was great even though they were so busy. I got the drakes burger with the gluten free bun. My favorite! It comes with a perfectly cooked egg that oozes right into the burger when you bite in. My partner got his favorite the Caesar salad wrap. He always says it super fresh and tastes amazing. My father got a classic cheese burger added bacon. They do make a great burger the prefect amount of messy classic American burger we all crave. They have a very extensive menu it a lot of typical bar food but what sets them apart is their fresh ingredients and unique twist. Their atmosphere and service is always a ten out of ten no matter if it's packed to the brim or not. I plan to keep coming back!

Came here for the Monday night trivia. Started off with a Shirley temple followed by…read more 5/5 garlic truffle fries 4/5 French dip 4/5 avocado bacon burger 4/5 the Reuben 5/5 for the service. Parking was not hard to find there is a garage nearby. They are also walking distance from the Caltrain. Loved the high ceilings at this location and had a lot of fun at Trivia.

Photos
Highlands Sports Bar & Grill - Christmas decorations

Christmas decorations

Highlands Sports Bar & Grill - Chicken wings with sauces on the side.

Chicken wings with sauces on the side.

Highlands Sports Bar & Grill - White peach daiquiri with some Bacardi

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White peach daiquiri with some Bacardi

O'Neill's Irish Pub - sportsbars - Updated October 2026

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