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    Shenanigan's Irish Pub

    3.5 (119 reviews)
    InexpensiveIrish Pub
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Shenanigan's Irish Pub Photos

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    SHENANIGAN'S IRISH PUB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Divey
    Very loud
    Happy hour specials

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    What they pass off as a pint of Guinness.
    Shawn D.

    Good dive bar feel. But if you're looking for a pint of Guinness, go elsewhere. I don't know if it's an old keg or they don't keep the lines clean but there was literally no head on it whatsoever.

    Paddy
    Steve A.

    All kinds of Irish whiskey here. It has the popular stuff and lots of obscure ones. Shenanigan's is a place to get your drink on, Irish style. Just drinks on the menu. They don't have that much room inside, so it's not good bringing large groups with you. I love Irish whiskey so if course I like going here. It just matters when you go because there's better times than others. The best deals are on Fridays and Saturdays. It has a special for all you can drink. This is $10 for beer on tap and rails. It doesn't have the good stuff included in this of course. They have almost a hundred different kinds of Irish whiskey. Skip the Jameson. There's some good less popular brands like Paddy and Powers. It also has lots more obscure ones. These can get expensive but these are very high quality stuff. Go here and be like an Irishman. Imbibe on the best whiskey lass. Weekends are crazy but that's like every place over there.

    a view of the bar - Interior of Shenanigan's Irish Pub featuring a bar with bottles, TV screens showing sports, and patrons in the background.
    Ken M.

    What a cool place for a drink and burger. The bartender was friendly and I lucked out and got there before the "happy hour" started. That was fine by me. What I wanted was food because I had been traveling all day and a drink. Got both and a smile from the bartender. Got to talk a little to her to make my dinner not as lonely and I was thankful for that conversation. My burger was cooked perfectly and my whiskey tasted great.

    Let's go - A neon sign displays a leprechaun with a wink, holding a beer, with the text 'Shenanigan's' and a slogan about luck.
    Beth K.

    Sort of a college vibe on fri/sat night - the music is always great (if you like 00s) - very lively and entertaining. It's sort of a dive bar but lots of fun. Younger crowd. Their DJ, DJ Bobballoo, is hilarious- check out his Instagram- his story recently had him holding a sign that says "inflation free Friday at Shenanigans" LOL. They have "power hour" which is unlimited free drinks from 8-10 on Friday and Saturday- beware of the crowds but also the deal!

    Yes, please
    Megan K.

    So I was actually trying to go somewhere else and happened upon Shenanigan's. After walking in, I discovered this was the bar my friends and I spent St. Patty's of 2013 at, but could never remember where we were! I drank a nice Irish cider and washed it down with some delicious fish and chips. The tartar sauce was amazing, and Ted the bartender was excellent company. Very knowledgeable about Irish whiskey and beer, I had a very enjoyable time tonight. 5 star pub and they have the most extensive Irish beer and whiskey selection in all of D.C. I'll definitely be back for the shepherds pie!!!!

    the bar and the bar counter - The image shows a bar with TV screens, bottles of alcohol, and a bartender in a dimly lit Irish pub setting, featuring green string lights.

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    8 months ago

    Great place, nice and clean. Love the friendly service there, and the food is pretty good. Bartender knows how to make a nice drink.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great atmosphere and Guinness. Great place to catch a World Cup game! Bartenders are excellent

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    2 years ago

    Doors were shut. "There is a New Year's party" is all we were told and we're not allowed in.

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    EVA is the best. request her as your bartender. I had a great time! Request her she's amazing!

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Eva is by far the best female bartender I've ever encountered! She is personable, knowledgeable, and absolutely amazing!

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    Ask the Community - Shenanigan's Irish Pub

    Review Highlights - Shenanigan's Irish Pub

    Eva is by far the best female bartender I've ever encountered!

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    We enjoyed Clyde's in DC Friendly staff…read moreGood food - we stopped in for lunch We would come again

    We were genuinely excited to finally try Clyde's in Georgetown, especially since it's a longtime…read morefavorite of someone in our group. We visited mid-afternoon on a Saturday and were seated in the two front booths to accommodate our party size. Unfortunately, the experience started off shaky and never really recovered. Our server, Kareem, appeared overwhelmed and disorganized from the beginning. Early in the meal, he spilled water directly into my lap. Accidents absolutely happen in restaurants, and most people understand that, but what mattered here was the lack of follow-up. I spent the remainder of the meal with the front of my pants soaked and there was no meaningful acknowledgment, apology beyond the moment, or attempt to make the situation right. Service continued to be inattentive throughout the meal. Drinks were never refilled (unless finally asked), and once our food was dropped off, it felt like we were largely forgotten unless we flagged someone down. For a restaurant with Clyde's reputation, that level of hospitality was surprising. We ordered the pretzel, Oyster Rockefeller, burgers, French toast, asparagus, and the fried trout. The food was decent overall and visually appealing, but nearly every dish felt underseasoned, as though salt and pepper had been left out of the process entirely. Nothing was bad, but very little stood out. One of the biggest issues was the seating arrangement near the entrance. Because we were placed in the front booths, guests waiting for tables were clustered directly around us for much of the meal. People were standing extremely close to our table, hovering in our dining space, and we had to ask multiple individuals to move so we could eat comfortably. That is more of a management/layout issue than a guest issue, and it noticeably impacted the experience. I understand gratuity may be included or expected with larger parties, but service should still reflect care and attentiveness. At times, it felt like the incentive to provide that level of effort simply wasn't there. I can see why Clyde's has loyal fans, and perhaps this was an off day, but between inattentive service, the uncomfortable front seating setup, and food that was just average, this visit did not live up to expectations.

    The Sovereign - Mariniere Mussels | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

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    This place is fantastic! We sat at the bar on a Sunday afternoon. Great atmosphere, beautiful bar…read more I appreciate the hooks under the bar to hang your purse or bags. Thank you for having that. It's a detail that many bars forget but I can relax and enjoy my stay more when I know my belongings are safely tucked away. We got the Smorgesboard and Saffron Mussels. Both were EXCELLENT. The Mister got a few beers. The Smorgesboard had every charcuterie option and it was really fun building the perfect bite. I thought it was absolutely worth the price. I've paid more for less. Let me take a moment and collect myself before I talk about the Saffron Mussels. They were freaking amazing. The broth was mildly spicy, a powerful punch of salty herby flavor that paired wonderfully with the mussels. They were perfectly cooked with a tender chew. Served with fries and chunks of bread to sop up all that glorious broth. If you're thinking about getting the mussels, just do it. Truly, one of the best pot of mussels I've had. We are just visiting the area, but I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in town. What a delightful surprise to find this place.

    Came to the Sovereign on a Friday night for happy hour -- a great deal, cocktails for $6 and some…read morebites. Walked to the upstairs bar and was able to find a seat no problem around 6:30pm. There were still seats at the downstairs bar too. I went for a cocktail off their full menu not featured on happy hour - the tricky tripel, and it was delicious! The bartender did a great job explaining the tasting notes of all the drinks and helped me choose a good one. I also sipped the Belgian sour many of my friends opted for and that's a great cocktail for just $6 during happy hour. Happy hour is tricky -- it's really a great deal making it difficult to justify paying full price for anything but the crowd here is two folds. You have a lot of young college kids mixed with an older crowd so one comes for the deals while the other comes for amazing food and cocktails -- something for everyone! Overall I would definitely come back for dinner. This place has a very lowkey casual vibe but upscale food and drinks. The atmosphere/ambiance leaves a little to be desired with not so great lighting and no background music that I can recall but still a nice spot to pop in.

    Duffy's Irish Pub - Dupont Circle NW - Garlic Parmesan Wings

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    Come for the Guinness, stay for the wings…read more We stopped in late night for some beers and snacks. Service was fast and friendly. We got an order of wings and some shepherd's pie. The wings were top notch! We just got the standard buffalo wings and they were just the right size, well cooked and very saucey. The sauce is great because it's a bit of a unique twist on buffalo. It's nice when every place does not have the same mix of Red Hot and Butter (this was not). So, wings fit the bill. Very salty and spicy if I recall (it was late) and want to come back again soon. My friends enjoyed the shepherd's pie, but it wasn't the best I've had. The beef was kind of mild and the potatoes were not crisped on the top. However, a solid home made offering that you can season as you like and I suppose you can order it "crispy" to make sure it comes out that way. Yeah, I'd order it again.

    On a cold late night in DC my friend and I looked for some bars that were open late and he thought…read moreof this one. We had a great time here for a number of reasons - all the staff were from Philly, which I could hear right away. It seemed many of the patrons were too based on sports logos and accents. The bartender was super welcoming and attentive so we ordered some beers. They also have a check-in offer of a free drink, so be sure to use that if you come in. I had a local DC beer and of course had to have one Yuengling on draft, a favorite beer growing up. It was a welcoming and happy place. I'm sure the bar food is good, we weren't hungry on our visit. If you're in DC and need an Irish style pub to have a drink or watch a game, this is a convenient one near Dupont Circle.

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    Dear reader, Mr…read more Smith's is one of those places that is simply easy to like. I got a strawberry margarita and some mozzarella sticks to take the edge off, and both did exactly what was required of them. The prices were also refreshingly cheap, which feels especially commendable for Georgetown, and they always seem to have some kind of happy hour or deal going on. It is the sort of establishment that understands a bargain is still one of society's greatest pleasures. I also really liked the vibe here. It has a cool old-school feel, there are TVs around, the music is good, and there are tons of places to sit so it never feels too cramped. It is the kind of place where you stop in casually and then realize you have been there much longer than originally intended, which I consider a very positive sign. The location is another major point in its favor. Being right across from the Georgetown waterfront makes it a perfect stop before or after a walk by the water, and that alone gives it a certain advantage in the local social circuit. Overall, Mr. Smith's is a very solid Georgetown option for drinks, snacks, and a reliably good time. I would absolutely go back.

    I'm conflicted! This should be more of a 3.5 but I have to give it a 3 since there are no half…read morestars. My coworker and I came to Happy Hour before an event in Georgetown. Mr Smiths is hidden but if you head to the southern end of Wisconsin AVE NW it's the second business on Water St NW. Parking is tricky, it's Georgetown, be prepared to park in a nearby garage or if you're lucky and patient find street parking and pay via Park Mobile. We lucked up and got a street parking space! Score! The bar area was not too packed but only one bartender to manage the entire restaurant so that became a challenge. He was super nice and welcoming but too overwhelmed. We got our order taken after about a ten minute wait. Drinks also came about 15 minutes after we sat, so ten minutes just to wait and five minutes to have him make it after the order. It appeared that it was a shift change but still only one bartender for the evening. Ambiance is like Cheers the T.V. show. Literally a pub. Prices are totally reasonable! So I'd definitely come back, I think they definitely need more bartenders and/or manager presence in the front to help. Team work makes the dream work and there was none of that there. We did notice a guy heading home when the bartender asked to be "cashed out", I assume that was the manager trying to hit the front door but if you see your bartender struggling, step in don't try and leave. Let's get into it! Chicken California - SO GOOD! They forgot my avocado but did bring it to me after I requested it. Nachos - Very Good! Margarita - Good!

    Shenanigan's Irish Pub - irish_pubs - Updated May 2026

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