Gayle and I were walking back from dinner and live music on George Street, when we happened by a…read moresign outside of Erin's Pub about an Irish music trad session that as it turned out was in progress. So we came in, took a seat at the bar, ordered a couple pints of Guinness (the best pour in St. John's we were told), and listened to several musicians around a big table churn out a number of traditional tunes. Another Irish word for this is seisiún or session. It was very relaxed and informal, with individual musicians starting a tune and others quickly joining in. Gayle and I really felt part of a local crowd of very nice and hospitable Newfoundlanders. A significant percentage of Newfoundlanders come from Irish descent. That started in the 17th Century when ships from the English West Country stopped into along Ireland's south coast to collect food and servants for the fisheries around the coast of Newfoundland. As such, the traditional music of Newfoundland and Labrador is rooted in Irish, Scottish, and English music. The Bar itself has a sort of local divey vibe, with dark woods, a cool bar, no pretense, and even a 24-hour camera screen on Quidi Vidi. It was a place where we really enjoyed staying awhile, which we did until this Celtic jam session was over.

Somehow this turned out to be pretty incredible. While practically all bars in St. John's are…read moresimilarly Irish and quite casual, Erin's is a standout. For all that is said (and really overstated) about Newfoundlanders being the nicest people in Canada, I actually had that friendly experience here more than at other bars in the city. (As an outsider, you can be easy to spot.) The bartender was friendly and on the ball. The live music was impressive. The artist who played (July 2?) was furiously devoted to continuously cranking out great music. The local patrons were generally lively and willing to engage in conversation with outsiders.

Such a wonderful spot, full of nice people and great music, my wife and I had so much fun in here…read more On this night it was the bartenders anniversary for working behinfd the bar, I feel like he had been ther for 25 years, maybe it was 50 years, but he was too young for that- great guy! My wife and I ended up buying a few rounds for guys that were having trouble getting the bar tenders attention- tons of fun!

We were off to a difficult start because we ordered drinks but it took at least 15 minutes to get…read morethem. I don't know why. How long can a beer take? They didn't have any pale ale so our server suggested an 'Rielly's lagar but it tasted more like a pilsner. I'm really not that hard to please but that's how it was. Once the drinks arrived the food also came shortly thereafter. The server apologized for the delay in bringing the drinks. That helped but this is a pub so if they can't get the drinks out there is a problem. My fish and chips were good. My guests were pleased with their dishes. This is a very popular establishment so for that reason alone I would recommend it. Our meals were good and it was really just the strange delay in getting our drinks that put us off. There is live music with a local flair. Interestingly many of the patrons were older folks. I don't know what to read into that. Perhaps it's the folksy music. Three stars because of the mistakes made in bringing our drinks, being out of common items, etc.

A local favourite, and for good reason! This cozy spot has a fun atmosphere, great staff, and…read moreabsolutely delicious food and beer. We both went with the fish & chips, and you can choose fried or baked -- we went fried. Our server recommended upgrading the fries to Newfoundland style (bread crumbs and gravy on top), and wow... well worth it! The fish was super fresh and flavorful. For drinks, we tried the famous Iceberg beer from Quidi Vidi Brewery, brewed with 15,000-year-old iceberg water. While the concept is really cool and unique to Newfoundland, the beer itself was honestly a bit mid in my opinion. I'd recommend trying other brews from Quidi Vidi instead. Overall, we had a great time here -- fresh food, cozy vibes, and a true local staple. Can definitely see why both tourists and locals love it!

I think the Duke has my favorite flannel... lost it somewhere in ST Johns, thats how good of a time…read morewe had here. During our stay we came several times and met some interesting characters. The overall atmosphere in this place is amazing and I do love going to a place that I see in shows and movies... Bar tender was very nice and my wife and I chatted with her quite a bit between the endless beer orders. Definitely come to this place!

Live music, friendly Natives ready to kick up their heels and dance! Fantastic atmosphere! Very…read morepleased with Allison's from Fish Exchange recommendation

Could be great but wasn't. The band were good but it was an an Irish Newfoundland acoustic band…read morethat didn't need amplification let alone over amplification. It was impossible to talk without leaning in and shouting. Best to just sit outside and listen and chat

Popular pub in the center of water Street in downtown St. John's Newfoundland…read more The menu for me was somewhat limited, but I had the turkey noodle soup, which was quite good. Unfortunately, the bar was out of the two draft beers that I was interested in. I ended up getting a Coors light, which, really sucks if you think about it, since I'm from Colorado. If I ever go back, I need to learn more about Canadian beer. Still, it was a great place to stop for lunch while I walked and shopped Water Street.

Grabbed a quick drink in here while waiting for a table at a seafood restaurant, very cool looking…read moreplace, one of the nicer looking places on Water st. Definitely a spot I could see frequenting if i lived close, not as chaotic at some of the other places we visited.

With the exception of a Smithwick's on draught that was a bit flat, my evening at the Black Sheep…read morewas incredible. So much so, that I can't count the Smithwick's against the place in my review. 1. Typical of most St. John's bars, Black Sheep features Irish beers (Guinness, Kilkenny, etc) and whisky. 2. Service is surprisingly prompt. The bartender in here (at least on a Monday night) was really on the ball. Everything Beer or glass of water came quickly with a friendly attitude and smile. 3. Live music in here on Mondays is quite impressive. I enjoyed some of the best bluegrass anywhere. A server at a nearby restaurant recommended that I check it out, and I am glad I did. 4. The vibe is warm and inviting. Don't be put off by the rather dark exterior. Inside is cozy and nice. 5. They offer bottled beers, as well as 3-4 draught options and cocktails.

Small place but great bands and music coming out of this place! On tap selection of beers is…read morelimited to some Irish standards - wish there were more!!! - but they'll do.

Come from away, leave as an honorary Newfoundlander…read more.... Christian's Pub is where I was "screeched in". Gayle skipped being in the ceremony, but watched enthusiastically as we both had a great time. Plus enjoying a couple of wee pints of Guinness ahead of time was a great starter. After all, Christian's Pub is a cool bar and lounge in itself. As legend has it, an American serviceman stationed in Newfoundland during the Second World War downed some local rum one night and let out a 'blood-curdling howl'. Someone nearby asked what that awful yell was and a Newfoundlander sitting at the bar said, "The Screech? 'Tis the rum, me son." And that's how Screech earned its name. I now have the certificate as an Honorary Newfoundlander. But first the ceremony! That involved a shot of Screech rum, flambé bologna, kissing the codfish (a real frozen one), receiving a a personalized certificate, and taking a photo with Skipper Lukey. Joining me that Sunday evening were people from all over the world, all of us having a great time. It was a whole lot of fun and Skipper Lukey put on a show that was also thoughtful, folksy, and educational, all in just under 30 minutes. Other George Street bars do this, but Christian's was the only one that another businesses on the street recommended. And Hell Yes! I'd do it again.

Every visitor "from away" must be Screeched in. It's the law. Being from Newfoundland myself, I had…read moreto use this opportunity to have my younger brother and partner Screeched in on our recent trip home. Christian's, being the oldest pub in St. John's on one of the oldest streets in North America seemed like the perfect place. Now, Christian's is no fancy joint, so let that be known right away. It's charming and a little edgy. Drinks are poured with love, and hope you're not hungry because you're lucky to get a bag of crisps. Or maybe a piece of flambéed bologna! But it's all served up with the typical Newfoundland charm. Fast forward to the Screeching in... Skipper Lukey is impressive! Memorizing everyone's name (all 40 or so guest) during our ceremony. Adding in his rough around the edges reminders on how the process works. You better be good at following instructions, because Lukey will remind you, not so gently, if you're out of line. All in good fun, I promise! Respect the ceremony and keep chatter to a minimum. It's a sacred duty to Screech in mainlanders after all. Overall a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone and their group looking to become an honorary Newfoundlander!

The food here is excellent, the ambiance fun and the service is top notch. Highly recommend sharing…read morea bunch of small plates so you get to try more dishes!

We had dinner here as a large group, booking out the place. It was truly excellent! The service…read morewas friendly and helpful (typical for Newfoundland). But more importantly, the food was outstanding! I had the seafood chowder (yum) and a 10 oz steak. I ended the meal with the cheesecake. Really great! (oh yeah, and the cocktails were good too!)

We thoroughly enjoyed this quaint Gastropub on an unassuming corner of Duckworth street. We…read morehappened to arrive right when they opened at 11am, and we were able to select from their brunch or lunch menu. Hubby and I both ordered from their lunch menu. I had my eye on the PB&J burger that I had seen on Yelp, as peanut butter is my favorite thing ever! This burger did not disappoint. While the combo sounds strange, the flavors were well-balanced with the brie cheese, caramelized onions and bacon. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium and the hamburger bun was soft. I chose the kettle chips for my side, and they tasted house made. Very delicious! The only thing I didn't like about this burger was the price tag = $22. Hubby had the seafood chowder for $17 and it was enough for a full meal. He said the chowder was very flavorful and full of seafood. He was in heaven! We both ordered a Quidi Vidi 1892 amber ale on draft. They only had 7 beers on tap and I wished that they had a medium or dark beer, but this area doesn't seem to be big on that. They do have Guinness in a can, if that's your thing. Service was friendly and the food came out relatively fast. The booths were comfy and the pub reminded me of a cozy neighborhood bar. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

Every visit back home, I always make a stop at BSG. Everything I've ever ordered here has been…read moresolid and flavorful. The staff is warm and inviting with an incredibly cozy atmosphere.

Best meal that I had in St. John's. Five of us shared drinks, stories and the candied scallops,…read morewhipped feta, hot honey goat cheese, basque mussels, spicy shrimp, citrus beet salad, lamb stew and the chef's board pintxos. The food was wonderful, the service was wonderful, the entire vibe of this place is wonderful. Do yourself a favor and experience this adventure in eating.

When in St. John's you have to eat here. The chef is a magician with the food that's presented and…read morehow it tastes. It's a different experience than you'll receive at any restaurant. The waiters are engaging and you'll hear some great stories if you are open to hear.