While in Dublin, we made it point to grab a pint at the famed Brazen Head, which is Dublin's oldest pub, dating back to 1198! The pub is unassuming from the exterior, at least given the classic architecture of the area...which is weird to say seeing as it is essentially a little castle! Once you walk through the arched doorway, you are in the thick of it from the beer garden to the two interior pub areas, which are distinctly different in vibe and energy! We popped into all areas, getting our pints and then enjoying them outside in the semi-covered beer garden! While we spent most of our time outdoors, we did experience the local music and group singalong inside, which was classic and almost storybook-esk! Servers were friendly and efficient. They constantly had a line, but made sure to speak to everyone and get those pints in hands as quick as possible! Overall, we absolutely loved The Brazen Head and would definitely recommend for those visiting Dublin! read more

See all

Oldest pub in Ireland, 825 years to be exact. Pretty incredible. I made sure to check out every area of the bar including the bathroom. So much history. So cool. We started off with the seafood chowder to share which comes with Guinness bread. My husband ordered a Guinness and I got a hard cider. For dinner, we both enjoyed the beef stew made with Irish beef! This stew is a staple of Ireland. So good! We ended our meal with an espresso and a baileys coffee. I had an extra baileys coffee for my aunt too! If you're in Ireland, you have to check this place. At minimum, just a drink! Slainte! read more

If you're going to Dublin and don't put The Brazen Head on your must-visit list, you're doing it wrong. Dating back to 1198, it's widely regarded as Ireland's oldest pub -- and the second you step inside, you feel it. The low wooden beams, uneven stone floors, candlelit corners, and walls filled with centuries of stories make it feel like you've stepped straight into the medieval era. It doesn't feel manufactured or touristy -- it feels lived in. Like history is still breathing inside those walls. You can almost picture writers, rebels, and travelers from centuries past warming themselves by the fire with a pint in hand. It genuinely feels like you've gone backwards in time, in the best possible way. Beyond the atmosphere, the service was outstanding. The staff were warm, welcoming, and quick despite how busy it gets. I ended up having a great conversation with one of the bartenders who generously shared recommendations for some of the best pubs across Ireland -- the kind of local insight you can't Google. That alone made the experience feel personal and memorable. Between the history, the character, the lively energy, and the genuine hospitality, The Brazen Head isn't just a pub -- it's an experience. It absolutely lived up to the hype and was one of the highlights of my time in Dublin. A true must-go. read more

See all

10/10 on ambiance, coziness, vibes, and overall feel. 7/10 on service 9/10 on food The hallway where you wait if you'd like a table is a bit small and crowded, but once you get inside, its worth it! The decorations were lovely, the vibe was warm and cozy, and the food was delicious. They were quite slow to take out order, and even slower to bring the drinks (our food arrived first). But once we got what we ordered, we were happy with the outcome. The chicken sandwich was crispy and juicy. The beer selection was nice. The prices were decent. Id definitely come back! read more

See all

We stopped in at the brazen Head for a quick lunch. We sat in the upstairs part of the pub, which was what I would call quaint, but a little less charming than the downstairs part. Part. We split a cottage pie and we were really glad we did. It was very large. Enjoyed that meal! And would return to eat here again! read more

The Brazen Head - The menu - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

We walked in here fully expecting it to be a huge tourist trap but it was on our walk and we figured why not. It was already fairly busy for 4:30pm on a Tuesday but the staff seemed to manage it well as neither myself or anyone else waited long for beer. I loved the aesthetic of the bar itself. I only saw the smaller sitting area by the bar and the courtyard. We sat in the courtyard because we're Canadian and don't care about the cold and it was the right choice because it was so cute out there and I loved the music playlist. The only real downside was that it cost €17.50 for two euro. read more

See all

Great traditional Irish pub close to the river even though it's predictably spendy. There is a great outdoor area to have drinks and a quaint indoor seating area with lots of Irish charm! Had the fish and chips and it was amazing! Left me wanting it again the next day. The server was quick but didn't come back to the table after the food. He was around though and was quick to help. Was good for small kids as well. read more

See all

Great dinner in a casual atmosphere. We were seated immediately at 18:00 on a Saturday and the service was fast and friendly. The fish and chips were delicious and was a huge portion. No kids menu but enough options to keep kids happy on the regular menu. The outside area was packed with people drinking and socializing. Great option for drinks or dinner and drinks!! read more

See all

My husband and I stopped by the Bra head after our tour of the Guinness factory for a nice lunch at the pub. This pub is so cute and quaint. The waiter was friendly and helpful, and we both enjoyed our food so much. My husband had the fish and chips which was lovely and I had the Irish stew which was warming and cozy on a cold rainy Dublin day. read more

See all

The oldest pub in Ireland opened in 1198. Should be a national monument. Cool, ideal front and interior. The main old bar is a must see. There are several but you have to find the original bar. Seated right away in the upstairs dining room that was a big, old, space. Good choices of beer with pictures on the menu. Food menu is limited with some non-Irish food to support anyone in your party who doesn't want traditional Irish food. Service was fast when it came to ordering and the wait. Irish stew was excellent. Full of flavor and I'm not a big stew kinda person but this was really good. Chips are so-so. Want to try the bar next time. Would repeat. read more

See all

The Brazen Head is a pretty cool place to check out! We've made a point to stop by here nearly every time we are in Dublin. Hyped as the oldest pub in Dublin, there are several different cosy rooms to check out with various historical memorabilia lining the walls including paintings, signs, bottles, kettles etc. When you walk into the outside seating area, you are greeted by a medieval suit of armor which sets the overall tone for the Brazen Head. The only downside is it seems to get more and more expensive to come here and the staff appears to be in a rush to get you in and out fairly quickly. read more

See all

This place is really cool along with the history is a beautiful pub. Beer and food were great and even with it being busy the service was still efficient and friendly. Enjoyed our time here read more

The Brazen Head - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

I see why this pub is Dublin's oldest pub and managed to stay in business 827 years - food is great, drinks are great, service is great, ambiance is great! Food: - beef stew: I saw some comments that this was too salty but this was not my experience! Very warm and cozy on a cold autumn day - seafood chowder: very generous with the seafood and surprisingly light, and not too salty, great flavor - Caesar salad: fresh lettuce, like straight off the iceberg. Not too much dressing. Instead of croutons, it's a beautiful piece of toasted bread. I was not expecting an Irish pub's Caesar salad to be so good. Surprisingly one of the best, if not the best, Caesar salad I've ever had - even better than Gordon Ramsey's Hell's Kitchen Caesar Salad. Drink: - Guinness: some of the best beer I've ever had. Creamy and fresh tasting Service: Seated quickly, food and drink came quickly, friendly! read more

See all

Wow very cool experience in Ireland's oldest pub! The history in this place is amazing, If the walls could talk! We sat in "the library", where the walls are lined with patches from those that keep us safe from, fire, accidents and bad guys. Unfortunately the kitchen was under renovation so we had limited options for food, what we did have was excellent, and they put a great pint of Guinness! read more

See all

It's an oldie but goodie. Perhaps the oldest functioning pub in Dublin, this place oozes character and a sort of hobbit hole coziness. The waitstaff is friendly and appears to be entirely non-Irish, but they are prompt and know the dishes. The bangers and mash were very good, but we prefer the beef stew. The pints come in half and full pours, so you can sample a few beers! And the vibe is amazing...low ceilings and wood frames with plenty of pictures and memorabilia to remind you that you are sipping a guiness among the ghosts of Dubliners past. There's an inside seating and outdoor courtyard so you can have two different kinds of experiences. Great spot! read more

See all

We stopped here to get a drink in the oldest pub in Dublin and it was cool experience. You can see the original room and get a drink there but they also have lots of other rooms with live music and a big outdoor space. It was super packed in the room with the music, so we ended up getting one drink outside and then moving on. Worth a stop though! read more

The Brazen Head - Outside - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

With the history, we had to stop here of course. There was a long line to get in but seating was surprisingly fast - the hosts/hostesses are extremely efficient. Our meal was a bit pricey, IMO, and it felt a bit rushed. I ordered the burger and a pint of Kilkenny nitro amber and I unfortunately can't recall what my mom ordered. We sat near the fireplace area near the bar off to the right as you walk in which made for great ambiance though, and other patrons are friendly ...we had a very nice conversation with a young couple who had just flown into town that day... so next time I would probably opt to have a drink or few and some good conversation at the bar. read more

Visiting Ireland for the first time, I did my best to read up on good places to grab dinner in Dublin. Scanning the area I was in, I came across The Brazen Head pub and saw it was rated pretty well so I decided to go there for dinner and overall, I had a good experience! I walked in on an early Wednesday evening, around 4pm. Following the signs to the host station to be seated, at first, I was a little confused as there was no one there, but after about five minutes, the hostess came and found me a table. Inside it's dark and a little stuffy but there were multiple dining areas with quite a few tables with tons of cool posters, pictures, flags, etc. hanging up on the ceilings and walls. The seating outside was reserved for those only looking to grab a pint. I was seated at a small table in the corner in one of the smaller dining areas, but that was fine since it was just me. The waiter was courteous and did what was necessary, no more and no less. After looking over the menu and placing my order, I sipped on a Guinness with Black (black currant juice) as I waited and took in the ambiance. About 20 minutes, or so, later, my dinner arrived - Fish and Chips. Theirs is a beer battered Cod with homemade tartar sauce and chips. This was pretty good! A nice and crispy Cod fillet with plenty of thick-cut French Fries. I'll be honest, I've had better fish fry, but I was more than happy with this. It tasted good and filled me up. The Brazen Head pub was a fun spot to go to for dinner, but I don't feel compelled to come back again for food. The staff were adequate but nothing spectacular. If I come back to Dublin, I would maybe come back for a pint and skip the food. read more

The Brazen Head - Guinness with Black (add black currant juice) - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

The ambiance was very old pub, beautifully decorated. It was lovely, warm, and inviting! The food was very good I reccomend the Irish stew. It was delicious but I did have to put a bit of salt and pepper on it. The rock cider was awful, however. Service was great! read more

The Brazen Head - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

My husband really wanted to check out the oldest pub in Dublin, Ireland when we were visiting Dublin, Ireland (October 2025) despite me letting him know that there was negative feedback from others who had previously visited The Brazen Head such as "feeling rushed by waitstaff, prices high, ect" & I was so hoping that our visit to The Brazen Head would have been a more positive experience. read more

The Brazen Head - The Brazen Head in Dublin, Ireland- ordered the Traditional beef stew - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Atmosphere and experience: 4.5 Food: 3 The oldest bar in Dublin, but NOT in Ireland. Despite what they claim and what other reviews have noted. The oldest bar in Ireland, certified, is Sean's a couple hours west. We popped without a reservation and got there at the right time for the two of us to get a spot at the bar. By the time we left there was quite a line. The bar is divided into a covered patio area and then several different smaller rooms, we were seated at a small bar in one. We ended up talking to the bar tender and others around us, and had a good time. Their seafood stew was disappointing, leading me to recommend eating elsewhere. We had many varieties of this through Ireland and theirs were decidedly below average. read more

See all

There weren't many options that looked good to me so went with the bangers and mash. It was good and something I wanted on my trip. The only part I was not a fan of was the broccoli which did not taste good but I mainly wanted the bangers anyways. read more

The Brazen Head - Bangers and Mash - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Third visit to Brazen Head and in my humble opinion, this is a must visit spot which makes it crowded, resulting in slow service and not so amazing food. Recommend getting at drink at a minimum but lowering expectations for the meal. Perhaps get a small bite and save your appetite for somewhere more so know for their food? Overall, a must visit place/experience. read more

See all

To eat and drink in one of the oldest pubs in Ireland was just the coolest. Thinking of the thousands of people who drank within those walls over the centuries was incredible. The service was really good as was the food and the drink. Delicious fish and chips, bangers and mash and one of the best chicken caesar salads I've had anywhere. It was fun to look at all the police and fire badges on the walls from all over the world. I found a few from MA and RI! If you find yourself in Dublin the Brazen head may be on the tourist trail but I really enjoyed my visit. read more

See all

Well, the hours on Apple Maps are WRONG! They don't open until 12:00! Music on weekdays starts at 9:30PM! We were #3&4 through the doors. Seated quickly and served VERY NICELY BY CLAIRE!! I had bangers & mash, hubby had fish & chips. Both were lovely although mine was cold! Claire took it back to the kitchen and returned quickly with it piping hot!! Place has seating inside & out, but it is quite small overall. read more

See all

The oldest pub in Dublin? How could I resist. Well, I didn't. lol. The charm is about as old school as it comes. I love it. But my favorite part is the fellowship that comes from sharing a pint with a big group of strangers. When we were there, local musicians played tunes to engage everyone. We sang. We laughed. We will be back! read more

The Brazen Head - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Came here on the recommendation of my brother, who said it was the oldest pub in Dublin. The atmosphere is really cool. When you walk in there is a table top area where you can wait for your table. It looks like the restaurant may be two floors, but we were seated on the first floor. There was quite a line, but it went pretty quick-I think we waited about 15 minutes. To start we had buffalo wings, which were really good. I had the fish and chips which was pretty routine fish and chips but I did enjoy them. My hubby had the Guinness stew and it was really delicious and comes with mashed potatoes, which were also good. Service was OK. Couldn't find the server, some other server was helping us. I would def come back sans kids and enjoy the beer garden area more thoroughly lol read more

See all

You can smell the history of this place from blocks away. Kinda nestled around more modern buildings now, but it sure preserves a traditional look. Upon walking in you are greeted by a courtyard where you could enjoy a pint or two. To the right is the bar entrance, and in the back is the restaurant entrance. We went for a traditional beef stew with a side of brown bread. The stew was incredible! Flavorful, tender, almost like a home cooked meal. Could've eaten a whole pot of it. In all honesty, you can skip the side of bread, as it was not really anything special for over €2 -- cold mold bread, two slices. Great butter though! Washed down the stew with a Guinness, of course, and managed to successfully split the G! Went for lunch on a Thursday and found sitting right away, but it was already getting crowded, so bring your patience if you're stopping by for dinner. read more

See all

The wife, daughter and I stopped in to see what all of the fuss was about at brazen head pub. It's the oldest pub in Dublin maybe all of Ireland. Anyway we walked in, They have two separate bars an outside, seating area, and a dining room. All the folks were super friendly and the beer was absolutely delicious. We sat outside and drank our beer. It was a wonderful experience and one that I would definitely go back. Maybe try their food next time. read more

See all

I could not have enjoyed this spot more. Getting word from our local guides that this is the oldest pub in Ireland, we knew we had to try it. Upon entry, you definitely get the feel of authentic Ireland. We first had dinner here and I can confidently state that our group all very much enjoyed their food. True to form with the rest of our Ireland dining experience, the portion sizes are generous and the flavors are hearty and delightful. Myself I enjoyed the cod. I hope you get to experience live music here. The bar space was a bit snug, fairly full when we arrived, but I felt this came to add to the charm and made the experience even more enjoyable. The night of our visit, a trio of musicians played classic Irish songs in the corner of the room, with no distance between them and the patrons. I could feel the heart and passion they played with that brought a tear to my eyes as I enjoyed a Guinness. read more

See all

When you see that an establishment has been open for over 800 years, you must go. And we were glad we did! We enjoyed seeing the place and thinking about its history. We had some good drinks and food. While the burger and seafood chowder were nothing out of the ordinary, they were a nice lunch. This place was packed at lunchtime on a Friday, and I'm sure it only gets more crowded as the day goes on! read more

See all

Brazen Head was another place we wanted to go to well before we went to Dublin over Christmas. We went twice on our trip. First time was later in the evening to see the Irish sessions specifically. It was packed and we couldn't get in. The sessions only lasted till about 9:30, which was kind of strange. We decided to go the next day for dinner about 7pm and hang around for the music. Now the history of this place and ambiance are spectacular! It's so impressive. Service was very good. The food was not good at all. I had bangers and mash, which I've eaten many times. This was one of the worst versions I've ever eaten. 4 stars for the history and fact that I will come back. 2 stars for the food. Stick to the beers and music. read more

See all

Highly recommend the Brazen Beef Stew! Portions were generous, the building is beautiful. Outdoor seating. It was busy when we visited but we were seated quickly and met with great service read more

See all

Food: the food was amazing, as seems to be fairly standard for pubs here. Filling, simple, well executed dishes. Special shout out to the sweet potato mash included in the bangers and mash- that was delicious. Ambiance: live music every night, but we struggled to find Irish music, rather than acoustic renditions of American Pop Service: Quick and kind The main con is knowing where to go when you first enter the establishment- you come into a tiny narrow hallway with no signage, no host stand, nada. It took us 5 minutes to find staff to get us a table. If it's seat yourself for food.. there was nothing posted indicating so read more

The Brazen Head - Bangers and Mash, Burger - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

I loved it here! The place was very busy the night I went, but every staff member interaction I had was great. The hostess was super friendly and got us seated pretty quick even though the line for dinner looked long. Our waitress was attentive and very friendly. It was loud in the dining room but I absolutely loved the vibe. It was cozy and quaint. The food was absolutely delicious, and I loved my stew. A super fun and great place to check out when in Dublin! read more

The Brazen Head - Beef Stew - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

See all

Standard pub fare at this Irish pub which sets itself apart given ambiance and decor. Service was good however quick to get us out, and fish and chips were just "okay". Of course the Guinness was spot on! read more

The Brazen Head - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Worth it for the history and ambiance alone. The food and service were fine. The door was open beside us and someone was smoking a cigarette outside that came right in, so that kinda sucked. Otherwise, our lunch was a good experience. read more

See all

Final meal of nine nights across the island and I selected The Brazen Head. Yes, it's popular and it's popular because it's good. It's also Ireland's oldest pub (don't tell Sean's Pub in Athlone) dating back to 1198. It's charming and it's welcoming and thankfully, the live traditional Irish music was not that loud this evening. Sitting at the bar (otherwise, another 20 minutes in the queue for a table), I had a Guinness of course. And the bangers and mash which was a nice portion of sausages and mashed potatoes with some broccoli. My friend chose the smoked salmon salad and it looked very nice as well. Inside seating for dinner or outside seating for just drinks, the outside was also rather popular. I wouldn't miss it. [Round number review 2000 of 2024 - 176 in Republic of Ireland - 23022 overall] read more

See all

The oldest continuously operating pub in Ireland and definitely worth a visit. We dropped in for a couple of drinks and some chips. It was noon and they'd just opened. There wasn't entertainment while we were there, but we enjoyed just being there. The bar staff was efficient... it as chatty as other pubs we visited but I get it...they're probably so sick of tourists. We did purchase a couple of t-shirts too and left satisfied with our visit. Worth the stop in for sure just to see the pub and experience it in person. read more

See all

This is a must stop if you are pub crawler in Dublin. You can feel the age of this oldest pub in town and the history oozes from the walls. There were quite a few "reserved" tables and bar spots so finding a place to drink your Guinness can be challenging since it's such a popular tourist spot, but it's still worth it. The staff was also a little crabby (at least the guy who took our order) but it's probably because of all the tourists. read more

The Brazen Head - Outside across the street. - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D