The Brazen Head
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Ate at The Brazen Head today and sat at the bar with Keith and Anthony as our server. We had the Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, wings and a side of chips. The chicken sandwich was spicy and flavorful. The wings were basic and the chips were actually fries. Nonetheless less the food was good and the service at the bar was great, very attentive and personable. We arrived at about 6:10 pm and stayed until 9:30 to listen to the live music which did not disappoint. Keith took the time to give us food and pub recommendations as well. This is a classy pub with good food, service and music.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
2 months ago
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
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
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
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
Yo' if you're in Dublin and you don't make a pit stop @ the oldest pub you messing up. This bar was way bigger than I thought. They have different rooms and a very spacious outdoor patio. The food was good, customer service could step it up a bit but I understand the wait time considering the amount of people that come to this place, it gets pretty packed. Worth making a pit stop! read more
9 months ago
We didn't have a reservation but ended up trying anyways and managed to get a table after about 10 minutes. I had the fish and chips which were okay, thick batter, nothing special. The others in my party had the beef stew and they said it was good! Was fun to go to once not sure if I would go back. read more
Finally made it to the oldest pub in Ireland. It definitely is a favorite of many as it was full at 2pm on a Thursday. I sat at the bar and got a pint of Guinness and ordered the fish and chips. The piece of fish was huge and plenty of chips. Great flavor and fun crowd. My bartender was attentive and quick even in such a busy place. read more
Ireland's oldest pub, founded in 1198, did not disappoint. There was live music that drew our attention and it was standing room only for the first 30 minutes until we joined some others at a cozy table in the center of the room. We enjoyed the Irish folk songs, guitar and fiddle, plus some wisecracks from the singer working the crowd. They serve up a proper Irish Coffee with Teelings Irish Whisky, plus tried a Rockshore Green Apple Cider that was crisp and sweet. Great vibe and lots of tourists from around the world having a good time together. read more
2 years ago
When I was in Dublin I was told by the cab driver to give this place a try. It's a bar that most locals go to and they serve food. We stopped in to give it a try. The place seems a little cramped but we found a place to sit. We were greeted by staff and given a menu. There were not many vegetarian options but we ordered the vegetarian stew and fries. We also ordered a pint of Guinness (when in Ireland), rockshore lager, and rye river. While we were waiting for our food we noticed other trying to order but they told them the kitchen was close. Which mean we were at the tail end of that timeframe. I thought it would be helpful to add there kitchen times so people knew. Our food came out and looked yummy. The stew was really good and the fries were crispy. I enjoyed the beer I ordered. Not a huge fan of Guinness but wanted to try it on draft. Overall, the experience was good. Staff were friendly and attentive. Beer was cold and food was hot. Definitely recommend when visiting and will be back when I visit again. read more
2 years ago
Had a blast at the brazen head and glad that my friends who are local made the call for us to come here. It's definitely a tourist destination but it's fun that even the locals will opt to bring their "out of towners" here. Claiming to be the oldest bar in Dublin, the locals will tell you it's really not but that's okay. Again, adds to the allure of the place. Brazen Head is naturally pretty busy as it's well known and on most peoples to do list. I'd recommend coming early. Also in order to get a table to dine you must have your entire party with you for them to seat you. Just worth noting as they were really firm on this. As far as the bar goes, if you are just coming for a drink you'll get seated pretty quick. A table to dine can take a little bit of time depending on how big your party is. The vibes are immaculate as it's so much fun here, a true Irish pub in every way. Loud banter, music, drinks flowing, it's a great spot to come, even if touristy. I also like to remind that touristy doesn't = bad. We actually had fabulous service and the food was delicious! Staff were friendly and definitely working their butts off. Our waiter was super darling and helpful. He didn't seem annoyed with all of our little requests and was super on top of things. I appreciated that with how busy it was they get food and drink out fast. Service was def 5 stars. The food was surprisingly super good! There were 5 of us and all of us loved our meals. Like loved loved. We had a variety too! From Guinness stew to fish and chips to chicken strips to Irish cabbage and a vegetarian style dish everything was really really good. I had the Guinness stew and was so happy I got that! It was flavorful, hearty, and made to perfection. They do Irish staples here right and honestly I'd definitely come back here for a meal again. Even my friends who are local commented that the food was spot on so I know they're cranking out classic Irish dishes here. Delicious! 5/5. The Brazen Head was a great Dublin experience and so happy my friends recommended it because we had an awesome time. read more
1 year ago
As you may know this pub has the recognition of being the oldest pub in Dublin. It was a great stop and one of the many that we fit in on our trip. You can still walk into and enjoy a pint in the original pub which is extremely small. It gets very crowded with the majority of patrons being tourists. One of the first things we learned on day one was that none of the locals go to pubs in the city and specially Temple Bar area because they are a ripoff, but nonetheless some of these you have to at least see. The steamed mussels at Brazen Head were really good and would recommend an order for 2 people. Great friendly staff but service can be a bit of a challenge simply because of the volume of people that visit. read more
10 months ago
After being told this spot has been aroubd for 1000 years we had to check it out. We were freezing and soon as we walked in we could do-coat and warmed up quickly. I had a local blonde ale and my friend the local Guiness. She had the Guiness stew (amazing) and I had the fish and chips (double amazing). The breading on the fish was perfect and crispy without a gross over fried taste. So stinking good! read more
Interesting place because it's one of the oldest bars. Cool atmosphere with lots of different rooms. However, the customer service was sort of lacking and it wasn't exactly the best fish and chips I had in Dublin, AND around the bathrooms it smelled like rotten fish or sewage or something which did not sit well with me. I hope that they get inspected just in case. I don't know if they do that in Dublin or not but would definitely feel more comfortable. Great for pictures and definitely worth the stop because of the history but a little overrated to me. read more
2 years ago
Brazen Head is the oldest pub in Dublin and was a recommendation by a ton of people to check this place out, so I definitely had to add this to the list to check out! The fish and chips were delicious and I'm so glad I had it here. My personal fave is still from a random market in Belfast -- nothing comes close to it, but this is def pretty good! My husband got a stew which he also liked. This place gets pretty packed even considering how big it was. There were tons of people here and the service was a bit on the slower side, but overall a fun place to check out. read more
It's not very often that you can eat at a restaurant that's older than your country. The feel was as if you travelled back in time to the medieval ages but with far better food. I had the Guinness Stew. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is wanting an authentic Irish dish. The meal was very filling & hearty. I paired this with a Bulmers Irish Cider to lighten the meal. read more
Given the marketing about being Ireland's Oldest Pub, established 1198, I really didn't know whether to expect a tourist trap or a legitimate pub that has earned the honor of being Ireland's oldest pub. I was pleased to discover that it is the latter. This place is just cool as can be. Small storefront overall, but it really goes deep with multiple smaller rooms and outside spaces. By having lots of smaller spaces it keeps its pub feel and level of intimacy. We were there at 2:00 in the afternoon and it was still packed with what looked like a combination of tourists and locals. We ended up inside near one of the bars. Our server was excellent, immediately getting our drink orders - local beer of course. We were just watching the crowd and went to take some pictures as our server returned with our beers and she offered to take our photos from a couple of angles. We then ordered our food which also came at the right pace. My wife had a goat cheese salad with grilled chicken. It was quite good size, fresh and had excellent flavor. I had Fish and Chips. The piece of fish was the largest piece of fried fish I have ever been served. And yet, it was crispy on the outside and done perfectly on the inside all the way through. The chips were typical. Of course there was malt vinegar on the table to season with. The check came at the right time and as with every restaurant on our 15-day trip, the payment was made on a handheld tableside. I continuously ask why in America the server still takes the credit card away to a central payment station at virtually every restaurant. Come on US restaurants, lets modernize and catch up to what European restaurants have been doing for at least 20 years. Final evaluation of The Brazen Head - I see no reason why it can't be around for another 827 years. read more
1 year ago
We All Had a Blast in Dublin This Place is Worth the Walk Loved the Staff Offering All the Recommendations read more
10 months ago
By far the best Irish pub in Dublin. Had live music two of the three nights we went, I think we're a little early one night. Multiple bars, plenty of seating great atmosphere exactly what you're looking for in a pub! read more
10 months ago
This was our first dining stop on our visit to Ireland. They stake claim to being oldest pub in all of Ireland, established in the year 1198. This place reeks of history. It has both indoor and outdoor dining spaces. I had their fish & chips. Fish was OK, chips were dry. Best thing about the meal was the tartar sauce, which was very good. Service was adequate, prices were high. IMO, worth a visit to see this historic pub and have a pint or two, but you may want to consider eating elsewhere. read more
What do you do when you're a tourist in Ireland? Well, for starters it's mandatory to visit anything that says it's the oldest or longest running anything. That's why we found ourselves at the oldest pub in Ireland. Although the place was packed, they are efficient with their service, and in their labyrinth of a restaurant there's plenty of seating. In fact, we waited a max of 10 minutes for seating. Once seated our waitress took our order and placed it. Now, saying all that I have to say that we never felt unwelcome or rushed. The wait staff is very caring and accommodating. The food was scrumptious. We enjoyed the fish and chips, burgers, and the Guinness Stew. All was delicious and all was huge in size. Overall, even though this can seem like a gimmick, it's not a tourist trap in that context. It's actually quite a nice and pleasant place with a warm feel. I'd gladly get "trapped" here again. Enjoy. read more
2 years ago
Stopped by on Sunday evening and the place was fairly busy. There was live music inside, but it was so muggy and you could barely step in the room. We wanted to get food but the wait was too long, and ended up just getting a drink in the outside seating area. In the end, felt just like another Irish pub. read more
Our first Guinness in Dublin had to be at The Brazen Head - it's an iconic institution which may or may not be the oldest pub in Ireland. From the front, it does not look very large, but once you enter there is a path that takes you through to several areas within the space. We headed to the far right back room and grabbed seats at the bar to order. They also sell souvenir magnets so you know I had to buy one of those as well. We enjoyed our beers for a while, making small talk with a couple older local gentleman when they walked up to buy another round. After they went to the next room, we met another local chef at the bar who had just finished working at The Brazen Head as a fill-in chef. We got to chatting with him, and in telling him my birthday dinner plans for the next night, he gave us a couple alternate recommendations which we ended up going with on the day of after missing our original recommendation so that was a happy coincidence. After a bit, we ended up going over to the next room where live music was playing. They were playing a mix of American and Irish music. It was a packed and lively room - everyone was having a blast, and we really enjoyed ourselves. While we didn't dine here, they do have a full menu from 12pm-9pm. I definitely think The Brazen Head is a must visit if you're visiting Dublin. read more
This pub is known as the old pub in Ireland established in 1198 and gets a lot of hype and popularity. We came by for dinner after visiting the Guinness Museum and was seated indoors. If you're here just for drinks, there's a cool outdoor area with high top tables. For food, we started off with the Spicy Chicken Wings (€10 for small). These are essentially Buffalo wings in the US, which was juicy and covered in sauce. Then we also got the Beef & Guinness Stew (€19.50) and Bangers & Mash (€18). The dishes were a bit on the smaller side and both came with two little scoops of mashed potatoes. Overall, the food was decent but also a bit pricey since this spot has become quite popular with tourists. I hate to say we got suckered coming here as well. It's one of those spots that I'm glad to check out, but would probably pick elsewhere for food next time. read more
1 year ago
Decided to give Brazen Head a try on our last night in Dublin. Expectations weren't all that high due to its location and tourist hype. We arrived around 6pm. The bar area was crazy busy. We got to the restaurant area and asked for a table for 7. Took us right in. We were very pleasantly surprised. 4 of our party had fish and chips which they were pleased with. However my husband and I split the mussels, some brown bread, and chips. The mussels were spectacular. Salty but sweet, cooked perfectly. No grit, and it was a huge pot. Everyone noted how good their meal was, even the goat cheese and beet salad. Go, have the mussels. You will thank me. read more
Gord and I checked out the Brazen Head, Dublin's oldest pub and Ireland's second oldest pub on Tuesday ... about 800 years older than the one in our 'hood at home! It's a big pub with a lot of small rooms and a patio. We were going to have supper there but the room we were in didn't allow food and there was a line-up outside for people who wanted to eat. read more
Of course it's a tourist destination. It's love the history. It's huge with 3 levels. Typical Irish beer offerings. The Guinness stew was very good, good service, my wife had the fish and chips with was only warm, not hot. Reasonable prices. Great historic ambiance. read more
1 year ago
This is an iconic pub on the outskirts of city center. Atmosphere is an A+, but what surprised us was that the food was actually really good. Lot's of flavor and seasoned well. I enjoyed the beef stew - truly a tasty, rich and hearty meal. My wife liked the bangers and mash. It was her first time trying them, but she really enjoyed them. We were surprised that the food was this good as The Brazen Head has become very popular on social media and sometimes these types of places become too touristy, but we didn't get this vibe from The Brazen Head. read more
2 years ago
This was a nice taste of Dublin. It's definitely touristy . The old building was old and amazing with loads of historical photos on the walls . I had fish and chips and my husband had the Guinness stew. Both were flavorful and delicious. We got what we came for . The service was good too . Didn't have to wait long at all for our food . Served nice and hot. You know the Guinness was fabulous! read more
1 year ago
Our first stop of our trip! Very cute local pub. We were proudly served Guinness. We enjoyed their outdoor seating, decorated with Irish flags. The staff was nice. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
Almost a thousand years old and food is amazing! Did the Irish thing and got the Guinness Stew! Amazing. You gotta eat in this old place while in Dublin! read more
7 months ago
8 months ago
Pretty cool to have fish & chips in Dublin's oldest pub! It's cozy and atmospheric, and the food was solid enough that if I were in Dublin and fancying fish & chips, I would return for that alone. I came right as they were opening and yet was relegated to a corner of the bar, which, whatever. Old Dublin pub! read more
More info about The Brazen Head
20 Bridge Street Lower
Dublin 8
Republic of Ireland
Thomas Street
Directions
(01) 679 5186
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http://www.brazenhead.com
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The Brazen Head - pubs - Updated May 2026
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