Located in the residential streets of Booterstown, the Old Punch Bowl is quintessential Dublin pub: charming, historic, and full of character. The exterior has that classic brick-and-wood look you'd expect, hinting at a cozy, timeless space inside. Once you step in, low ceilings, vintage décor, and warm wood tones create a welcoming, traditional pub atmosphere, as football matches play on TV screens overhead, and the fireplace crackles in the corner. It's lively but not overwhelming, with chatter and music that feel proper for drinks and casual dining. At 8:30pm on a Friday night, our party of ten wanted a traditional Irish pub dinner (our first in the country). The pub was about ¾ full, but with some clever table rearrangement from the flexible waitstaff, we were able to be immediately seated. The menu is classic pub fare (fried appetizers and hearty entrees) - food and drinks aren't cheap by American standards, but given the ambiance, it hits the expected value. I ordered their Beef & Guinness Pie (€23.50), which is a hearty beef stew topped with a flaky piece of puff pastry. The dish comes with fries, though they were more than willing to substitute a salad at no additional cost; the salad tasted fresh, although I think it had a bit too much mayonnaise. The stew itself was warming and perfect for a chilly January night, with huge chunks of lean yet tender beef, simmered vegetables, and a savory broth with a hint of that classic Guinness flavor. I wish the puff pastry on top were flakier and less flat, though it was tasty when dipped in the stew. While it's a steep price for a pub entree, it's an incredibly large portion that I could barely finish, with a generous helping of meat. Another delicious dish was their Beer Battered Cod & Chips (€23.50), consisting of an expertly-fried large piece of cod with a perfectly-crispy exterior, chips, salad, and mushy peas. Their chips are thick-cut with a crunchy skin, yet tender, soft interior, and great when paired with their tangy, mayonnaise-based sauce. This is a lovely spot for generously-portioned pub fare in the charming neighborhood of Booterstown, and I'm more than willing to pay a premium for its fun, laid-back atmosphere, fast and friendly service, and tasty dishes; we'll certainly be returning to attend one (or more) of their various themed nights! read more

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While passing through the Booterstown area of Dublin, we couldn't ignore the big yellow building and a name like The Old Punch Bowl! We weren't after anything particular on our drive, manly just views and vibes, but we ended up with a few pints, wings and some great local vibes here! We bellied up to the bar, grabbed a few Guinness and placed an order of wings to share. The Guinness was perfection a the wings were solid! Service was friendly and efficient. The bartender was chatty and welcoming! This spot is quintessential Irish pub from entry to exit. The people, the pints, the food and the combination of all three! Overall, such a cool find and great place to visit when in the area! read more

The place was awesome location with great drinks and food! The fish and chips were extremely smooth and tasted delicious. The small side salad was delicious as well and tasted fresh. The price point was pretty high for what you got, but you're definitely paying for the flavor. Great place to come if you want a pint or celebrate. The service was amazing and the staff were super friendly. They always made sure we were doing alright and satisfied with our meal! The ambiance was typical of an Irish pub. A very lively and entertaining atmosphere. A few local guitar players were playing at the time, which was entertaining! Will come back whenever I want to celebrate and have a good time! read more

The Old Punch Bowl - Pint of Guinness - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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Busy pub on busy street with no parking. Food and service were ok, but not great. My stew was warm, not hot and was mainly beef with one or two carrot chunks. Dirty dishes just piled up in dining area. read more

The Old Punch Bowl - Yes, they serve Guinness. - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Great food and great stories from John. The beef stew was a real hit with the entire table.

Everything was great here. Fantastic service, great food, and a amazing atmosphere with a live Irish band. A Very authentic Irish pub and the owner made sure everyone didn't leave hungry. read more

We had a wonderful dinner and drinks. The food was hardy and filling. Never in my life had a restaurant owner of me "seconds". We loved the old world ambiance. It's a must go. read more

The Old Punch Bowl - Outside - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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Get out of city centre away from the drunk tourists and enjoy a traditional neighborhood pub. Easy access by bus or train. Easy walk if you had too many to the Maldron Hotel. The Guinness stew was incredible, best I ever had. Came back 3 nights during our week stay. Don't be in a hurry and enjoy conversation with the locals. The owner came to our table and provided recommendations of things to do while we visited our daughter at Northeastern University on UCD campus. read more

Absolutely great place. The chips (French fries for us Americans) were well seasoned with the best combination of flavors. The beef stew was solid in portion and taste. My wife had the Chicken plate. We both enjoyed this old Irish pub place, food, and ambiance. Service was provided by warm, friendly, attentively quick staff. Co-owner Katie is a charm, and co-owner Joe is quick with history and a story. Good selection of tap beers. Basically, the Old Punch Bowl is the complete package for anyone to visit. Well worth the stop. read more

Great food and atmosphere. Ownership is so friendly and inviting. I enjoyed all of my visits to this pub.

Stopped here for dinner during a tour through Dublin. The owner chatted about the history behind the name, in which mulled wine was invented to warm up patrons. The beef stew was hearty and delicious. Staff was hospitable and attentive. read more

Located across from the Boosterstown train station, the old punch bowl is a typical Irish pub, mostly filled by locals. Walking in, a friendly server greeted us and let me sample beer as I saw some I never seen before. I tried Guinness Amber and thought it was very good. I had a bad pint of beer a couple of days ago, but since he poured my first pint so good, I asked him if he could pour my pint of Guinness properly. He did and it tasted so good. Same Guinness in Ireland but depends on who pours your pint, I learned it taste differently. Food was typical bar food. Ireland is known for meat (only grassfed beed), so I decided to try their steak. Really good piece of beef with caramelized onion, went well with sauce and chips on the said. Chicken wing was pretty good too. Besides the bartender, service was really friendly and attentive. We stayed for about two hours and enjoyed a traditional Irish pub. read more

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Great place. Amazing people, awesome atmosphere, very friendly. Food is DELICIOUS... The beef and Guinness pie is just like my grandma made... So good. All 3 of us had it and used all the chips to get all the gravy. The sherry triffle is a nice, light, tasty finish. Definitely a place to try. read more

Amazing setting and food was delicious. It is now a favorite when we visit our daughter in Dublin.

We are here from Massachusetts USA ! We had the beef stew and it was delicious ! I had my first Guinness beer loved it !! Staff and owner are amazing!! read more

I know yelp isn't very big outside of the US but I had to leave this place a review. We came in and were a little confused because it was empty at around 3pm. However, the gentleman behind the bar was very nice, he seated us, and gave my husband his 1st Irish Guiness. Not to say we haven't met nice people as we walked through london, but this gentleman was very nice and patient. Maybe he was the owner, I don't know. We were tired and hungry from our flight and the food was good. The drinks as well. I ordered the burger and it was good. My husband got fish and chips. He said the salad it came with was also good. Overall very happy with our experience here. read more

Very nice staff and good food served hot. Nice Irish beer. Some of the menu items weren't available but the I had was delicious.

The name immediately made me think of Guy Ritchie's London pub, but I don't think that's as old as this Punch Bowl. The pub is lovely with exposed brick walls and dark wood. And it's just across from Blackrock Park so you can see the sea and Dublin Harbour from the windows. They serve pretty good food as well, their chicken goujons were nice and crispy and the prices are reasonable. They also have 'Recession Buster' as in a set 2-course menu for 14 quid. They draw a very good pint as well, the barmen definitely know what they're doing, and they have a good cocktail menu as well. Sporting events are shown on big screens and you usually get a good crowd for those. read more

The Old Punch Bowl - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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(11/7/2017) We were there as part of a large tour group, so had a catered dinner in the upstairs dining room. A band was hired to play, and I understand they play downstairs during the open jam sessions as well. The menu for upstairs was prix fixe with a few choices for each of three courses. For entrees, there was the choice of salmon, pork chop, and lamb shank. The portions were enormous, quality of the food high, sides were standard for each, flavors rather bland. Service was very nice and friendly, couple of kids. Was nice to learn about the history of the place from the current owner. read more

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We came here 3 nights in a row among our 3 days stay in Dublin, grandpa's order :-) He (we) couldn't stop eating the wings. But everything else is good, the vibe, drinks, food, oh boy oh boy, they serve high quality dishes, unlike most bar food. The boss lady used to be a chef and she orders the ingredients, go figure! We have tried almost the entire menu and everything was good. Well, we are Americans who are not used to be spoiled with free range grass-fed products, yum yum!!! The owner Joe is outstanding!!! He is busy running around but always checked in with us and took his time to tell us the history of the pub and showed around. Dublin was rainy and gray but The Old Punch Bowl made it up. You should also check out the ocean front on the other side of the Dark Station, a very short walk from the pub. We literately walked on the bottom of the ocean where we found a lot of seashells when it was low tide around dinner time. Wish you are as lucky as us who got the awesome experience with this lovely pub! Ed, Janie, and family read more

The roast lamb was tender and mild. Piled onto of potatoes and vegetables it was packed with flavour. Portion sizes extremely generous. Excellent value for price. I may only be here for three days but I will go back ! read more

The Old Punch Bowl - Roast Lamb - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

We had an amazing time at The Old Punch Bowl - We came for lunch and returned for dinner and live music. The wings are great, as is the beer selection. It's mostly traditional pub fare but you don't just go for the food, it's the hospitality and kindness of the staff and regular patrons that make this place a true gem. The music sessions on Tuesday night was the highlight of our Dublin trip - Thank You Lar Flynn for making it a fun night and hopefully our daughter at UCD will sing with you before she returns to the states. Cheers! read more

My rugby team (Schuylkill River Rugby from Philadelphia) toured Ireland back in 2016. We had a team meal at the Old Punch Bowl before the Ireland v Italy Six Nations Game. They were nothing but an absolute Joy. The memories made in this place will always be near to my heart. I look forward to visiting again and having a nice creamy pint in memory of those days. Much love Matt read more

Went for dinner because it was convenient and looked to be an interesting and perhaps historic building. Standard pub fare which was just ok. Later I mentioned the dinner to a local resident whereupon I was met with an aghast expression and an emphatic warning not to return. The Old Punch Bowl was closed earlier this year by the authorities because a large amount of RODENT DROPPINGS were scattered on the floor of the dry goods store directly adjacent to the kitchen and adequate measures have not been taken to control pests on the premises. Story about it in the Irish Times here: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/food-safety-authority-shuts-restaurants-in-monkstown-and-booterstown-1.3853174 read more

We came here for dinner the first night we got into town. Parking was not a breeze and we found a little spot around the corner. It wasn't that busy but we were a little later than usual dinner time. Good local spot, great service and some neat history. I had the Guinness pie and that was excellent and very rich/heavy. My husband had the fish and chips were also very good. Dessert was good and was overall pleased with experience. read more

First let me say that these people are the friendliest in all of the pubs we've been in. The lasagna was very good. Perfect flavor. Came with fries that had seasoning on them. I asked for brown gravy and dipped mine. Yum! My hubby had the chicken wings. He said they are very good. Crispy. Excellent sauce. They weren't dry at all. My son had the cod and fries. Big portion. He said it was good. Finished it off with choc cake and ice cream. read more

The Old Punch Bowl - Cod - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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The Old Punch Bowl has been used by me for a little bit of everything. It is a good landmark on Aircoach's route to me so I can figure out when I need to get off. It also has a great selection of beers and ciders (lots of craft beer) and a nice open patio. The wings are pretty good as well, and they come on a massive platter with chips, goujons, onion rings, and cocktail sausages (which were very tasty). When I say massive, I'm talking bigger than massive...possibly epic? We felt bad we left so much on the tray. The downside is that it's a bit slow in there, and it suffers from the building's design as it's not really an open pub and feels pretty segmented. It's a good place to get food from our office though and I don't mind stopping in for a pint now and again. read more

Currently it is one of my preferred pubs in Dublin..! The staff is very friendly, they have a good range of beers and the food is delicious (the prices are ok too). On Fridays they run that kind of quiz night and it is fun. I notice that many people go there to watch horses races and also football matches. It's always full of local people but normally they dont give you that awkward look and you go into the pub. All in all, I like to go there every fortnight =) read more

It's a locals pub, but it offers quite a bit more. Good drinks and very good food at reasonable prices. The staff is all nice. Any place in Dublin that serves draft Blue Moon is alright in my book. Function room upstairs available for events. Beer garden in the back during the summer is really nice. read more

So I'm giving The Old Punchbowl 4 stars because it wins on atmosphere and service. The food is pretty ordinary or typical pub food, and the portions are quite abundant. You'll leave full, that's for sure. And the staff are friendly and very attentive. Its got a very local vibe and is rarely crowded. So if you're looking to escape the inner city pub scene then this is the place. read more

Lovely evening.. dinner was great. the owner came by and told us the history of the place. and had a surprise performance by the waitress.. she sang 5 beautiful songs for us. locations is also wonderful. love being by the water. read more

An excellent bar/restaurant in Blackrock! I went there a while ago for live music and traditional food, it was terrific. Great hospitality, too. read more

Great food. Great staff. Nice atmosphere. Would highly recommend it if you are staying in the Booterstown area of Dublin.

Pitchers, yes, pitchers. There is no better place to watch a match than a pub that serves pitchers. The difference in hassle levels is immense. They have a big screen too and, as this is Blackrock, get fairly decent crowd for the rugby. read more

It's a nice big pub. Serves good food, reasonably priced with good service. It's right beside Booterstown Dart station. You'll have no trouble getting a seat as it's usually very quiet. read more

This is my favorite pub in Dublin. Good food, great atmosphere, and if Carl is there, you're often in for a bit of a show - be it the history of the drink you're having or whiskey smoked with flamethrower-and-barrel on the spot. read more

Really nice pub, friendly staff and amazing food, definitely coming straight here on my next visit to Dublin!

Solid pub but don't expect a true gastropub experience. Ate here three nights in a row and wasn't disappointed in the food (burgers, fish and enormous generous fries, onion rings, salad, cheese bread, spring rolls) or brews - including local craft beer. Cozy atmosphere and cute patio for a warmer day. Clearly it had us coming back, and for more than location. read more

Absolutely fantastic service! Would highly recommend to anyone in the area. Was lucky enough to experience some good ole traditional Irish music. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in town. Thanks for the dance! read more