Where can I find traditional pubs in Dublin that locals love?

12.03.2024 - 10:11 / lonelyplanet.com

In this series, Lonely Planet's team of writers and editors answers your travel problems and provides tips and hacks to help you plan a hassle-free trip. A question about where to find authentic and traditional pubs in Dublin that locals love has prompted Dublin-based Digital Editor, Sasha Brady, to weigh in.

Question: I'm traveling to Dublin for St Patrick's Day and will be there for a week doing some sightseeing. I'd love to add old-school and traditional pubs to my itinerary, places that look and feel like an Irish pub, not modern bars, and, most importantly, places that locals love. Some people have recommended pubs in the Temple Bar area, but I've also heard it's not a great place to meet locals.

Answer: Dublin is full of fantastic pubs with lots of character. You can find many local hangouts that also have that classic Irish pub vibe, places where the smell of beer and turf welcomes you as soon as you walk through the door, where the walls are adorned with vintage memorabilia – ranging from old matchboxes and faded postcards to glass bottles draped in melted candle wax – and ceramic pots and pans hang from the ceiling. 

This might sound like a stereotype, but you really can find pubs like that in Dublin, maybe not with all those elements, but certainly with most of them. A prime example is Johnnie Fox's in the Dublin Mountains, which holds the (much disputed) title of Ireland's highest pub. It's been around since 1798 and is crammed with bric-a-brac and artifacts, like Edwardian costumes and Revolution-era posters. It definitely caters heavily to tourists, and everyone from Brad Pitt to the King of Spain has visited, but Dubliners love it too. It looks and feels distinctly Iris,h so you'll get great photos her.dBecausee of its layout, you'll quickly get talking to people, whether it's a family sitting down to Sunday dinner with live music or people returning from a hike.

In the city center, you're spoiled for choice. One of my favorites is McDaid's, a subdued Victorian bar on Harry St with stained-glass windows and dark wood interiors. It used to be one of Irish writer Brendan Behan's favorite pubs, and interestingly, it was once the city morgue, adding to its moody ambiance. I also love Bowe's on Fleet St, which is all wood and brass with an excellent whiskey selection. It can be quiet during the day when you'll hear nothing but the rustling of a newspaper, but if you sit at the bar, you'll likely end up chatting with someone within minutes.

Another excellent Victorian-era recommendation is the Oval near the GPO, which my co-worker Ru Ogata loves. "When there are no sports on [the TV], it's usually nice and quiet, and I always get a seat, unlike a lot of the old Victorian-style pubs," she says. If