22 Best Pubs in Ireland in 2026

Sharing is caring!

A pint in a traditional pub, with a music session in the corner, is one of the best things to do in Ireland. Here are 22 of our favourite pubs, from the old bars of Dublin to music pubs in Doolin, Westport and Galway. Each one has its own section below with what makes it special, a photo, and its website.

How we chose: we looked for pubs with real history, good music or a great pint, spread around the country. Opening hours and music nights change, so check the pub’s own website before you travel.

Dublin

1. Oliver St. John Gogarty’s, Temple Bar

On the corner of Fleet Street and Anglesea Street in Temple Bar, Gogarty’s is named after Oliver St. John Gogarty, the Dublin surgeon, poet and senator who turns up in James Joyce’s Ulysses as the model for Buck Mulligan. It is one of the liveliest music pubs in the city, with traditional sessions every day, and serves Irish food upstairs.

Good to know: it gets very busy on weekend nights; come in the afternoon for a seat near the musicians.

Website: gogartys.ie. More on our page for Oliver St. John Gogarty’s.

2. O’Neill’s, Suffolk Street

M. J. O’Neill’s stands on Suffolk Street, a minute from Trinity College and the Molly Malone statue. Behind the Victorian front is a warren of bars and snugs over several levels, and it is known for its carvery lunch and its Irish music nights.

Good to know: a handy first stop after the Book of Kells at Trinity.

Website: oneillspubdublin.com. More on our page for O’Neill’s.

3. Porterhouse Central, Nassau Street

The Porterhouse Brewing Company has brewed its own beers in Dublin since 1996, long before craft beer was common in Ireland. Its Nassau Street pub, across the road from Trinity College, pours the house stouts, including the Oyster Stout, alongside lagers and ales from the same brewery.

Good to know: ask for a tasting tray if you want to try several of the stouts.

More on our page for Porterhouse Central.

4. Sheehan’s, Chatham Street

Sheehan’s is a traditional pub on Chatham Street, just off Grafton Street, on a little street known for its flower sellers. It has two floors, a long bar and pub food, and it is a good place to rest after shopping on Grafton Street or a walk in St Stephen’s Green.

Good to know: quieter than Temple Bar and only five minutes’ walk from it.

Website: sheehanspub.ie. More on our page for Sheehan’s.

5. The Old Storehouse, Crown Alley

The Old Storehouse is on Crown Alley in Temple Bar, between Dame Street and the Ha’penny Bridge. It has a small snug, a main bar with live Irish music sessions, and a larger music venue bar, so there is usually a band playing somewhere in the building.

Good to know: it serves food from lunchtime, so you can eat and stay for the music.

Website: theoldstorehouse.ie. More on our page for The Old Storehouse.

6. Brannigan’s, Cathedral Street

Brannigan’s is a family-run local on Cathedral Street, just off O’Connell Street on the north side of the Liffey. It is known for well-poured pints of Guinness and keeps a good range of Irish craft beers, whiskeys and gins, with a friendly crowd of regulars.

Good to know: a good stop before or after a show at the Gate or the Abbey Theatre, both a short walk away.

More on our page for Brannigan’s.

7. The Brazen Head, Bridge Street

The Brazen Head says drink has been served on this site since 1198, which would make it Dublin’s oldest pub; the building you see today is centuries younger but still full of low ceilings and small rooms. It has traditional music every night, and its evening of Irish stories, food and music is popular with visitors.

Good to know: it is beside the Liffey, a short walk from Christ Church Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse.

Website: brazenhead.com. More on our page for The Brazen Head.

8. The Long Hall, South Great George’s Street

The Long Hall is one of the best-preserved Victorian pubs in Dublin, with a long bar, mirrors, chandeliers and dark wood that have barely changed in more than a century. It has no music or television, just conversation, which is exactly why Dubliners love it.

Good to know: go early in the evening; it fills up quickly after work.

More on our page for The Long Hall.

9. The Stag’s Head, Dame Court

Tucked into Dame Court off Dame Street, the Stag’s Head was rebuilt in 1895, and its mahogany bar, stained glass, granite counters and the stag’s head over the bar are still in place. It is a classic Dublin pub for a quiet pint by day and a lively one at night.

Good to know: look for the mosaic of a stag’s head set into the pavement on Dame Street, pointing the way down the lane.

More on our page for The Stag’s Head.

10. Johnnie Fox’s, Glencullen

Johnnie Fox’s sits in the village of Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains, about 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from the city centre. The pub says it dates from 1798. Inside it is packed with old farm tools and curiosities, and it is known for seafood and its Hooley Night of dinner, music and Irish dancing.

Good to know: book ahead for the Hooley Night; tours from the city run there in the evening.

Website: johnniefoxs.com. More on our page for Johnnie Fox’s.

11. The Temple Bar Pub, Temple Bar

The red-fronted Temple Bar Pub is probably the most photographed pub in Ireland. It has live music from early afternoon every day, a beer garden and one of the largest whiskey collections in the city.

Good to know: it is busy and prices are higher than the Dublin average; go for the music and the atmosphere, then explore quieter pubs nearby.

Website: thetemplebarpub.com. More on our page for The Temple Bar Pub.

West of Ireland

12. Matt Molloy’s, Westport

Matt Molloy’s on Bridge Street in Westport, County Mayo, is owned by Matt Molloy, the flute player of The Chieftains. Traditional music is played every night, usually in the back room, and the pub is one of the best places in the west to hear a proper session.

Good to know: sessions start in the evening; arrive early to get a seat near the music.

Website: mattmolloy.com. More on our page for Matt Molloy’s.

13. Gus O’Connor’s, Doolin

Gus O’Connor’s on Fisher Street has been a pub since 1832 and is the best-known music pub in Doolin, the traditional music village of north Clare. There are sessions every night, and the kitchen is known for its seafood chowder.

Good to know: Doolin is also where ferries leave for the Aran Islands in summer.

Website: gusoconnorsdoolin.com and our guide to why Doolin is famous. More on our page for Gus O’Connor’s.

14. Tigh Neachtain, Galway

Tigh Neachtain (Naughton’s) stands on the corner of Cross Street and Quay Street in Galway’s Latin Quarter, painted bright blue. The Naughton family has run it since 1894, and its small snugs, open fire and regular music sessions make it a favourite with locals and visitors alike.

Good to know: the snugs at the front fill first; try mid-afternoon.

Website: tighneachtain.com. More on our page for Tigh Neachtain.

Sligo and Donegal

15. Thomas Connolly, Sligo

There has been a pub on this site since 1780, and Thomas Connolly’s was first licensed in 1861. Thomas Connolly himself bought the premises in 1890, the same year he became Mayor of Sligo. The old grocery-bar fittings are still in place, there is live music several nights a week, and it was named Traditional Pub of the Year by Ireland Guide in 2024.

Good to know: the pub serves drink only, no food.

Read Thomas Connolly, Sligo’s oldest traditional Irish pub. More on our page for Thomas Connolly.

16. Hargadon Bros, Sligo

Hargadon Bros on O’Connell Street has served Sligo since 1868. It still has its original snugs, dark wood shelving from its days as a grocer and bar, and stone floors, and it serves good food from a short daily menu.

Good to know: ask for a snug if you want a quiet drink.

Website: hargadons.com. More on our page for Hargadon Bros.

17. Rosato’s, Moville

Rosato’s is a cosy traditional bar on Malin Road in Moville, a small seaside town on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal. It is known for its Irish and Italian menu, including pizzas and seafood chowder, and for live bands at the weekend.

Good to know: book ahead for dinner, even midweek.

Website: Go Visit Donegal. More on our page for Rosato’s.

Clare and Limerick

18. Durty Nelly’s, Bunratty

Durty Nelly’s sits beside Bunratty Castle in County Clare, a few minutes from Shannon Airport, and the pub says it has been here since 1620. It has several bars with open fires, traditional music, and two restaurants.

Good to know: combine it with a visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park next door.

Website: durtynellys.ie. More on our page for Durty Nelly’s.

19. Flannery’s, Limerick

Flannery’s is on Upper Denmark Street in the centre of Limerick city, with four bars over two floors and a first-floor terrace. Its traditional bar, Michael Flannery’s, holds one of the largest Irish whiskey collections in the region, with well over a hundred bottles, and runs whiskey tastings.

Good to know: the Milk Market is a short walk away for a Saturday morning visit.

Website: limerick.ie. More on our page for Flannery’s.

Cork

20. Mutton Lane Inn, Cork

The Mutton Lane Inn hides down a narrow lane off St Patrick’s Street that leads into the English Market, where sheep were once driven to market. Dating from the 1780s, it is one of Cork city’s oldest pubs, small and candlelit, with a mural running along the lane outside.

Good to know: pair it with lunch in the English Market next door.

Website: Pure Cork. More on our page for Mutton Lane Inn.

Midlands and Cavan

21. Sean’s Bar, Athlone

Sean’s Bar stands by the River Shannon in Athlone, beside Athlone Castle. It is listed by Guinness World Records as Ireland’s oldest pub, with a history traced back to around 900 AD. There is live music every night and a beer garden by the river.

Good to know: Athlone sits halfway between Dublin and Galway, so it is an easy stop on a cross-country drive.

Website: seansbar.ie. More on our page for Sean’s Bar.

22. The Brewery, Arvagh

The Brewery is a pub on Main Street in Arvagh, County Cavan, opposite the Market Square, in the lake country of west Cavan. It serves pub favourites such as Guinness stew and fish and chips, with a relaxed local atmosphere.

Good to know: a good lunch stop if you are exploring the Cavan lakes.

Website: Discover Ireland. More on our page for The Brewery.

Planning a Pub Trip in Ireland

Most traditional sessions start between 9pm and 10pm, and many pubs serve food until around 9pm. Before you go, read our guide to Irish pub etiquette and find out where to listen to traditional Irish music. Last orders usually end with The Parting Glass. Book your stay here.

More information: – https://lovetovisitireland.com/place/temple-bar-pub/

Read Next

Chowder and brown bread is a pub favourite all over the country; here is our Irish seafood chowder to make at home.

The morning after, read the unwritten rules of the full Irish breakfast.

Short on time? Start with our top 9 places in Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pubs are featured and where are they located?

The list covers 22 pubs across Ireland, with 11 in Dublin and the rest spread across the West, Sligo and Donegal, Clare and Limerick, Cork, the Midlands and Cavan. Whether you’re visiting one region or traveling the whole country, there’s a curated selection to explore.

What if I’m not visiting Dublin?

Each region outside Dublin has quality options, from Matt Molloy’s and Gus O’Connor’s in the West to pubs in Sligo, Limerick, Cork, and the Midlands. You don’t need to stick to the capital to find a great pub experience.

Which pubs on the list serve food?

Several are specifically named as bar and restaurants, including O’Neill’s Bar & Restaurant, Rosato’s Bar & Restaurant, and Flannery’s Bar. For details on their current menus and hours, it’s worth checking their websites or calling ahead.

How do I choose between so many Dublin pubs?

With 11 options ranging from Temple Bar Pub to quieter spots like The Long Hall, you could visit several across different neighborhoods. Checking location relative to your accommodation helps narrow it down.

Tours & experiences you might love

Dublin LGBTQ Pride Historical and Cultural Walking Tour

From $27 · Selling fast

Book now →

Authentic Dublin private tour by van Top guide Éamonn up to 8 PAX

From $549 · Selling fast

Book now →

Private Tour of Ring of Kerry & Valentia Island

From $1,086 · Selling fast

Book now →

Dunmore East Sea Safari to Hook Lighthouse

From $80 · Selling fast

Book now →

Powered by Viator. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Secure Your Dream Irish Experience Before It’s Gone!

Planning a trip to Ireland? Don’t let sold-out tours or packed attractions spoil your journey. Iconic experiences like visiting the Cliffs of Moher, exploring the Rock of Cashel, or enjoying a guided walk through Ireland’s ancient past often sell out quickly—especially during peak travel seasons.

Booking in advance guarantees your place and ensures you can fully immerse yourself in the rich culture and breathtaking scenery without stress or disappointment. You’ll also free up time to explore Ireland’s hidden gems and savour those authentic moments that make your trip truly special.

Make the most of your journey—start planning today and secure those must-do experiences before they’re gone!

Sharing is caring!