Toners
139 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2
Toners was a popular spot for the famous Irish writer WB Yeats. The pub inside has decorative age-old features like medicine cabinets, old wooden bars and bright red ceiling tiles. This is a busy spot most weekends but worth an afternoon visit over a quiet drink or two.
McDaids
3 Harry Street, Dublin 2
Back in the day, McDaid’s was a city morgue then converted into a church. Local scholars then turned it into a publican house. Another busy small place that many a famous persons have been known to frequent this ‘no-frills attached’ pub over the years and still do, the famous Irish Poet Brendan Behan was well known to visit regularly. Definitely worth a visit to hear people chatting and laughing – no music here! A great meeting point though that serves a great pint!
Kehoe’s
9 South Anne Street, Dublin 2
Locals will say it serves one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin. Upstairs looks like its stuck back in time with multi-coloured dark carpets and yellow high painted ceilings. Pop into it on a weeknight and you will be sure to be joining a couple of musicians playing the tin whistle and Bodhrán by the fire.
O‘Donoghues Bar
15 Merrion Row, Dublin 2
Originally family owned and managed by Paddy & Maureen O’Donoghue from 1934 – 1977, this has since been bought by the well know publicans Oliver Barden and John Mahon, Oliver is still the proprietor today and continues to run the pub with his family and staff. The interior and layout has been kept as is to date. As music is big part of Ireland, you will hear music here 7 nights a week. The bar is adored by locals and many Irish musicians alike Christy Moore and The Dubliners to name a few. Lots of paintings and photographs can been seen that play a part in its history that still stands today. One tip, visit early as it can fill up fast you may have to queue to get in…
The Brazen Head – Ireland’s oldest pub Est.1198
20 Bridge Street Lower, Dublin 8
Serving food, drink, music & story telling all under one roof. Located near the Liffey quays and walking distance from Christchurch Cathedral, one to add to your list. Its origin can be traced back to being a coach house, although it is unsure of how much of the original structure remains today.
Lots of famous patrons are known to have visited the pub, including author James Joyce who mentioned the pub in his novel Ulysses. If wishing to attend the storytelling, booking is advised.
