The Best Places to Drink in Dublin
Making Irish coffee at Bar 1661
Bars are to Dublin like pizza shops are to New York, or patisseries are to Paris. With close to 800 watering holes to stumble to and from, it’s safe to say Ireland’s capital knows how to pour a drink or two. But it’s not all shamrock-laden ale houses and splitting the G (aka Guinness) alongside oysters. Historic bars, stylish cocktails and creative craft breweries dot Dublin.
So whether you’re in town for St. Patrick's Day or tracing your genealogy back to Michael Collins, here are some of our favorite places to drink in the captial city.
Horseshoe bar photo credit The Shelbourne
It’s not uncommon to find authors, politicians and musicians, including Bono, sipping on a glass of single-malt Irish whiskey at this literal horseshoe-shaped bar. This dimly lit piece of Irish history has been pouring pints for over 65 years inside the iconic Shelbourne Hotel. Known as the place to see and be seen in Dublin, saddle up to one of its 12 coveted bar stools or the plush red leather banquettes, and people watch with a whiskey in hand.
Rascals Brewing
For a good craft brew, look for the mint green building in Inchicore, a ten-minute taxi ride from Dublin’s center. The color continues inside Dublin’s first taproom, decorated with neon signs and bright beer can art. Book a microbrewery tour before sitting down to try more than a dozen different draught options, from an Irish cider to a mole stout to a German-style lager. Pair it with a pizza or two from their wood-fired oven made with ingredients from Irish suppliers.
Bar 1661
The Irish spirit poitín became illegal in 1661, hence the name of this stylish poitín cocktail bar. The menu emblazoned with the bar’s motto, “Staunchly Irish and fiercely independent,” features wildly creative cocktails. The Aurora is made with local Mad March Hare poitín, sake, pandan, mango and sparkling wine. Try the taboo Irish spirit in a flight or with a shot alongside a Guinness. Be sure to end the evening with an Irish Coffee made with Irish whiskey, Kerrygold, Guinness, soda bread, coffee and cream.
Urban Brewing
Arguably Dublin’s coolest brewery, it sits inside a restored 19th-century warehouse in the Customs Quay House, known as the CHQ Building. Part brewery, part taphouse, part restaurant, booking is crucial for this city center hotspot. Sample more than a dozen different beers, including an oyster stout made with Irish oysters and a berry stout made with local raspberries and gooseberries. Then, head down for tapas at the restaurant surrounded by 200-year-old brick and stone.
Hacienda Bar, Dublin photo credit William Murphy, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Looking for a proper pub away from the tourist-rammed Temple Bar? Hacienda Bar is a Dublin institution operating for over 50 years, with little change since then. Come into this late-night speakeasy (if eccentric owner Shay lets you in) for a popper pint and a game of darts. The interiors here are as quirky as the proprietor, with nautical decor everywhere and red lighting throughout. If you’re lucky, a game of pool with the countless celebrities and musicians who stop in, from Ed Sheeran to Saorsie Ronan.
Underdog
Craft beer lovers flock to this beloved spot known for its ever-rotating selection of beers varying in style and flavor from Ireland and beyond. Opened in 2017, it’s hopped to a few different locations around the city, its most recent at the corner of Capel Street in the Rotunda neighborhood. Try an IPA from Ireland’s wild west coast or a chocolate stout from the lakes of Michigan. If the options feel overwhelming, the staff here are some of Dublin's friendliest and most knowledgeable beer connoisseurs.