A Dublin Pub Crawl

In lieu of exams and final assignments finally being turned in, my break has officially begun and I can have a life once again!

I’ve decided to highlight some of the pubs and clubs I’ve been to in Dublin since arriving in September. Mom, Dad, I swear I didn’t go to all these places in one night. I was tempted to join in the 12 pubs of Christmas Irish tradition but I saved my money for England instead. I’ve only selected places that are within walking distance of each other, so anyone who wants to take this list and create their own pub crawl feel free!

THE PUBS

Against the Grain

 This had to be my number one recommendation as it has become my second home- or so all my friends tell me.  The staff are friendly, and there are all kinda of craft beers on tap- there are also some craft ciders that are great here as well! Some of my favorites here are McIvor’s Medium Cider, Of Foam and Fury double IPA, and Buried at Sea stout. Upstairs there is a pool table and a kitchen that has some of the best chunky chips I’ve had.

Don’t come here for a Guinness though, you’ll just be disappointed.

The Bleeding Horse

 

I’ve been here a few times and I absolutely love the atmosphere, there are even big projection screens that come out when there is a football match on. The upstairs can get a little toasty, but there is plenty of space if you want to get together with a few friends. You can also get some tasty pub grub here- the sweet potato fries are excellent!

Camden Exchange

This can be a little pricey depending on what you order, but this pub offers a wide variety of craft beer and cider. It is also one of the only places I know that has a vehicle mounted on the inside wall. There are all kinds of knick knacks incorporated into the décor giving it a quirky character. 

If you or your friends smoke, there is a pretty big indoor smoking lounge that you can enjoy. The Pilgrim’s Red Ale is delicious, and overall this is a good place to have some chats with friends.

P.Mac’s

This little pub is deceptively large and is always seemingly full of a mixture of people. If you get there early enough you might be able to snag one of the booths. Now this isn’t a typical ‘booth’- at least not what I am used too- these are like separate cubicles that you can be almost completely isolated from the rest of the pub. It can get noisy towards the end of the night but by then you'll be having a grand old time.

Cassidy’s

Although this one is a little further away than the other’s listed above- this is right off D’Olier Street- Cassidy's is a great place to start a pub crawl. There is room to sit both upstairs and downstairs and there is even a couple board games and jenga games you can play. The mixture of chairs, tables, and sofas give the place a living room like feeling- and I don’t mind it at all. Be wary though, some of the chairs have a way of eating you alive.

Some bars that I didn’t mention but are worth a visit are: The Gin Palace, The Hairy Lemon, The Mercantile, and Anseo.

A great thing about Dublin is that you can literally turn any corner and there will be a new pub to explore. I’ve been to quite a few in Dublin City Centre- go to The Autobahn if you’re near Glasnevin in the North!- however there are still so many to visit, and there seems to be new ones that pop up every month. 

Can’t wait to explore more this session.

So sláinte and drink on!

Xx kim

…..

• If you’re wondering about prices, there is quite a range. I would say that the standard pint is around 5 euros, but you can get beer for as low as 4 and cider as high as 7. 
• One thing to consider is that a pint here is 500ml, in America it’s around 470 but the glasses are often under-poured and there is no law where it has to be this amount. Back in the states, bars can serve you in whatever glasses they have, but here the pints are often over-flowing.
• Remember that the beer in Ireland is often stronger than back home- especially if you’re drinking craft as it can get over 8%. A few of these and you'll be well on your way to merry.
• If you are not a beer expert, don’t be afraid to ask the bartenders for a recommendation although make sure the place isn’t too busy. Have an idea of what kind of brew you might like and they'll point you in a direction to find your right beer.
• Pubs in Dublin- or seemingly the entirety of Ireland- are more like community living rooms so don’t be afraid to talk to strangers and make some new friends.