1 Drink, 1 Pub, 1 Chance

1 drink is all it takes to make a lasting impression...how many pubs will survive to see a 2nd drink?

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P. Macs Pub on Lower Stephen Street

On one Sunday afternoon, the wind blew me right into P. Mac’s Pub from my morning of shopping for supplies. There appeared to be a storm brewing in Dublin after the weather being unseasonably warm all summer. What better way to wait out the impending doom then a pint or two in a dark, cozy pub.

    P. Mac’s has a good range of craft beer on tap and even more available in bottles. They offer a small selection of core whiskey, so not the place to go if you want to drink class whiskey all night. But, to be fair, they really are just a craft beer bar with some spirits and wine on offer.  Something of note is that they have sweets in jars for purchase which always catches my eye being a sugar addict. They also offer a food menu which I have yet to try, so I will leave comment on that until a later date.

    The interior of the pub is quite dark with black walls, wood floors, and a black patterned ceiling. There are three snugs with doors which is quite a cool feature as they are basically private drinking areas. Seating and tables are a mish-mash of random chairs and dining tables which offers an eclectic home-type feel. The lighting is achieved through old, funky lamps and candles.

    Ordering a pint from the bar, I am met by two friendly barmen and an array of craft beer taps. There is also a lit-red board above the bar listing all of the draught and bottled beer available and prices which is quite handy. I choose to try P. Mac's own IPA which is brewed in collaboration with Trouble Brewing. It is a strongly hopped beer with rich flavour - definitely a winner!

    The overall vibe of P. Mac's is welcoming, cozy and hip. The barmen are friendly and really into their craft beer which is always a good thing when walking into a craft beer bar. On a Sunday afternoon the place is alive with people having a few pints and some grub. Sure, I will be back for another!

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O'Neill's Bar on Suffolk Street

Situated on the corner of Suffolk in the heart of Dublin city centre is O'Neill's pub which has been open for around 300 years although it really looks no worse for wear. I stumbled in on a Tuesday afternoon for a mid-day pint and the bar was pretty busy with tourists and locals alike. I made my way over to the bar to decide on a pint which may be the biggest decision I make all day. As indecision hit me, the barman asked me if he could recommend a beer. I appreciate the gesture, but I felt I might disappoint him seeing as I had tried almost every beer on tap.

    There is a wide range of craft beer available on tap which is quite impressive for a pub which does not advertise itself as a craft beer bar. I'd say around 25 taps of different craft beers to choose from and one cask offering. I finally settled on a Kinnegar Devil's Backbone then settled into a seat in the Lounge Bar to take in my surroundings. The pub is separated into many different rooms which offer ample seating with snugs and nooks to allow for as much or as little privacy as you desire.

    The walls are filled with old photos and beer/whiskey signage which is true to any Dublin pub. The whiskey selection is fairly good with a interesting range to choose from.

  Televisions are littered throughout to facilitate viewing of whatever sporting event you fancy and the pub boasts the ability to show them all. Food is offered throughout the day with a full menu as well as a carvery. And free wifi is offered which I believe is a necessity for all restaurants/bars in this day and age. Live music can be found in their upstairs bar throughout the week.

    With the recent heat wave in Dublin, their beer garden on the roof can be utilised to its full potential. The pub itself is cozy with a lot of unique characters enjoying a pint or ten to observe for behavioural study or to strike up a convo with. I'd say it is worth another visit to O'Neill's to enjoy a pint, whiskey, or both!

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Arthur Mayne's on Donnybrook Road

Where a once dingy old man's pub stood, now stands Arthur Mayne's, a fully redone and I must say gorgeously decorated pub. It was a long awaited opening as Long's Pub had stood empty for at least a year and the locals were getting antsy for the unveiling of its successor.

    The front windows of Arthur Mayne's are filled with old relics from the past such as old liquor bottles. As I walked in the wide front door, I was greeted with a large wine pouring bar across the entire front room and small tables lining the front window on a patterned marble floor. Off to the left, there is a small side room with a few small tables and the walls contain glass cases filled with vintage medicine bottles and beauty supplies.

    Through a curtain to the back room from the front bar, I am greeted by the main bar which on opening night is packed. The décor is warm and inviting with brick walls, a large rug, marble and wood tables. There are two small televisions, so you can watch a sporting match if you like but it does not overwhelm the pub. Old cameras and film are on display in glass cases. There is a small room off of here which could be used as a sort of snug. There is ample seating throughout the bar.

    I check out the wine list which is fairly large and appears to be somewhat of their specialty in the Cork bar. They have a few craft beers on tap, mostly from Franciscan Well. I was happy to see Mi Daza which I very rarely see anywhere, but hopefully will be distributed more once Rising Sons is fully up and running. The manager said they had 8 craft beers on tap, but he was including some non-craft in that. Their whiskey selection has expanded since they opened which I was delighted to see as I was a little disappointed on my first visit. And the food menu offers a good variety of options which I plan to partake in in the future.

    Overall, Arthur Mayne's offers a good vibe and a variety of drink for a night out whilst staying local. The bar staff are very friendly and I am interested to see how it will grow in the following months as there is still some ongoing construction.

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Against The Grain on Wexford Street

Located on Wexford Street surrounded by cafes, takeaways and late night bars, Against The Grain is a diamond in the rough. Its unassuming facade would not usually draw the random passer-by in, but for all that know what is housed within those walls its appeal is undeniable.

    On my first visit to Against The Grain, I was like a kid in a candy shop with the array of craft beer choices on tap and in bottles. It is a craft beer lover's paradise. It caters to my need to try a new craft beer every time I go out for a pint. And they always have a few good brews on cask as well.

    Being a Galway Bay Brewery bar, they always have a few of their beers on tap, but impressively never push them anymore than the other products they are selling. That being said, I cannot resist their Two Hundred Fathoms and if they had it on tap I would be hard pressed not to drink it at every chance I got.

    Behind the bar, above all of the beer sits a nice selection of whiskey, which is my other weakness. Making it easy to pair a class beer with a gorgeous whiskey - the perfect night!

    The atmosphere in the bar is always lively in the evenings with the tables and bar stools surrounding the downstairs bar filled. There is a small bar upstairs as well with a few seats. They offer a range of board games to allow for a bit of competition between drinking mates or dates. Their food menu has expanded as of recent with a lot of great pub grub along with healthy options and even some coeliac friendly ones.

    Against The Grain is probably in my top 10 pubs in the city right now, so it was impossible for me not to go back before writing this post. The inviting atmosphere along with the superb selection of craft beer and whiskey makes this pub a winner for me.

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EBBC – Day 2

Day two started off at the arse crack of dawn or 10 AM for all you early risers. Our first lecture looked at the Irish craft beer industry with Dean McGuinness of Premier International Beers. He brought along 3 tasty craft beers for sampling to start us off on the right foot for the long day of drinking ahead. We tasted Crafty Dans 13 Guns, an American inspired IPA from England with 6 different hops, Black Sheep Brewery Progress Ltd, an English Barleywine with strong plum flavour, and Maisel & Friends Marc’s Chocolate Bock, which had a toasted/burnt taste. To be honest, all I remember about the talk really was that it was important not to be monogamous – I think he was referring to beer… at least I hope.

      From there we delved right into the topic of social media strategy for bloggers given by Cindy Molchany of Zephyr Adventures. She gave a lot of great tips and tricks for navigating Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ in helping to promote blogs. It was a very informative talk and I was surprised at how much there was available that I am not utilising.

    Lunchtime! Out onto the Terrace of The Church for a BBQ hosted by Pilsner Urquell with an array of food being grilled up by the executive chef and pilsner flowing in various forms from taps and kegs seemingly infinite. I was interested to learn that in the Czech Republic they serve their beers in 3 different ways depending on the occasion. The first pour is the MlÍko, known as the milk pour, which is created by slightly opening the tap to fill the glass with just the foam of the beer. This must be drunk pretty quickly before it turns into beer, but it has an added sweetness. Then there is the Na Dvakrát, which is the crisp pour, it is ideal if you are eating a meal and need a beer that will stay carbonated for a longer time. It is done by opening the tap fully to pour beer into the glass and finished with creamy foam by closing the tap down. This adds more of a bitter finish to the beer. If you are at the pub for a few drinks then the Hladinka style of pour would be the one you would choose. It is a smooth pour done by opening the tap first at a 45 degree angle to create foam at the bottom of the glass then the tap is opened fully and beer is poured under the level of the foam creating ½ beer/½ foam final product. It is a smooth, creamy flavourful tasting pour.

        After lunch, it was back for two more sessions on blogging. The first session was with WordPress.com’s Derek Springer who discussed all of the options available to bloggers to enhance existing blogs. I am not currently using WordPress (if that wasn’t obvious), but I am considering the options available and weighing a move over to their platform. The next session was on video blogging and how it can be extremely successful. It definitely see vlogging as a interesting concept and know that there is demand for it, just not sure I want the entire world to see my face. I am a bit camera shy as it is.

    The meat and bones of the conference had ended, but it was announced we still had 3 beer events to attend. Someone had to drink all of this beer – oh go ahead, twist my arm. Out we went to the Beer Ireland reception to taste more of the lovely Irish craft beer on hand. A notable new brew I tried was Independent Brewing Co’s Independent Stout, which had a light roasted chocolate flavour.

    Franciscan Well Brewery then served up a 4 course beer-paired dinner while brewer Shane Long provided his thoughts on the beer, food, and Irish craft beer. My favourite pairing was the Jameson Barrel Stout with macarons, but I might be a bit partial to barrel-aged beers.

      Finally, we ended the night with a party hosted by Carlow Brewing with live music and all of their beers on hand for tasting. I spotted their Barrel Aged Series bottles right away and a plan was put into place to scale down the wall to steal a few bottles. Thankfully, it was not necessary as they did indeed serve it to us. The Barrel Aged Series #2 is an outstanding beer and I am sad it is not available on the regular.

    Overall, I really enjoyed the conference and look forward to attending in the future if I can afford it. I met a lot of really chill beer geeks who understand my obsession with needing the next new craft beer. I gained some knowledge about the industry and blogging that will be useful in the future. And damn this is a really long post. The end. 

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European Beer Bloggers Conference - Day 1

This past weekend I spent at the European Beer Bloggers Conference (EBBC), meeting bloggers from all over Europe, listening to lectures on beer & blogging, and drinking a fair bit of craft beer. The event started with registration at 12:30PM on Friday in the tower area of The Church, a bar/restaurant/café formerly St. Mary’s Church. After collecting my name badge, I ambled down to the opening beer reception where I was met with a sea of unfamiliar faces, which was daunting to say the least. Thankfully, I was very familiar with the craft beer so decided to retain a pint as a security blanket.

    I opted for small samples of each beer and tried to go for new releases from breweries that I had not had the pleasure of tasting yet. Some notable additions to the Irish craft beer market are Black Donkey Brewing Sheep Stealer, a sweet tart saison, and Trouble Brewing Big Brown Bear Ale, full on chocolate to the palate and reminded me more of a porter.

    Then it was time to head in for the lectures of the first conference day. First up, was a talk on history of craft beer in Ireland by Declan Moore. He had quite a few interesting stories to tell from his travels and conclusions have been drawn that the many horseshoe shaped mounds throughout Ireland may have been used for brewing the earliest ales. Apparently, in scientific studies done on animals with beer it was found that monkeys tend to lean towards alcoholism whilst rats prefer binge drinking. I wonder then if some people descend from an ancient rodent species based on their beer drinking behaviour? ;)

  Next, there was a lecture comparing cask vs. keg from Brian at Brown Paper Bag Project and can vs. bottle from James Winans of Vanguard Beer Collective. My biggest eye opener from this talk was that cans are a great vehicle for beer storage. Canning beer is more cost effective in the long run and less storage is needed to warehouse them. Cans do not allow any air or light in, so the beer will taste exactly as it does right from the brewery. Mobile canning would be an ideal set-up for Ireland as the country is small and one company could easily drive around offering canning to all breweries. Now if only I had the time and the money to start it up myself!

      Finally, ending the day was a panel of Irish craft brewers: Sarah Roarty (N17), Paul O'Connor (Trouble Brewing), & Cathal O’Donoghue (Rascals Brewing) lead by blogger Ruben Gray of The Tale of Ale. It was great to get the perspectives of the brewers of the industry and what they see for the future of craft brewing in Ireland.

    A short break was allotted before we were to meet to head to Guinness Storehouse for dinner & drinks. A few of us slated for The Norseman for a sneaky pint as there was a Randall infusing extra hops into the Blacks of Kinsale KPA.  It definitely did add quite a burst of extra hoppiness to the beer and I would be interested to see the Randall used in different ways in the future.

    At Guinness Storehouse, Fergal Murray, Master Brewer, treated us to a private tour of the newly constructed Brewhouse 4. Then it was time for some beer and food courtesy of Guinness and Smithwicks. Stations were set up of different finger foods from oysters to fish & chips paired along with a specific beer. My favourite station was situated at the far side of the event and once discovered became quite popular.  This was due to the fact that it contained Guinness Special Export, which is only available in Belgium, and at 8% is probably the only Guinness I would willingly buy. It has more rich flavour and body then its Irish cousin. Only one other beer at the table was worth noting, Night Porter, which was a staff created beer competition winner. It had nice notes of chocolate and vanilla.

      The last event of the night was a bar hop with Pilsner Urquell, but really most of us didn’t stray far from Candle Bar in Kellys Hotel. Pilsner Urquell Master Brewer Vaclav Berka tapped a keg or four of unfiltered pilsner and there were mugs of beer all around. It was a great way to end our first day of the conference. 

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Mary's Bar & Hardware Shop on Wicklow Street

Word on the street (Kehoe’s haha) was there was a new pub in town and it definitely was worth a visit. So on one late afternoon I headed into Mary’s Pub on Wicklow Street for a sneaky pint and a look around. There was a definite change in the façade from the once Wilde club, as a country pub with 2 picnic tables was now in its place.

    Taking the style of a hardware/grocery shop combined with a pub, Mary’s Bar seems to fuse them all together with ease staying true to the functionality and offering all in a one stop shop. The décor in the bar is charming with red and white checkered floors, old signs and photos adorning the wood paneled white walls, and the array of wooden dividers throughout to offer privacy to patrons. All of the fixtures are antiques from the upholstered sunken lounge chairs to the various knickknacks gracing the shelves and ceiling.

    The regular Irish pub assortment of alcohol is available from Guinness to the popular spirits for cocktails. There are a few craft beers in bottles and I chose to drink a Five Lamps Honor Bright red ale which is a nice, drinkable red. The whiskey selection whilst normal for a small Irish pub, left a lot to be desired for me. Hopefully as they grow and become more popular their selection will expand. I would definitely hit up Mary’s Bar in the future for the atmosphere alone, but I do hope they expand their inventory. And I won’t be getting off on new paint fumes, but good whiskey and a vast array of craft beer choices. ;)

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Peruke & Periwig on Dawson Street

It is easy to miss Peruke & Periwig if you are just walking down Dawson Street with no destination in mind. The front of the bar is understated, appearing more as a shop than a drinking establishment. When I heard Peruke & Periwig opened, I immediately put it on my agenda to visit and find out what this place was all about.

    Walking inside the décor of the bar is like no other bar in the city, transporting patrons back to the time when men wore white wigs while still managing to infuse modern elements. Adorning the walls are painted portraits, aforementioned wigs, and other trinkets. On first glance, the pub is quite small, but it spans three floors (each with their own bar) as well as bathrooms on the top floor and lower level. There is ample comfortable seating throughout and the top two floors would make the quintessential date spot.

    Peruke & Periwig seems to specialise in cocktails, but has a growing selection of whiskies as well as a few craft beers. I’ve also heard that they’ve become rather popular for their food offerings which I have yet to sample. The bar definitely gives off a “hole in the wall” vibe from the exterior, but don’t let that deter you. If you venture inside you’ll encounter something truly unique and inviting. I definitely enjoyed my visit to Peruke & Periwig and another drink will be in order there soon. 

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Alfie Byrnes on Earlsfort Terrace

I heard a new pub was opening on Twitter that would have craft beer, whiskey, pool & ping pong tables – well I was sold. I stopped in not long after Alfie Byrnes opened to check out the scene. The pub is tucked back from the street off the Conrad Hotel, so not exactly in a hopping area. Advertising would have to be key to bring the booze seekers into this pub.

    The layout and décor are both equally appealing with more than enough room to sit, relax and enjoy a good pint in a comfortable atmosphere. The selection of whiskey covers a fair bit of the Irish variety and a few American bourbons as well – it is ever expanding. The assortment of craft beers is quality with rotating guest taps and cask taps. On my first visit I was pleasantly surprised to find Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout on tap! There are even a few bar snacks for purchase which include some American gems. The bar staff are very knowledgeable on their range of beers and can easily recommend a beer based on personal tastes which is refreshing.

    Alfie Byrnes got off to a slow start, but is picking up speed as it adds more whiskey, beer, and food to its menu. I have been in a few times since my first exploration and will continue to visit for the great vibe and variety of quality beverages.  

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Bison Bar & BBQ on Wellington Quay

I had heard so much about the Bison Bar that I had to stop in one night if only to sit on one of their saddle seats. Situated along the Quays, the bar is a quick jaunt from Temple bar area and city centre. The décor is rustic with wild animal heads peering down from various wall spaces, old photos, and a large bison painting in the back room.

    The whiskey selection is vast with something for every whiskey drinker to sip on as well as cocktails for all those who prefer a mixed concoction. They carry a good collection of American and Canadian whisky, bourbon and rye as well as some Japanese whiskies for those looking to try some world whiskies. I opted for a Powers Reserve and found myself a seat on a horse saddle to survey my surroundings.

    There are 3 different seating areas downstairs with an enclosed smoking area in the back, a side saddle room (pun intended), and a large front room with many low tables and the bar. The bar was quite busy as almost all of the seating was occupied with people enjoying various different alcoholic beverages, it seems their whiskey sour is quite popular.

    The Bison Bar is well known for their BBQ and though I have not tried it I have heard it is quite good. The only disappointment of the night was their very miniscule craft beer selection which was a couple bottles. I would definitely visit again, but only if it were a whiskey kind of night. 

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Farrington's on East Essex Street

Situated in Temple Bar, Farrington’s almost always has a good crowd and live music as well. Walking in, I weave my way through the mass of people to find a place at the bar which wraps around the middle of the pub. With a large, class selection of craft beers deciding what to drink became the next task at hand. The recent Franciscan Well tap takeover had me trying Mi Daza as my first pint and it was a good choice.

    Overall the pub has a good setup with seating all around the main bar area and then a back room with tables off the main area. The band was playing a wide variety of classic music which had everyone up singing and dancing! The clientele was very friendly with some random lads chatting me up and offering to buy me pints. I was even more impressed with the barman who knew his craft beer and even recommended some stouts to me which I had not tried yet. And it was the one of the few pubs in Dublin to have Otterbank Farami on tap (although I hear it is now gone for good – very sad).

    I am not one to frequent Temple Bar due to the crowds from tourists and overall increase in prices for drink, but Farrington’s is one pub I will hit up due to its wide variety of craft beer on tap, good live music and knowledgeable barmen. On top of that, they have a large whiskey selection which is always a huge seller for me. 

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Sams Bar on Dawson Street

Making itself right at home on Dawson Street is Sams Bar occupying the former home of Samsara. Having been given quite the facelift in the interior, walking in you would hardly recognise the place with its large brightly coloured mural, dark walls, velvet and leather seating, and the tall lighted display of alcohol behind the marbled lower bar.

    Sams boasts 3 bar areas, loads of comfortable seating, and 2 outside smoking areas for those that want to fill their lungs. Much of the staff has stayed the same from Samsara and the bouncers are very welcoming – unlike the vibe at some nearby bars. The DJ the night I was in was playing some old school classic hip hop which is always welcome. And the bar was packed with a good crowd from 20s-40s, well-dressed and ready to take the night by storm. The vibe was solid.

    Sams Bar is definitely making a name for itself with its presence on social media, warm welcome of the Irish rugby team, and well who doesn’t love a few Basset Hounds. And with its location next to 37 it might be offering a bit of competition. Either way I will be back for drinks again in the near future. 

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57 The Headline on Clanbrassil Street

With the craft beer revolution even local pubs have embraced a conversion to finer beer. And I have started to embrace local pubs I am not a local of...ah but what can you do. So it was that on one weekend night I hailo’ed a taxi to 57 The Headline to check out their craft beer range, but not without the cabbie first questioning my motives for heading to a “local” pub.

    Heading into the pub I have the distinct feeling I am walking into my grandmother’s house with a mish-mash of tables and chairs from living room and dining room sets scattered throughout. At least it has an air of comfort to it. I wander up to the bar and thankfully am able to secure myself a stool overlooking more than 20 craft beers on tap – someone knows how to make this girl happy! There is also a small selection of good whiskey which is key to any night out on the town. No Irish pub can be complete without a selection of quality craft beer and whiskey. I may be biased.

    I order up a pint of 5 Lamps Black Pitts Porter, enjoy the tasty brew as I people watch and take in the pub scene. It is a good crowd from foreigners looking for the best whiskey to drink to locals who have no idea what craft beer is to craft beer enthusiasts like myself. And the barmen are on point with their suggestions which is refreshing when the bar staff actually know what they are serving. I stick around for one more pint, changing it up to Blacks of Kinsale Black IPA then head out to the city and another new bar.

    Will I be back to 57 The Headline? The answer is clear as day…. of course. I only wish it were my local. 

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The Palace Bar on Fleet Street

I had heard quite a bit about The Palace Bar, but had yet to make my way in until one Tuesday night. The pub has been around since 1823 and has only changed hands a few times, so thankfully everything dates back to the original design which make the pub a true part of history which can still be enjoyed.

    From the outside The Palace Bar is unassuming and tucked away on Fleet Street, you could easily pass it by. Once inside the pub is narrow, the bar on the right side with small dividers every few bar stools to create little private nooks almost within the bar area. There are bar stools all along the left side as well with a ledge for drinks. As you walk back there is a good-sized room closed off from the front bar except by a glass divider and door archway. This room is filled with low tables, chairs and stools. The ceiling in this room is high with a skylight and there are old photos everywhere. This is where I found a place to rest with a glass of good whiskey.

    Now see the thing I had always been told about The Palace Bar was that it carried a good selection of whiskey and well I am always looking for a pub that keeps a diverse range. They also have created their own whiskey brand which they create from a blend with the help of Cooley, so if you are looking for something a bit different then you can always pop in and try out one of their whiskeys.

    The Palace Bar definitely is a pub I would frequent again for it’s nice selection of whiskey, cozy atmosphere and prime location making it easy to start or end the night there. 

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The Bank on College Green

I made it a point to check out this bar on a night out with the girls, all dressed to the nines and ready to take Dublin by storm. Walking in, the downstairs bar area was very expansive with a high ornate ceiling one might find in an old bank building (hmmm….), a patterned tile floor, and large pillars throughout in a interesting coral colour. The dining are upstairs overlooked the bar with a balcony for those that were looking to eat dinner with their drinks. The bar itself stood in the middle of the room surrounded by stools then tall bar tables and smaller low tables throughout.

  The place was mobbed and we got lucky enough to find a table near the back of the huge room where we settled in for a drink. The clientele were all mostly dressed up for a night out fitting the higher class atmosphere of the bar. The bar service was a bit slow when it came to trying to order another drink and it might have been a bit faster to just walk over to the bar to collect drinks instead of having a tab open. But there was an ATM inside for easy withdrawal of funds should you run out which may or may not be seen as a positive.

  The night was made complete when two young British lads came over and hit on us as we were settling up to head to a different bar. Apparently I must look like I am in my early 20s or we were just the youngest looking women in the place – I’d place my bets on the latter. All in all, I would probably head back to The Bank at some point for another drink as the atmosphere was inviting and the seating was comfortable.

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O’Donoghues on Merrion Row

I had heard enough about O’Donoghues to know that I needed to check it out at some point and so I wandered in one Friday night. I had to fight my way to the bar, but as I was flying solo for the evening it was easy enough to secure a bar stool once the couple next to me wandered away. I ordered my regular whiskey & diet and was pleasantly surprised to get a can – score 2 drinks for a cheaper price! Already I was getting good vibes.

  O’Donoghues is a pretty popular place and so it was full up on a Friday night with drinkers ranging from 20 all the way up to 60 years of age. The pub is old in style and in décor with all furnishings dating back probably to when it was built. Framed posters and photos adorn the walls, some of famous people and bands. Behind the bar there are dollar bills pinned up everywhere with signatures of people who have visited the pub from all over the states. Apparently according to the barman there are 4 or 5 bars in the pub, I did not venture out to find them all, as it was quite busy. There is a large beer garden, which is perfect for the smokers in your group or for a nice summer evening in Dublin. The pub is much larger than I originally envisioned and I will have to go back just to get a tour of the place.

  As I was sitting at the bar taking notes on the pub, the old barman started to slag me telling me no phone use was allowed at the bar as it distracts him. At the same time another younger barman rambled the first 3 digits of his phone number just in case I wanted to add it. And their ridiculous banter did not stop there. When they found out I was on my own, the old bartender said he would let one of the other barmen finish early and keep me company – which one did I want? He also asked later on in the night out of the blue “do you like sex?” – to which I had no other response then “who doesn’t?!”. The barmen had me laughing for a good few drinks and so I would say they are doing a good job – I would come back to the pub if only to shoot the shit with them.  Great craic.

  My time spent in O’Donoghues offered a wide variety of entertainment from the cheeky barmen, to meeting the Mexican Ambassador, then to finally listening to some trad music on my way out of the pub (which plays live every night of the week). I will definitely be back for another whiskey quite soon. 

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The Baggot Inn on Lower Baggot Street

On a random night out I decided to pop into The Baggot Inn as it was on the way to my normal stomping ground in Dublin city centre. Through the door and immediately down a flight of steps into a pub I was not expecting – to say the least. I was expecting a quaint little pub that you would find off of a small inn and instead I was greeted by a retro style pub with the most eclectic décor. From the muddled glass like you see as a shower divider behind the liquor to the flowered wallpaper and patterned tile on the floor this pub was a bit quirky.

  My friend and I chose a tall table to sit at across from the bar and ordered a drink while taking in the place. Divided into at least 3 very different rooms from what I could see from where I was sitting: the main pub area, a cocktail lounge, and another area with seating which had glass sliding doors that seemed a bit out of place. I could see two bars from where I was sitting as well, but as The Baggot Inn holds events, quiz nights, and live music I am sure there was at least one other bar hiding somewhere.

  The Baggot Inn was fairly busy for early on a weekend night and the crowd was late 20’s to mid 30’s. As we were sitting there “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice started playing and I was taken a bit too far back. Not sure how exactly I feel about the pub as a whole with it’s odd décor, interesting choice of music, and yeah… I may give it another chance though.