Good pub guide !

Slow Motion

Following on from the Wheelans thread, I thought with the amount of metro uber trendy pubs floating about (or should that be mincing about), yes you know who you are, what are your tips for a decent place to enjoy a pint, outside of Yore Mas of course ! Doesn't have to be Dublin or even Ireland as many of us brothers are travelled individuals. So here are a couple of mine, Mulligans Poolbeg St, The Long Stone, The Gravediggers (the bar) beside Glasnevin Cemetry, The Cobblestone down in Smithfield (ish) and The Boot, up near the airport.

Degsy

Try this site
www.dublinpubscene.com

there's some serious wanky kips on there..hello 4 dame lane!

Slow Motion

Degsy wrote: »

Try this site
www.dublinpubscene.com

there's some serious wanky kips on there..hello 4 dame lane!

That's why I'm asking the brothers as there are no vested interests involved.

star-pants

Actually I was in one last week - Loffs/Lofts pub, Nside of the Ha'penny Bridge, past Pravda on the right. Quite nice

Also in Galway I like the Living Room / Kings Head / The Cellar

biko

http://www.belfastbar.co.uk/
http://galwaycitypubguide.com/

Galway - Blue Note
Belfast - Crown
BAC - Temple Bar

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Harry Byrne's on the Howth Road is a smashing place.

Big heated outdoor smoking area.

Very good pints.

Friendly bar staff.

Good looking lounge girls.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it's a bit rugby-centric, but meh, they show any football anyway.

Zaph

In the city centre, off the top of my head I'd recommend:

Kehoes
McDaids
Nearys
The Duke
The Dawson Lounge
Bruxelles (upstairs)
And obviously the aforementioned Mulligans

Slow Motion

biko wrote: »

http://www.belfastbar.co.uk/

http://galwaycitypubguide.com/

Slow Motion wrote: »

That's why I'm asking the brothers as there are no vested interests involved.

Zaph

DesF wrote: »

Harry Byrne's on the Howth Road is a smashing place.

I concur, it used to be my local when I lived in Killester. Which reminds me of another ex-local of mine, The Hole in the Wall on Blackhorse Avenue. Great pub.

20 Times 20 Times

Lets try and keep this to pubs that you have been to , Can i suggest that each brother rights about a pub in the town/city/country they are currently living in.

Slow Motion

zaph wrote: »

The Hole in the Wall on Blackhorse Avenue. Great pub.

Good call !

Sarge wrote: »

Lets try and keep this to pubs that you have been to , Can i suggest that each brother rights about a pub in the town/city/country they are currently living in.

That was my intention, anybody can look at a website, I was looking for somewhere you have been in and would recommend to a thirsty brother !

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Sarge wrote: »

Lets try and keep this to pubs that you have been to , Can i suggest that each brother rights about a pub in the town/city/country they are currently living in.

Which Irish bar did you used to work in?

I was a frequenter of the place anyway.

Ever go to the Coogee Bay Hotel?

---

Another good pub around my way is Kavanagh's on the Malahide Rd, nearly in Fairview.

Lovely creamy pints of guinness, and the bar staff will always come over to your table at last orders to see what you want. That is top quality service.

20 Times 20 Times

I used to Work in Pj O'Brien's In Sydney and Melbourne.

So i might as well start my review there :


Pj O'Brien's Sydney

Right taken out the fact that i worked that ill give this my honest review from the proper side of the bar. The bar itself oozes character and could simply fit into any Irish town and establish itself as the local.The Guinness is the best you will have on the southern hemisphere and there is plenty of local and foreign beers to choose from , so thats a good start the bar has plenty of screens to watch the football or what ever sport you need to watch so that gets a thumbs up as well and the pub grub is great value for money. The staff (well i'l leave this blank) . The one downside is that if you up for a big night out here and some live entertainment you will be let down because they have a restriction on their license.

All in all a great home away from home bar where you are made to feel welcomed , anyone in sydney check it out. Its King street Sydney.

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I don't think I was in that one much, more of a Scruffy's with it's near 24 hour licence I was. And I think Bridie's?

I did go to the PJs in Melbourne, it's in the shopping centre on the river, isn't that right? Great place.

leninbenjamin

star-pants wrote: »

Actually I was in one last week - Loffs/Lofts pub, Nside of the Ha'penny Bridge, past Pravda on the right. Quite nice

Also in Galway I like the Living Room / Kings Head / The Cellar

the living room??! that's just another one of them trendy wanky superpubs. the others are decent but no great shakes... actually i've had some seriously bad pints in the Kings head before.

best place for a few beers in Galway is the Bierhaus.

The Hill Billy

zaph wrote: »

In the city centre, off the top of my head I'd recommend:

Kehoes
McDaids
Nearys
The Duke
The Dawson Lounge
Bruxelles (upstairs)
And obviously the aforementioned Mulligans

Spot on there Zaph.

Other boozers I'd add to this are:
O'Donoghues
O'Connells (South Richmond Street)
O'Neills (Pearse Street)
The Palace Bar

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I don't know about Mulligan's tbh.

Nice pint and all, granted, but a few too many "suits" in there for my liking.

Slow Motion

DesF wrote: »

I don't know about Mulligan's tbh.

Nice pint and all, granted, but a few too many "suits" in there for my liking.

The pint is worth putting up with a couple of suits, plenty of real people there still. When I were a lad in college in Waterford, used to go to the Boars Head and the Rogue, Don't know what they're like now but used to be good for a few beers when avoiding classes !

The Chessplayer

Sarge wrote: »

I used to Work in Pj O'Brien's In Sydney and Melbourne.

So i might as well start my review there :


Pj O'Brien's Sydney

Right taken out the fact that i worked that ill give this my honest review from the proper side of the bar. The bar itself oozes character and could simply fit into any Irish town and establish itself as the local.The Guinness is the best you will have on the southern hemisphere and there is plenty of local and foreign beers to choose from , so thats a good start the bar has plenty of screens to watch the football or what ever sport you need to watch so that gets a thumbs up as well and the pub grub is great value for money. The staff (well i'l leave this blank) . The one downside is that if you up for a big night out here and some live entertainment you will be let down because they have a restriction on their license.

All in all a great home away from home bar where you are made to feel welcomed , anyone in sydney check it out. Its King street Sydney.

Sorry chap, but that is the biggest load of crap I've ever read. PJ O'Brien's is the worst type of Irish theme pub I can imagine. I had a few good sessions in the one in Melbourne, fair enough, but the pub itself was dreadful. And what's more, it's actually in a shopping centre!!! :eek:

Typical Irish theme pub - throw in a few Irish road signs and hang on old bicycle from the ceiling. I have a photo of me standing beside a road sign in PJ's - one side points to Connemara and the other to Bray.

If you want a good Guinness in Australia there's only one place to go - the Irish Club of Western Australia. Used to work there myself - my pint pouring skills were known the length and breadth of the west coast.

Slow Motion

Keep it civil, I was looking of opinions suggestions, not drunken rows/disagreements

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

ibh

Sarge wrote: »

I used to Work in Pj O'Brien's In Sydney and Melbourne.

Wasn't in O'Bs in Melbourne but managed a few sessions in Sydney. Wasn't the biggest fan of it to be honest. Depends what you're into. When i'm abroad I don't usually hit the Irish bars so much. Guinness was pretty good however.

In Sydney I think you are missing out if you don't get yourself down to 'The Royle' on Bondi Rd. Even though it's Bondi it's not all Irish people. It's got a weird strange mixed crowd who go to it. You can win a bottle of BBQ sauce in the pool comp on a Wednesday night(I think).
We often went there after football on Saturday for a few drinks, get an Ogalo takeaway and eat it at the bar and stay there all night getting lamped.
It's definately worth a visit.

There is also a Royle pub at 5 ways in Paddo and it's also worth a visit. It's a perfect friday after work pub. People in suits mingling with construction workers etc.. And fit barmaids.

monkeyfudge

star-pants wrote: »

Actually I was in one last week - Loffs/Lofts pub, Nside of the Ha'penny Bridge, past Pravda on the right. Quite nice

It's the Lotts... and it's one of the metro uber trendy pubs that have been spoken off. The same group own all those pubs that used to be banks... and have chandeliers and crap all over the place.

Has no one mentioned Grogan's yet? That would be my favourite pub in Dublin. No TV, no music... just a great pint of Guinness and the sound of human conversation.

Just try to ignore all the bad artwork hanging on the walls....

Oh... brilliant toasted cheese sandwiches by the way...

An Citeog

DesF wrote: »

Another good pub around my way is Kavanagh's on the Malahide Rd, nearly in Fairview.

Lovely creamy pints of guinness, and the bar staff will always come over to your table at last orders to see what you want. That is top quality service.

I second Kavanagh's. It's like a refurbished old man's pub.

Without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite pub in that general area used to be Kelly's/The Fairview Inn at the end of Richmond Road. Lovely pints, great food and a nice relaxing atmosphere when you're watching the football. Sadly all that changed when a certain Dublin criminal bought the place and turned it into an absolute scumhole. Last time I checked, it was closed down.

monkeyfudge

What's Kavanagh's like now? I haven't been in it since they gutted the place.

Slow Motion

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Has no one mentioned Grogan's yet? That would be my favourite pub in Dublin. No TV, no music... just a great pint of Guinness and the sound of human conversation.

The Diggers is the same, you actually have to talk to people Manys a great conversation/slagging match has been had in there over the years

monkeyfudge

The Palace used to be good for that as well... but it has suffered from being located in temple bar.

It now has two big television sets that seem to play sports nearly all the time.

Great selection of whiskeys there though.

John Mason

star-pants wrote: »

Actually I was in one last week - Loffs/Lofts pub, Nside of the Ha'penny Bridge, past Pravda on the right. Quite nice

Also in Galway I like the Living Room / Kings Head / The Cellar

The Lotts, my dear, can have a very ****.ery crowd sometimes

John Mason

The Harbour Bar in Bray

20 Times 20 Times

Sarge wrote: »

So i might as well start my review there :


Pj O'Brien's Sydney

The Chessplayer wrote: »

Sorry chap, but that is the biggest load of crap I've ever read. PJ O'Brien's is the worst type of Irish theme pub I can imagine. I had a few good sessions in the one in Melbourne, fair enough, but the pub itself was dreadful. And what's more, it's actually in a shopping centre!!! :eek:

I said Sydney in big Bold letters.

John Mason

the one is melbourne is horrible, now Bridie O'Reilly's in melbourne was much nicer (i worked there)

The Chessplayer

irishbird wrote: »

The Lotts, my dear, can have a very ****.ery crowd sometimes

Ah the Harbour...a gem of a pub.

20 Times 20 Times

irishbird wrote: »

the one is melbourne is horrible, now Bridie O'Reilly's in melbourne was much nicer (i worked there)

What a load of horse **** , how you can say that BOR on chapel street / or the one off collins street is better then Pj O'Brien's is amazing. I think the fact that you worked there and were known , thats what you found more enjoyable.

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irishbird wrote: »

the one is melbourne is horrible, now Bridie O'Reilly's in melbourne was much nicer (i worked there)

Couldn't get next not near the place on Patrick's Day though :mad: Ended up out in a field in Carlton beside the Dan O'Connell.

jester77

Murphy's in Galway, best pint of Guinness in a real mans bar.. Freeny's across from it is not bad either!

Degsy

Kennedy's in drumcondra isnt a bad spot,and the staff are friendly unlike the miserable,sour-faced bastards in nearby fagan's.

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Degsy wrote: »

Kennedy's in drumcondra

Ah yes, The Dead President's.

Great pint of guinness in there too, and a hundred times better than Fagan's.

Cusack's on the North Strand is a good place too.

ibh

Just remembered another great pub in Sydney that would make it onto any list. (I'm going to post a Dundalk pub soon, just remembered this one..)

It's a dingy joint in Kings X just across from the train station, called The Vegas. It's sort of a strip bar, but with very little effort put in. It was an excellent choice for after work beer, especially because happy hour was from 5-8 and it was $2 a schooner... At one stage there were renovations going on while the bar still ran as normal, just with a few more builders about. A bit like Yore Ma's actually..
Since I left i've been told that they have now fitted tanks for underwater stripping!! I don't know how that works, but I am definately going to have to pay a visit to find out..

It might be an option for Friday evening entertainment in Yore Ma's???

monkeyfudge

ibh wrote: »

Just remembered another great pub in Sydney that would make it onto any list. (I'm going to post a Dundalk pub soon, just remembered this one..)

I was in Dundalk on business last weekend... I ended up in a place called Brubakers... it had many flashing lights.

ibh

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I was in Dundalk on business last weekend... I ended up in a place called Brubakers... it had many flashing lights.

Ohhh that was a huge mistake.. I would have pointed you in the direction of a pub where you would be lucky to have any form of lighting let alone fancy lights..
I hate that place so much. And the beer isn't great although that establishment under many names has always had bad beer..

John Mason

The Chessplayer wrote: »

Ah the Harbour...a gem of a pub.

nothing like going on a wednesday night, not too full, when there is a gale blowing out side and in the toilets........many a night spent winding up certain bars members- happy memories

Sarge wrote: »

What a load of horse **** , how you can say that BOR on chapel street / or the one off collins street is better then Pj O'Brien's is amazing. I think the fact that you worked there and were known , thats what you found more enjoyable.

i worked in the collins street one, i hate PJ O'Briens, it was like being in a supermarket. BOR was smaller and had a move cosy atmosphere. LOL actually, they didnt open upstairs during the week and i caught some bird sucking some dude off ........i threw them out and all she kept screaming at me was "we have done nothing wrong, its natural" LOL happy days

20 Times 20 Times

irishbird wrote: »

i worked in the collins street one, i hate PJ O'Briens, it was like being in a supermarket. BOR was smaller and had a move cosy atmosphere. LOL actually, they didnt open upstairs during the week and i caught some bird sucking some dude off ........i threw them out and all she kept screaming at me was "we have done nothing wrong, its natural" LOL happy days

I was in there for a company lunch today i booked a table for 14 people , there was ZEO service i was going to bring my business else where TERRIBLE PUB !!! But a lot of beer to choose from.

John Mason

Sarge wrote: »

I was in there for a company lunch today i booked a table for 14 people , there was ZEO service i was going to bring my business else where TERRIBLE PUB !!! But a lot of beer to choose from.

that's cos i dont work there anymore

MOH

star-pants wrote: »

Actually I was in one last week - Loffs/Lofts pub, Nside of the Ha'penny Bridge, past Pravda on the right. Quite nice

Also in Galway I like the Living Room / Kings Head / The Cellar

monkeyfudge wrote: »

It's the Lotts... and it's one of the metro uber trendy pubs that have been spoken off. The same group own all those pubs that used to be banks... and have chandeliers and crap all over the place.

irishbird wrote: »

The Lotts, my dear, can have a very ****.ery crowd sometimes

There's two halves to the Lotts. The old bit right on the corner and the new 'waankery' bit bside it. The new bit's OK sometimes, but does get some nobs in sometimes. And has a stupidly loud eejit playing live sometimes. The old bit good though, great for football in the afternoon but nice in the evening too.

Agree with Harry Byrne's, the Gravediggers.

Like the Duke too, though maybe it's because I've been going there for years. Given that it's surrounded by the Bailey, Cocoon, and the horror that is Dawson St, it's like an oasis of normality. Crowd has been getting a bit younger lately though.

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MOH wrote: »

Crowd has been getting a bit younger lately though.

Or maybe you are just getting older...

Fratton Fred

I was in a great pub in Carrick on Shannon. Can't remember the name though.

It had a huge outside bit, heated, TVs, Bar the lot and good music. It was quite near the marina (Handy cos we were on a stag weekend and staying on a boat) in fact, we were in a few pubs in Carrick that were pretty decent (Or maybe I was just so pissed anywhere would have been god:D)

monkeyfudge

MOH wrote: »

There's two halves to the Lotts. The old bit right on the corner and the new 'waankery' bit bside it. The new bit's OK sometimes, but does get some nobs in sometimes. And has a stupidly loud eejit playing live sometimes. The old bit good though, great for football in the afternoon but nice in the evening too. .

The old bit is a new bit... About 3 or 4 years ago it was the African Craft store.. they just moved across the street... But admittedly it probably is the best attempt at creating an old looking pub that I've ever seen.

The Chessplayer

People I really don't think that any pub inside a shopping centre should be considered in a thread about great pubs. Anyway, PJ O'Brien's is in Australia...shouldn't we be concentrating on pubs in Ireland?

But if you're looking for that touristy Irish buzz, while still getting good pints and good company, then there are a few half decent pubs in town. The Celt isn't bad, and the Brazen Head had McArdles on tap - watch out for the prices though.

crosstownk

I like my local, The Pines. Friendly staff, great pint of Guinness. A great spot to sit at the bar and read the newspaper. They only do limited food - toasted sambos. It's the kind of place where the staff have 'fcuks sake' face if someone orders coffee!

Abroad, I like O'Reilly's in NYC (W31st St, IIRC), decent enough Guinness - nice Irish feel without having the tacky Irish theme about it. Good juke box too.

Hagar

I'm going to recommend Morrisson's in Cannes and Kelly's in St Tropez. They are the only places I go for decent pint of Guinness. If anyone is heading this way let me know.

copacetic

Hill Billy wrote: »

Spot on there Zaph.

Other boozers I'd add to this are:
O'Donoghues
O'Connells (South Richmond Street)
O'Neills (Pearse Street)
The Palace Bar

good call on o'connells, good spot for sunday pints..