Best bar in Dublin City Centre for a quiet drink at the weekend

O'Doodle

Hi there

I was wondering if someone could help me please? I have a friend coming over from England at the weekend and I was wondering are there any good pubs in the City Centre for a quiet drink at the weekend in the evening time?

I haven't seen this friend in a long time so it would be cool to have chat rather than shout at each other all night. Potentially somewhere that has booths would be awesome or at least somewhere where a comfortable seat is guaranteed!

Like usually I love busy, noisy pubs (Long Bar, Stags head) but because it's just the two of us it would be cool just to relax and chill out. We'll probably end up going somewhere like Templebar or up around Camden afterwards and go to a few of the touristy places!

Also sometime during the weekend we'll probably go and play pool and I was wondering if there are any good spots / bars / pubs to play pool in? Somewhere that is free of knackers would be good!

I was reading on this site that the Palace on Camden Street has pool tables but I can't see it listed on their website and the last time I was at the Palace (in August) it was just a club!

Is Davy Byrne's any good on Friday Saturday night? What about Cafe en Seine? I don't want to go somewhere snobby or posh like!

Shanannigan

Messrs McGuire can be quite relaxed methinks.. though i can't say that with certainty

Gavin "shels"

O'Doodle wrote: »

Hi
I was reading on this site that the Palace on Camden Street has pool tables but I can't see it listed on their website and the last time I was at the Palace (in August) it was just a club!

That's upstairs, the middle floor is open during the day that's where the pool tables are.

What about Grogans on Sth William St?

_blank_

I was in Cassidy's on Westmoreland St last week, and would certainly recommend it for what you are looking for.

Cravez

TP Smith's beside the Jervis Luas is quiet enough whenever I go there

rodrob111

Toast in Rathmines

MrJoeSoap

Michael Cravez wrote: »

TP Smith's beside the Jervis Luas is quiet enough whenever I go there

+1 for Smiths, very central but quiet.

BeerNut

Against the Grain can be good, especially upstairs, and doesn't have loud music or a TV. Likewise L. Mulligan. Grocer if Stoneybatter isn't too far.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Des wrote: »

I was in Cassidy's on Westmoreland St last week, and would certainly recommend it for what you are looking for.

I've been meaning to try that place, are they charging Templebar prices?.

_blank_

Andy Large Dungeon wrote: »

I've been meaning to try that place, are they charging Templebar prices?.

Weird story.

There were 8 of us together, and this was the round.

Erdinger Dunkel (500ml bottle)
O'Hara's Irish Pale Ale (500ml bottle)
Pint Carlsberg
West Coast Cooler
Brandy & Red
Gin & tonic
Pint of Guinness
Coke

The round was bought 4 times, I think.

Each time it was a different price, the first time it was less than 30 quid

Miss Fluff

Des wrote: »

I was in Cassidy's on Westmoreland St last week, and would certainly recommend it for what you are looking for.

That shut down in February. Have they reopened it? When did they do that?

_blank_

Miss Fluff wrote: »

That shut down in February. Have they reopened it? When did they do that?

Yeah, re-opened.

Don't know when.

royalcarlowgc

I the bank on college green on dame street is very good, really good food and service.

Miss Fluff

Des wrote: »

Yeah, re-opened.

Don't know when.

Great to hear that, it's a good spot!

MrJoeSoap

O'Doodle wrote: »

I don't want to go somewhere snobby or posh like!

royalcarlowgc wrote: »

I the bank on college green on dame street is very good, really good food and service.

No offence to you or anyone else who goes to The Bank, I actually like the place myself, but I always considered it slightly veering towards posh and snobby...

_blank_

Miss Fluff wrote: »

Great to hear that, it's a good spot!

Don't know if it's the same as it was before. Didn't it used to be a kind of diddly-eye touristy kind of place?

It's not that any more, they had a bloke with decks playing "indie" tunes when I was there. They are selling a range of "foreign" or "speciality" beers, and have board games to use.

Miss Fluff

I think they did do music like that on some nights Des but it was a great place to go into during the day for any rugby international

bodun

Bowes and the Palace bar, both on Fleet St, would suit for a quiet afternoon's drinking,also Chaplains on Hawkins St,beside the Screen cinema. All are darling spots!

hXci

Thumbs up for Cassidy's from me. Far cry from what it used to be (tourist orientated, wooden benches and kitsch trad music,) its now a cracking pub with comfy seats, cheap midweek pints (€4 draught,) good tunes, sound staff who throw you out free bags of monster munch and banshee bones with every pint and most importantly, A FUSSBALL TABLE. Love it. Its vying with Brogan's for my local and thats saying something...

petethebrick

hXci wrote: »

Thumbs up for Cassidy's from me. Far cry from what it used to be (tourist orientated, wooden benches and kitsch trad music,) its now a cracking pub with comfy seats, cheap midweek pints (€4 draught,) good tunes, sound staff who throw you out free bags of monster munch and banshee bones with every pint and most importantly, A FUSSBALL TABLE. Love it. Its vying with Brogan's for my local and thats saying something...

+1 on this.
Have been into this place a few times and really like it. Especially the music and the cheap pints.

gugleguy

I do frequent a pub on the Luas track crossing O'Connel Street. I won't specify whether its on the side towards Connolly *or* the side facing Capel Street.

So, yesterday, Thursday night, there I was, wanting and having a QUIET pint in a quiet spot of my own. Half way through the pint, a young woman, early 20's or so, leaves her own bunch of buddies in her own part of the pub

She comes over to my area. Starts chatting on her mobile to her buddy. I am sure it is about "wonderful stories". Except I am not part of the story, I am a passive listener. I am not the slightest bit interested in this beutiful narrative.
I gulp the rest of the pint. Pay up and leave. :mad:

Now, to balance up the staff in that pub in question.
I was dumb enough to loose my own mobile phone there. I did'nt know where I had left the phone. Totally my own dumbass fault.
The staff in the pub gave me the phone on my next visit there.

It's not up to staff to direct how customers behave.

DavyD_83

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

+1 for Smiths, very central but quiet.

Was going to say Smiths too.
But now i'm intrigued by these Cassidy's updates... might have to drop into both for a pint over the weekend myself and report back

bigpink

Your man Bressie(ex blizzards)was praising Cassidys on facebook/twitter cause my friend liked the link
So if a guy like that likes it i wonder if they are trying to be too cool

_blank_

bigpink wrote: »

Your man Bressie(ex blizzards)was praising Cassidys on facebook/twitter cause my friend liked the link
So if a guy like that likes it i wonder if they are trying to be too cool

Actually, I did get a bit of a skinny tie, lensless glasses and hipster fedora vibe off the place.

Ophiopogon

For a quiet pub I'd go Bowes or long haul even.

Warper

The Cusack Stand on Camden St or O'Connells next to the Portobello are lovely spots. O'Connells is the biz for a quiet drink - lovely old fashioned pub.

shangri la

Is tp smiths the early house?

Gaspode

Does anyone know if the Palace have their pool tables open during the day? Hoping to catch up with a buddy in town on friday afternoon for a couple of pints and some pool.

Tom Harward

rodrob111 wrote: »

Toast in Rathmines

great

Gavin "shels"

Gaspode wrote: »

Does anyone know if the Palace have their pool tables open during the day? Hoping to catch up with a buddy in town on friday afternoon for a couple of pints and some pool.

Nearly sure they do ye.

Gaspode

Cool. Is that the place that used to be Ricardos?

Gavin "shels"

Gaspode wrote: »

Cool. Is that the place that used to be Ricardos?

Passed the Palace there 30 mins ago and it was closed, I know up until October it was open Friday afternoons/evenings. No idea.

Gae

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

No offence to you or anyone else who goes to The Bank, I actually like the place myself, but I always considered it slightly veering towards posh and snobby...

In any case, it certainly isn't quiet at the weekend. Not quiet during the week either for that matter.

Rebelheart

+1 on this.
Have been into this place a few times and really like it. Especially the music and the cheap pints.

This is the sort of answer which makes me distrust responses to this thread. The op is looking for a "quiet drink" but people rate Cassidy's because of the music!

I also don't think the existence of a pool table or not is relevant to the question.

I'm looking for a quiet place that serves alcohol in the city centre this weekend - i.e. no tv, no music, no throngs of people (e.g. the otherwise excellent Grogans). Quiet.

I've come up with four:

1) Club an Chonradh on Harcourt Street (all Irish speaking, though) (my favourite quiet spot in Dublin but this Friday will be a bit noisy because of Culture Night 2013 hence I'm looking elsewhere)

2)Club na Múinteoirí on Parnell Square (although the Góilín singers' club - traditional singing entirely a cappella - will be on on a room off it)

3) The Library bar in the Central Hotel on Exchequer Street. I haven't been there in many years so I don't know if it's still quiet

4) The bar in the Merrion hotel. Expensive, yes, but very quiet and in the centre of Dublin.

Any additional suggestions for September 2013?

Larianne

Chaplin's bar, near the Screen cinema. Very quiet.

The Library bar is still quiet!

Academic

For a quiet drink and conversation I'd suggest Bowe's. It's on Fleet St., about a block or so east of the Palace Bar. The Palace is wonderful, but it's often shoulder-to-shoulder in the evening. It's been a few years since I've been to Bowe's, but I can't recall it ever getting too loud or crowded.

Cheers,

Ac

SimonQuinlank

I'd say most pubs in the city will be thronged because of the GAA final.Neary's and the Long Hall are my favourite no music/tv pubs in the city but they'll both be jam packed I'd imagine.

gugleguy

These days, I believe the 'quiet pint' is only possible in laboratory conditions. You'll need an audio proof room, whatever. And don't let the gobshyte gate crashers know. These same people have a habit of gate crashing debs of Leaving Cert students of the past year.

The Hill Billy

Rebelheart wrote: »

This is the sort of answer which makes me distrust responses to this thread. The op is looking for a "quiet drink" but people rate Cassidy's because of the music!

If you distrust the responses in this thread - why not start a new thread instead of dragging up this one & having a dig at posts made almost 2 years ago?

reprazant

gugleguy wrote: »

These days, I believe the 'quiet pint' is only possible in laboratory conditions. You'll need an audio proof room, whatever. And don't let the gobshyte gate crashers know. These same people have a habit of gate crashing debs of Leaving Cert students of the past year.

What?

chopper6

Rebelheart wrote: »

The op is looking for a "quiet drink" but people rate Cassidy's because of the music!

.

I'm looking for a quiet place that serves alcohol in the city centre this weekend - i.e. no tv, no music, no throngs of people (e.g. the otherwise excellent Grogans). Quiet.

I've come up with four:

1) Club an Chonradh on Harcourt Street (all Irish speaking, though) (my favourite quiet spot in Dublin but this Friday will be a bit noisy because of Culture Night 2013 hence I'm looking elsewhere)

2)Club na Múinteoirí on Parnell Square (although the Góilín singers' club - traditional singing entirely a cappella - will be on on a room off it)?

Well you may be sure that an "all irish speaking" bar wont exactly be crowded...what an utterly stupid concept for a pub.



OT i'm very fond of Lanigan's on Eden Quay.

It's usually pretty quiet and it's got really cool decor(skulls and witches etc...trust me!)and they sell ptchers of beer for a tenner.

Lovely Bloke

reprazant wrote: »

What?

I've just been in Sheehans on Chatham St and for 830 on a Friday evening it was fairly quiet.

Rebelheart

chopper6 wrote: »

Well you may be sure that an "all irish speaking" bar wont exactly be crowded...what an utterly stupid concept for a pub

Curiously enough - not - I was there tonight and it was, unfortunately, packed. I presume now that you've finally discovered that an Irish language social club founded in Dublin in the 19th century still exists in Dublin - congratulations on that personal discovery - you'll proceed to bring your chip-on-shoulder placard protesting outside every other social club in Dublin because, of course, a soccer, rugby, golf etc social club is much more valid than one which revolves around the Irish language and culture? Clearly, from that decidedly troglodyte remark of yours you have no idea of the freedom and satisfaction which speaking another language gives to people. Now, go back to watching British soccer/whatever SKY is throwing at you like a good pleb and leave thoughtful things to the thoughtful adults. Go raibh maith agat.

chopper6

Rebelheart wrote: »

Curiously enough - not - I was there tonight and it was, unfortunately, packed. I presume now that you've finally discovered that an Irish language social club founded in Dublin in the 19th century still exists in Dublin - congratulations on that personal discovery - you'll proceed to bring your chip-on-shoulder placard protesting outside every other social club in Dublin because, of course, a soccer, rugby, golf etc social club is much more valid than one which revolves around the Irish language and culture? Clearly, from that decidedly troglodyte remark of yours you have no idea of the freedom and satisfaction which speaking another language gives to people. Now, go back to watching British soccer/whatever SKY is throwing at you like a good pleb and leave thoughtful things to the thoughtful adults. Go raibh maith agat.

Do they use paragraphs in this mystical land of yours?

reprazant

That is a paragraph. There is 5 sentences in it. I guess that might be a lot of sentences if you are only used to reading something akin to tabloids though.

RDM_83 again

bigpink wrote: »

Your man Bressie(ex blizzards)was praising Cassidys on facebook/twitter cause my friend liked the link
So if a guy like that likes it i wonder if they are trying to be too cool

I might be imagining it but I am fairly sure I saw graffiti in the jacks of Cassidys soon after it re-opened with a date from before the place was completely refurbished :rolleyes:

chopper6

reprazant wrote: »

That is a paragraph. There is 5 sentences in it. I guess that might be a lot of sentences if you are only used to reading something akin to tabloids though.

So because i took umbrage with the idea of an irish speaking pub you've extrapolated that i'm a fan of soccer,english culture and tabloid newspapers?

You might want to reread "chip on your shoulder" bearing the above in mind.

Tell me...if one is unable to speak irish(or whatever aproximation of the language is floating around today) do they refuse to serve you?

reprazant

chopper6 wrote: »

So because i took umbrage with the idea of an irish speaking pub you've extrapolated that i'm a fan of soccer,english culture and tabloid newspapers?

You might want to reread "chip on your shoulder" bearing the above in mind.

Tell me...if one is unable to speak irish(or whatever aproximation of the language is floating around today) do they refuse to serve you?

You are ranting at the wrong person. I merely pointed out to you that the other fella did actually write a paragraph which contained only 5 sentences. I felt that since you thought that 5 sentences was too many for a paragraph, you must be more used to smaller paragraphs, such has those in tabloids.

I have never heard of this pub nor do I have a chip on my shoulder about it. Although if it was busy as the was mentioned, I guess it is not an utterly stupid concept for a bar. People like different things. Vive la différence.

chopper6

reprazant wrote: »

You are ranting at the wrong person. I merely pointed out to you that the other fella did actually write a paragraph which contained only 5 sentences. I felt that since you thought that 5 sentences was too many for a paragraph, you must be more used to smaller paragraphs, such has those in tabloids.

I have never heard of this pub nor do I have a chip on my shoulder about it. Although if it was busy as the was mentioned, I guess it is not an utterly stupid concept for a bar. People like different things. Vive la différence.

I just find the idea of any kind of exclusiveness annoying..."this only" or "that only".

Do you see where i'm coming from?

tricky D

Less of the sniping and more value in posts pls, tia.