Pub 'Manhattan' in Dublin

tara73 · 04-09-2025 06:03PM #1

Just learned this Pub existed in Dublin apparently til 2009. I never encountered it, so anybody knows where it was? There also should be some good stories about it, it had no license, gave out wine in tea cups and served big fry ups in the morning after folks came along from drinking sessions. Anybody has some stories to share from that time ?

FrancieBrady · 04-09-2025 06:08PM

Was that not a chipper?

miketv · 04-09-2025 06:11PM

Great memories there. Only 2 items on the menu. More of a greasy spoon than a pub. It was out as you head to rathminesby bus, on Hardcourt Road.

satguy · 04-09-2025 06:11PM

It was a great place for a pie and cup of tea, after a night dancing in the TV Club around the corner..

DOCARCH · 04-09-2025 06:13PM

Richmond Street South IIRC. Just over canal bridge from Rathmines.

Orban6 · 04-09-2025 06:22PM

I was in the place once in the 1990's for breakfast after a heavy night. Don't remember much about it but it was a bit dingey.

JVince · 04-09-2025 06:24PM

Brilliant place - they certainly served pints - but they were pints of milk.

It was effectively a wind-down place and some very well known people frequented it.

elperello · 04-09-2025 06:28PM

It was popular with musicians on the way home (eventually) after gigs.

extra-ordinary_ · 04-09-2025 06:31PM

Was on Harcourt Rd before it moved to Sth Richmond St? Photo looks Harcourt Rd. Could get food in it at all hours of the morning is my memory, definitely not a pub.

Exile and Estrangement · 04-09-2025 06:36PM

Was there a particular meaning behind it's name?

littlevillage · 04-09-2025 07:15PM

Pretty sure you could get wine in the Manhattan at all hours of the night. Remember going there after a nightclub one night. Think we bought a couple of full Irish breakfasts, and then realised we could get wine as well, must have been 3 or 4 am in the morning.

One or two Chinese/Indian restaurants used serve wine as well late at night/early morning.

I think it was another wierd anomaly of the licensing laws back in 90's Ireland. Nightclubs had to serve food in order to get a late licence.... and restaurants could seemingly sell wine late into the night as long as they were selling food as well.

Cluedo Monopoly · 04-09-2025 07:24PM

Great for full Irish breakfast at 2am on way home from nightclubs. Secret knock to get in. Drunken memories of it. The good old days when I lived in Dublin (Rathmines). I can't remember exactly where it was but I think it was near the Bleeding Horse.

elperello · 04-09-2025 07:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786204#Comment_123786204

It was just of a time when Manhattan seemed like an exotic destination.

Allinall · 04-09-2025 07:41PM

it was on Harcourt Rd at the bottom of Charlenont St.

Across from Gleeson’s pub.

Niall Quinn met his wife there.

20/20 · 04-09-2025 07:47PM

17 Harcourt Rd - Google Maps It was a late night greasy spoon on Harcourt Road. I dont believe it ever had alcohol.

retalivity · 04-09-2025 07:54PM

It certainly did have alcohol, as did the gigs place round the corner on richmond st. Wine til all hours.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786369#Comment_123786369

elperello · 04-09-2025 08:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786399#Comment_123786399

It was as but be of an anomaly in the restricted licensing regime of the time.

As long as you were sitting down to a bit of grub served to the table wine could flow.

Even Chinese places with their litre bottles of god knows what from the cash and carry were at it.

dxhound2005 · 04-09-2025 08:11PM

23 Harcourt Road, as per the picture in the OP.

https://comeheretome.com/2012/09/11/the-manhattan-and-other-late-night-eateries/

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/the-manhattan-cafe-where-u2-bibi-baskin-and-bon-jovi-dropped-in-for-egg-and-chips-1.3894645

Orban6 · 04-09-2025 08:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786166#Comment_123786166

Just realised it was GIGs place on Sth Richmond St that I was in,not The Manhattan.

steinbock123 · 04-09-2025 08:20PM

I loved The Manhattan. Many’s the feed I had there at all hours, jarred but still driving home afterwards. And The Gigs Place around the corner with its extensive wine list - Red or White !!🤣🤣🤣

elperello · 04-09-2025 08:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786475#Comment_123786475

Another den of iniquity 🙂

thebaz · 04-09-2025 08:32PM

Hazy memories from my drinking days , when I started working in McConnells on Charlemont street - the good old days.

extra-ordinary_ · 04-09-2025 08:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786475#Comment_123786475

yeh…I was calling it gigi's place in my head when I started trying to remember.

04-09-2025 08:51PM

Tried to get in there one Saturday morning after a house party in 1995.

But it was too busy, went to an early house down on the south quays near the docks instead and started drinking instead of eating breakfast.

I can't remember the name of the early house, can someone enlighten me?

It had a load of football scarves on the ceiling.

DOCARCH · 04-09-2025 08:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786598#Comment_123786598

That's the place I had in my head too.

elperello · 04-09-2025 09:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786598#Comment_123786598

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786620#Comment_123786620

It was called The Gigs Place.

A regular haunt of bands, roadies and assorted misfits.

New Scottman · 04-09-2025 09:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786620#Comment_123786620

White Horse?

Sr. Pirotecnic · 04-09-2025 09:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786620#Comment_123786620

Do you mean the White Horse? Rovers pub. The scarves were behind the bar as I recall. Feckin Starbucks now.

04-09-2025 09:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786679#Comment_123786679

That's the place, The White Horse.

I see from Street View that it was a pub in 2014 but a Starbucks by 2017.

elperello · 04-09-2025 09:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786679#Comment_123786679

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123786717#Comment_123786717

In fairness a cup of coffee is more in your line at 8 on a Saturday morning than a pint 🙂

HorseSea · 04-09-2025 09:43PM

I don't remember it but heard it was a very popular spot for musicians after a gig. It opened very later or maybe all night. I remember Spanner (RIP) doorman at gigs in JJ Smyths and other venues talking about it, he was looking for a photo for ages. He had a partial photo and completed it using photoshop, when a photo eventually turned up, it showed he'd done a pretty good job from memory.

Pub 'Manhattan' in Dublin

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